This may have been a few weeks ago, but Adrian spoke about a very interesting concept that i think is valuable both in terms of network literacy and life as a whole. Using the analogy of the book, he tried to explain that it was the relationship between each page that creates our understanding of the whole book, and it is this relationship between parts that is essential. The network of relationships (or ecology) that results from this is so much more important than what it represents as a whole.

Without getting too philosophical, I think this is a great way to look at life. I feel that people are always wishing things were better without ever stopping to think about how good things already are; they overlook the pages, some of which are filled with excitement and joy, to focus on the book, which they see as a failure.

It reminds me of a video I saw a long time ago; it’s a university professor’s graduating speech discussing life and work, and how we can choose to feel like everything is in our way, or “experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-tight situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that makes the stars”. Professor David Foster Wallace reminds us sometimes even the most boring book about 8 hour jobs day after day can be filled with beautiful epiphanies of life’s beauties.