The Human Condition - Catie Faryl's Better Stories

The Human Condition
Artwork and writings by Catie Faryl

Anger, pride, competition, crime, economics, achievement, confusion, joy and disappointments – how much of who we are is predetermined by genetics, place of birth, family status and other factors?

What’s “Swimming in the Gene Pool” may be pre-determined yet tampering with the genetic code is probably not wise. Our human-ness with much curiosity, courage, willfulness and determination is faced with many decisions, choices, conflicts and fears. Accepting our human nature is not enough. We are of and in nature, yet somehow have moved away from that reality via our cleverness and innovations.

Re-embracing ourselves as part of nature may be our biggest challenge in the 21^st century. Living within our means presents a human dilemma and a contradiction: “we must preserve our souls at the purest level while being continually aware that our souls are consoled by the material comforts on this Earth.”* That is the conundrum we face which might be best addressed by humility, conservation and a realization that we are subject to the rules of nature.

*paraphrased from Jose Saramango’s wonderful book “Baltasar and Dlimunda”