Title Explanation
The title should not be taken at face value.
It has to do with a lecture that I recently attended, entitled Stress and Trauma Responses. The lecture was part of a course that, let's say, is perhaps not quite as scientifically oriented as others that I am currently taking.
To demonstrate this, at one point the lecture shifted to the topic of relaxation techniques, and one of those techniques was entitled "cue-controlled relaxation." To summarize, CCR as described involved taking a deep breath, holding it, then releasing while simultaneously uttering a cue phrase.
Example cues included such powerhouses as "Relax," and "Let it go." Others were "It's OK," "Stay calm," and "Trust in God." However, right smack in second to last position was,
"All things are passing"
I almost missed this one. It sounds so innocuous, so relaxing even. It almost makes sense. But really, as with many things, its actual meaning had nothing to do with its intended meaning.
I really liked the fact that in the middle of a lecture that seemed to be plagiarized from a ten-step self help book, there was this gem of a darkly pessimistic, metaphysical commentary. Of course it's undeniable that all things are passing, under almost any interpretation of this rather vague statement. So I'm going to die one day, the Sun is going to burn out one day, the universe goes into heat death and I should RELAX?!?!
It would make my day, probably even year just to see someone who is stressed out actually become relaxed by taking a breath and whispering to themselves something as nonchalantly nihilistic as "All things are passing." Maybe they'll say, "it'll all be over eventually," or perhaps "the end is nigh." And just relax...
Ergo, the title.
It has to do with a lecture that I recently attended, entitled Stress and Trauma Responses. The lecture was part of a course that, let's say, is perhaps not quite as scientifically oriented as others that I am currently taking.
To demonstrate this, at one point the lecture shifted to the topic of relaxation techniques, and one of those techniques was entitled "cue-controlled relaxation." To summarize, CCR as described involved taking a deep breath, holding it, then releasing while simultaneously uttering a cue phrase.
Example cues included such powerhouses as "Relax," and "Let it go." Others were "It's OK," "Stay calm," and "Trust in God." However, right smack in second to last position was,
"All things are passing"
I almost missed this one. It sounds so innocuous, so relaxing even. It almost makes sense. But really, as with many things, its actual meaning had nothing to do with its intended meaning.
I really liked the fact that in the middle of a lecture that seemed to be plagiarized from a ten-step self help book, there was this gem of a darkly pessimistic, metaphysical commentary. Of course it's undeniable that all things are passing, under almost any interpretation of this rather vague statement. So I'm going to die one day, the Sun is going to burn out one day, the universe goes into heat death and I should RELAX?!?!
It would make my day, probably even year just to see someone who is stressed out actually become relaxed by taking a breath and whispering to themselves something as nonchalantly nihilistic as "All things are passing." Maybe they'll say, "it'll all be over eventually," or perhaps "the end is nigh." And just relax...
Ergo, the title.
posted by joe at 9:39 PM
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