An Instagram reel made me cry last night
So let's do a little deep dive, shall we?
Good morning, everyone!
People seem to enjoy the more casual Philosobites posts about silly little things like the philosophy of music I’ve been listening to, or random videos I’ve come across online, so I thought it would be fun to lean into that a little bit today.
TikTok videos, YouTube shorts, Instagram reels—love them or hate them, it seems like they’re here to stay for the time being.
And while I do worry sometimes about what exactly apps like these are doing to my overall well-being, they do serve as the occasional inspiration for creative work from time to time.
Short-form video apps have this unique ability to alternate between showing you funny cat videos one moment, cooking tutorials the next, and then suddenly summoning some of the worst existential dread you’ve felt in months, all in the span of just a couple of minutes
I’ll set the scene for you—picture me laying on the couch with my golden doodle, Tofu, sprawled out between my legs, when in an instant, I’m swept up by the narration of an Instagram reel, voiced by what appears to be an AI rendition of Anthony Hopkins (ethical concerns for this will be left aside for today, maybe a topic for another day) who’s laying out an incredibly profound and detailed examination of humanity’s obsession with material things and the nature by which those very possessions of ours will outlive us.
I’ll link the video here, in case anyone wants to give it a watch themselves, but I’ve also typed out the narration below for those who would rather just skim through it.
“In 100 years, in 2124, we will all be buried with our relatives and friends. Strangers will live in our homes which we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today, including that car you spent a fortune on. Our descendants will hardly know who we were. How many of us know our grandfather’s father? After our death, we will be remembered for a few years, and a few years later, our history, our photos, our deeds go into the dustbin of oblivion. We won’t even be memories. Maybe if one day we stop to analyze these questions, we would understand how ignorant and weak the dream of obtaining everything was—always having more and more without having time for the things that are really worthwhile in this life. I’d change all that to live and enjoy those walks I’ve never taken, those ungiven hugs and kisses to our children and our loves. That is what life is all about.
My first thought was to find out where this quote comes from, but the internet came up a bit dry on that search, so if anyone knows the origin of this little spiel, please let me know!
As far as my analysis this quote goes, I think it goes without saying that everyone has at some point thought about what happens after they die, but I’ve never personally thought about that reality so distinctly through the framing of one’s material posessions.
Thinking about someone else driving my car, living in my house, or buying my furniture at a thrift shop is a unique feeling that I haven’t really explored before, but it definitely brings up some questions about the way that we percieve ourselves and our attachments to physical objects.
I’ve talked at length before about why I write as much as I do, hoping that some of it might mean something to someone, thereby hopefully outliving me in some capacity, so I do fully understand the sentiments and concerns outlined in this quote. Though, I don’t find my own existential questions to revolve so much around physical objects or old memories, but instead, I see them as more concerned with things like legacy or the permanence of ideas.
BUT, that doesn’t mean that the video didn’t strike a chord. There’s absolutely something to be said for the feeling that is evoked in imagining all of one’s belongings being passed down to a stranger who doesn’t know you, and doesn’t really much care to either.
In this “epidemic of loneliness” that we find ourselves in, it doesn’t take much prodding to elicit the feelings of isolation that are so distinctly evoked through this video.
I do want to leave this post relatively open ended because I’d love to hear how readers out there respond to the sentiments of the video, so I’ll stop rambling there. Let me know how it makes you feel, if you resonate with the ideas, or if this is all just a bit mumbo-jumbo.
I’ll leave you here with a few journaling prompts for those who want to do a bit of guided thinking around this topic:
Write about an item you cherish deeply. What memories or emotions are tied to it? How would you feel if a stranger owned it in the future?
Reflect on how you want to be remembered. What actions or accomplishments do you hope will define your legacy?
Reflect on the concept of the "epidemic of loneliness." How does it resonate with your own experiences or observations in society?
(Also, sorry about this one going out a bit later in the day than usual! I really did not expect to be without service this morning, but hey, here we are.)
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For now, have a great rest of the week. Talk soon!
This reminds me of the Ernest Hemingway quote: "'Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name. In some ways, men can be immortal.' And I think about how we still study Shakespeare all these years later, how he hasn't had his second death. There is definitely a desire (and dream) through my writing to achieve this. I don't find myself personally attached to material objects, but I'd hope my art could continue to have a positive impact in the world.
This reminds me of the content I've come across lately that says to honor your ancestors. Light a candle for your ancestors. How many of our rituals and ways of life have been stripped away (for various reasons throughout history) but especially the ones that revolve around honoring those who have passed on... So many ancestors have received blame, and I want to honor them from now on.