Learned Morality & Creative Block

Learned morality

While not unique to Ethiopia, here in Addis Ababa I am reminded of something I learned early on during my travels in Africa.

Morality is learned.

What is morality?

“principles concerning the distinctions between right and wrong or good and bad behavior”

In this case I’m referring specifically to the treatment of animals. Of course, poor treatment of animals happens in every country across the world, but I am speaking from the perspective of someone that has seen more poor treatment during my travels than I ever do where I’m from.

My theory on why that might be - morality is learned.

When you have a society rife with poverty, the idea of animal welfare is lost - hunger, thirst, shelter, and basic necessities dominate the mind.

Without question, people in hard circumstances are capable of, and often do, treat animals well. But the likelihood of that being the case is increasingly low as the struggle of those respective people remains high.

It’s a difficult thing for me to watch - I’ll spare the in depth details.

When I have an opportunity to do good for a creature, however small my act is, I take it.

Another point of gratitude from the ocean that we have to pull from - be grateful you were taught to be kind. Many never were.

Creative challenge

If you were to search for the best way to cultivate the muse, the creative in yourself, setting would prevail as an important factor.

Writers often have a time, place, and a select few idiosyncratic conditions that make their workshop. It is in that cultivated setting that distractions abate, and focus flourishes.

Could I argue the case for the opposite? For a creative that exists in constant change?

One might think that constant change is ample material to create from. While that may be true in part, what if other factors thwarted expression…

Exhaustion.

Lack of routine.

Absence of environmental agency.

I’ve found myself in just that spot.

There is no office, let alone a home of some kind, to retreat into. No AC to hold the sweat from pouring down my face. No ability to find quiet where the walls lack actual windows. No car to go where I choose. Choice at all is a rarity.

And yet…

There is no “throw up my hands” and quit. I left the paved road of life behind and chose the densest proverbial jungle for my first venture.

My attitude in times of weariness and chaos?

Good. Figure it out. Do what you need to do.

Keep it moving.

Sincerely,

Jacob

P.S. Ethiopia has the trifecta - beautiful women, incredible food, spectacular coffee.