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Relaxed section for discussion and debate that doesn't fit anywhere else. Whether it's advice, how your week is going, a link that's at the back of your mind, or something like that, it can likely go here.

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How do y'all manage to not be in an existential crisis all the time? I feel like I'm in a warzone even though it's peacetime in my country. [Trigger Warning for depression, existential stuff, etc.] (reddthat.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by WtfEvenIsExistence@reddthat.com to c/chat

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I know this is more fitted for the mental health community on lemmy.world, but that community feels like shouting in the void. I want to have a more "normal" talk about like life, death, purpose, and stuff. How do y'all not just get consumed by how you will be gone one day, how one day no one in the world will even remember you. Most of us aren't even gonna have a wikipedia page, not even gonna make it into one single news article (obituaries don't count). I'm just so sad. What's the point. What keeps you going?

Edit: I live in the USA btw, I'm around age 18-25. I was diagnosed with depression last year and I took some antidepressants for some time, but I've since stopped taking them for a while.

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[–] Sheltac@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago

Some of us embrace the meaninglessness.

Sure, one of these days I’m gonna kick it and within a generation, at best, no one will remember me.

And what’s wrong with that? I won’t know anyway.

So, if life is meaningless and nothing matters and we all die in the end, then why not make the most of it? If all I get are (let’s be honest) a good 60 years, then why not spend those around people I like, doing things I like, going places I like?

I’m obviously constrained by not being rich. But I found myself a job that pays well and doesn’t fuck me up too bad. I actually quite like it. I met some of my friends there, and I’m surrounded by smart, driven people, some of whom I actually look up to.

The other 16 hours of the day I spend doing things I find meaning in. Reading good books. Watching good shows. Spending time with my SO. Writing. Having drinks with friends. Lifting heavy things.

By default we have nothing at the start, and nothing again at the end. Why not enjoy the middle? Nothing needs to have any other meaning than “I like it”. Why not spend 3 hours washing the car? I like it. I like those 30 seconds when I’m done and it’s shiny as fuck. Why not spend 16 straight hours playing a new game with a couple of friends? I like it. Why not spend 10h a week in the gym getting way stronger than I’ll ever need to be? I like it.

I call this optimistic nihilism and I find it quite liberating.