"Life has become immeasurably better since I've stopped taking it seriously.” - Hunter S. Thompson
Stop taking life so seriously. Ok, well, maybe not to the extent that Mr. Thompson has taken it.
But take a step back and see yourself for what you really are. You are pure, absolute magic. I’m talking BIG. The literal embodiment of molecular and spiritual excellence floating on a giant rock in space.
In both senses of the word, you are everything that defines matter.
So how does that help us improve our EQ? How does that turn into whatever it is that makes us happy?
Well, the short answer is that you already know. But the longer explanation is, I’m afraid, a bit more complex.
You see, Hunter S. Thompson is a name that brings up many different connotations for people. Journalist. Author. Gonzo. Drugs. Alcohol. Fear and loathing. Maybe even Johnny Depp if you’re familiar with their relationship. His legacy is complex.
So, like connotations, one’s attitude towards life depends on many variables. That’s both a burden and a gift from the eyes of consciousness. One must suffer the hideous to truly appreciate the beauty.
As Hari Kunzru wrote, "the true voice of Thompson is revealed to be that of American moralist ... one who often makes himself ugly to expose the ugliness he sees around him."
I’ve learned quite a few things from HST over the years. Here are the big ones.
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Lesson 1:
Self care is important
Sometimes I joke around and say that Thompson is my spirit animal. When I do, I mean the earlier versions of him. The kind of guy who knew what he was passionate about and only wanted to write about it. He knew his vices and he respected the balance between them and his wordsmithian life. At least at first. We all know how his story ends. It’s important to recognize and respect the boundaries between various states of mind. Taking care of one’s health is much deeper than our physical bodies. Our spiritual sides are equally important.
Lesson 2:
Truth isn’t always obvious
In 2020, I think a lot of people learned that what they thought to be true wasn’t actually true. Many of us struggle with this, regardless of age, race, or political stance. Thompson was anti-authority, but he knew it to be true; Hell’s Angels was a life-changer for him. It changed his entire outlook on life. Everything he wrote after 1967 was just... different. Fame blindsided him.
Lesson 3:
Emotions come and go
They are like the ocean’s tide. There’s an entire spectrum of ups and downs and in-betweens. Thompson’s books rise and sink from chapter to chapter, especially after Las Vegas. Be happy when you’re sad, and be sad when you’re happy. That’s not something easily recognizable. But, then again, vices will do that to ya!
Lesson 4:
Embrace the balance
All of life is balance. Everything down to the chemical makeup of air in our lungs. And that’s beautiful. But it certainly isn’t something naturally seen as “beautiful.” It takes a lot of mental practice and meditation to see how all the ups and downs, ebbs and flows of life can be taken as beautiful. Sometimes you have to expose the ugliness in order to better appreciate the beauty. And in between those two ends is the tightrope of balance we all tread, whether or not we want to.
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It is through these vital life lessons in which our EQ can grow. They are the vehicles which Thompson steered his existence, as best he could. He shared that with the world and I respect him for it. May he rest in peace.
The point here is that one’s level of ‘seriousness’ fluctuates under their control, though their awareness of said control has an immediate impact upon that level of seriousness. Once we figure out how to manipulate our mindsets and our perceptions, we can better shape ourselves for the uncontrollable ocean of emotion always flowing through us.
Hunter S. Thompson knew that, even though he never figured out how to properly manage his own. And I think we can learn from that. Deeply.
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