An Adult Life

I’m really glad that somebody has brought up a way for everybody to live better lives. In a 2005 graduation speech, David Foster Wallace addresses a hidden issue in everybody’s lives that makes them feel “stupid makes everything seem “stupid”, “infuriating”, and basically just like “death”. Especially in today’s hectic world, I think it’s important that people change their ways of thinking to live out more respectable days. Wallace reveals that people are very selfish; since they only think of themselves, they want everything in the world to happen in their favor. Of course, this is impossible, as nature’s laws allow randomness and entropy. By only paying attention to themselves, people are unconsciously “imperially alone day in and day out”. It leads to a life of “boredom, routine and petty frustration”. However, Wallace brings up the point that this sort of behavior is a “large [part] of adult American life”. When people become adults, though, they actually become less self-absorbed as they begin to form a family that they will take care of and think about instead. People have friends, family, and pets that they will give attention to all the time.  For instance, my wonderful parents, I am sure, must have some bad days. Sometimes I can tell when they’re tired and busy and want nothing more than a few moments of silence and rest. But since I’m in their lives, they can’t worry about solely their own problems. Even during their most exhausted days, they will still find the time and energy to help me with homework, drive me around wherever I need to go, and just talk to me about my day. They always put my needs before theirs, and I love them for that. Contrary to what Wallace says, I don’t believe that everybody will always have a “dreary, annoying, seemingly meaningless routine” “day after week after month after year”. These things shouldn’t and will not be permanent, because there can always be more people and factors in your life that will be more important than just you.  So “care about other people” because that it how you can achieve “freedom” to give things in life meaning.

vs