I feel that everyone engages in some type of extra curricular activity during their weekly routine. Some hobbies people are excited to talk about (volunteering, socializing, exercising etc), others not so much (gambling, drugs, porn etc). But in my opinion, these activities are a coping mechanism for a lack of fulfillment while participating in the rat race.
The rat race sucks the souls of humans. Life is supposed to be full of adventure and mystery. Even danger and uncertainty. It is this essence that allows man to unlock his full potential and open doors filled with new interesting worlds and possibilities. But the elite ruling class with special interests have taken that away. A free thinking man is a danger to their position. He or She is constantly thinking of these new possibilities, including the ones where the elites are not in power.
So they are almost neutralized that type of thinking thanks to the 9-5. Now we no longer need to think of new ways to access our basic needs. As long as we follows orders for 8 hours, we have access to food, shelter, clothing for the rest our existence. Life at this point, becomes "easy". Most 9-5 jobs do not require any kind of resourcefulness, enterprise or intelligence. So once you are in it, it is difficult to get out. The thought of walking away from guaranteed basic needs is lunacy. So you are stuck in this monotonous routine for 20-30 years. So naturally one can become unfulfilled and unhappy. The question then arises; Where can one find meaning in a life where you already have access to your basic needs. This is where the extracurricular activities comes in.
They give you that dopamine rush that your 9-5 cannot give you. It gives you that little mystery and excitement that makes you keep wanting more. Sports is a good example. dedicated fans uses the term "we" to describe their favorite team. When they win, you fell that you have won as well. When they fail, those dedicated fans are just as angry and upset.
Social Media is another good example. When you make a Facebook post, Instagram post, or a Steemit post (lol), those likes, resteems, and cash give you that rush; that sense that you still mean something in this world. It is no wonder why people can spend more than 9 hours glued to their phones.
Imagine if you didn't have the luxury of sitting in front of a computer to get paid. Imagine being stuck in a place where you didn't have easy access to transportation, food and shelter. Imagine being surrounded by strangers that you don't like. Imagine that you were no longer safe and secure. Would you even care to know the score of the Knicks game? The amount of likes on your last Instagram, Facebook, Steemit post? What happened at that party last Friday?
I could come up with more but the point remains; The existence of these activities points to the dullness of the 9-5 routine. It also impairs critical thinking and intelligence which I will get into in another post.
Now I am not saying that these activities are bad; They can be good for you as long as it is done in moderation(even the "bad" hobbies can be good). Not to mention that I am guilty of this as well. The point of this is to not ignore the elephant in the room. It certainly isn't easy, and I wouldn't be surprised if we all fail but we should at least try.
Thanks for reading and leave a comment below!