This is water

Life in Recovery
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So I just listened to this Kenyon college commencement speech by David Foster Wallace. It is very well written and mind opening. Bad Wizard Podcast describe the topics of it as : How can we escape the prison and prism of our (literally) self-centered perspective? Can we choose to adjust our natural default settings, take a break from our running inner monologue, and pay attention to what’s in front of us right now?

I think there is a lot of links to be made in this speech with addiction and the monologue we have in our heads. Especially knowing Wallace struggled with addiction too, even if it’s not a topic in this speech.

I felt it was a good share for this community. Maybe the post should be moved to a topic in which recommendations are made but I didn’t find it.

Enjoy and comments if you like I’d be happy to share some ideas coming out of this.

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I watched this yesterday and it’s still not totally absorbed. I keep saying to myself « this is water » whenever I start to feel weird in my inner monologue. His writing/speech is very well constructed. I really like his humour which removes some of the cynicism we could hear from within, and the profound analysis of his thoughts and experience.

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DFW is one of my favorite people. We lost a good one when we lost him. Thanks for sharing. I think we need more material from him in our community.

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I haven’t read any novel in awhile, but I might be interested in his “Infinite jest”. If he writes the way he speak and reflect , it might be worth the read.

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It’s a brick of a book, but definitely worth the read. He put words to my scrambled thoughts many times.

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Just here to say DFW is one of my absolute heros. He was as smart as kind as radically willing to self examine. He’ll forever be much beloved by me. Thanks for the share! :heart:

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