The Weekly Plunder: Week 7 - The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Hate and love stem from the same part of the brain; similar neurons fire for each. You can’t have one without the other. Completely removing hate is therefore a self-neutering of sorts. Look at young lovers unbridled by their emotions: they have both love and hate in equally apocalyptic amounts. Compared to the young, older lovers are more restrained, more judgmental, more tentative, and therefore less alive in their feelings. If the hate and love neurons once fired with fresh pistons, the gun gets rusted and the bullets barely escape the barrel. What was once a blaze becomes the faintly glowing ember of a dying fire.

As much suffering as they can cause, love and hate are both worth keeping, so long as these emotions aren’t taken too far.

I think it’s necessary to feel love and hate, so long as we love and hate the right things. “Love people, use things” is what “The Minimalists” say. If I could add a saying for hate right now it would be something along the lines of, “Hate injustice, use love.”

What I’m thinking: I’m thinking about my dreams this week. Many draw into the distant past and portray people I had long forgotten. In each dream I’m striving to be in a different state: either a state I was in previously or one that I haven’t yet achieved. I’m a swimmer trying to backtrack my technique to an old one that I once possessed, a better one, a more natural one. Or I’m an athlete who isn’t quite strong and fast enough. I think the message is to accept today, and who I am right now.

What I’m listening to: “A World Away” by Tremonti. I find Tremonti’s solo work to be painfully overlooked (the former lead guitarist of Creed). His new album rocks in my opinion.

What I’m watching: About to watch the new Dune film. Heard good things. We will see.

What I’m reading: The final story in Full Throttle by Joe Hill. It seems to be about a fictional war between America and North Korea. I think Hill is excellent at painting a vivid picture with words.

What I’m doing: Drinking wine. Got an electric wine opener because I’m tired of clumsily butchering the cork with my inept wine opening skills. I’m also healing. The ankle feels better each day. Walking feels 90% better. I’ve never been so grateful to walk normally.