2. Resist the temptation to define or be defined.

2.a. Be comfortable with ambiguity.

Continuing with the list of unsolicited advice I offered to a series of graduating high school kids (the children of friends) this past Summer, I present the above. They are an extension, I think, of the first one (all words have meanings) but expand the line of thinking.

Definition is by definition (ha ha) limiting. In Orwell's 1984 one of the ideas behind Newspeak was to restrict thinking by removing words from the language. You can't think it or articulate it if you don't have words for it was the notion.

I'm not worried about the government here. I'm talking about self-definition, and social definition and cultural definition.

Don't be too ready to ink yourself in. Let yourself develop as you may. Just be, and find out where that takes you. Find out. Discover. Explore. Existence is not black or white. There are endless shades of grey. Ambiguity abounds. Accept that this is the world that we live in.

Now let's be clear. I'm not suggesting you should not have morals or ethics. Far from it. In fact, in a morally and ethically ambiguous world one needs to be grounded. But one must also understand that the actual application of those morals and ethics will be tested on an ambiguous battlefield. We stop and ask ourselves "Did I apply this principle right?" Argh. Let's try again.

What I would suggest to you, young and old alike, is that we should be forgiving of ourselves as we trudge life's path that we will not perfectly pursue our lofty moral and ethical goals. We are not perfect beings, but if we keep our eyes open to our own thoughts and behaviors, steadily pursue our improvement, and commit to being a healthy and cooperative and collaborative member of society then we will have done some good in this life.

Last Spring as a quartet of young adults I know through their parents (a set of triplets and one other) graduated from High School I gave each of them some kernels of insight (along with a small donation to their future). These are ideas that have rattled around in my head for a bit. I offer them here with some commentary.

All words have meanings, but not all meanings have words.
https://twitter.com/Macmannic/status/807924232894218240

This one originated (in 1981) from talking in my sleep. I woke the woman (girl really we were only 19 and 20) from her sleep when I blurted out in my sleep "Hey! I already looked up that word." She groggily responded, "What word?" Still in my sleep I answered "I don't know, but all words have meanings."

I have thought about this exchange for decades, and over time have reframed it (and expanded it) to the form above.

I will leave it to you, dear reader, to glean what you may, but I will say that as vital as scientific understanding and appreciation is, one should not lose touch with the artist inside. Some things must be felt. Some things must be inarticulate but understood.

We live on this Earth. We inhabit an actual, real world. This world will be a dull, flat place without imagination, spirit and emotion. Embrace them all.