On the strangeness of being human
Dear human,
A few days ago, I had the idea to write a post with a title like, “Why do humans wear clothes? And 30 other topics that keep me up at night” But I thought that title might be a bit misleading. So I chose this one instead. I’ll explain later.
But seriously, first of all,
Why do humans wear clothes?
More specifically - why do we need to wear clothes?
Or to put the question another way - Why don’t elephants wear t-shirts? Why don’t giraffes sport sunglasses?
Why on Earth are we the only species in the animal kingdom to require clothing?!
Isn’t that kinda fricking weird, when you stop to think about it?
If we are just another animal of many occupying this planet… assuming we evolved just like all the other species… then why are we so… special?
You see it’s not just about wearing clothes. Yes, that’s a whole topic in and of itself. We could analyze not only why we wear clothes, but who wears the most clothes and who the least. Deconstruct our obsession with fashion. Or for that matter, the effect our obsession is having on the environment, other animals, and other humans around the globe. We could explore the question of why a loincloth is good enough for some humans, while others feel the need to flaunt themselves in Balenciaga.
Just the topic of clothing alone certainly makes us humans a very peculiar bunch, when you compare us to say, flamingos.
(Perhaps one might argue that one should not compare humans to flamingos, but that’s just how my mind works…)
But this question of why humans wear boots and socks and sweaters and other things adorning our body on a daily basis is just a metaphor for the real core of my confusion / inquiry:
Why are we so different from all the other animals?
Why does every other living being on this planet seem to get by just fine without cars, or frozen yogurt, or condoms or TVs or noise cancelling headphones?
Without smartphones, refrigerators, period underwear, scented candles, allergy medicine, gym memberships or books to read?
Without rent, taxes and careers?
How did humans become so truly strange, so different from the other creatures we share this planet with?
I genuinely would like to hear your thoughts, feelings and opinions on this - will you share them with me in the comments?
Or am I the only one bothered by this?
The topic comes up for me now on a nearly daily basis. And it has more to do with those ‘30 things keeping me awake at night’ than clothing, per se.
Okay, honestly, it’s probably not 30 things, and they don’t always keep me up at night. But it’s a long list of things that, like the question above, just irk me.
Let me explain. In my current state (going on 40 weeks pregnant), I’m ready to give birth any day now, waiting for my baby to make his grand entrance. And at precisely this moment (and all the weeks leading up to it) I’m faced with both a plethora of information, well-intended advice and tips for moms to be AND; one of the most natural events of life.
Birth IS the most natural, normal thing ever. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not (at least not in most cases) a medical procedure, but a spontaneous creative act of life itself. A biological imperative. An instinct; a reflex even.
Ironically, in anticipation of this totally normal, natural event, I find myself going a bit crazy from the long list of ‘shoulds’ I have - things I really ought to be doing - to prepare for the birth of my baby.
Things like:
Walk at least 30 minutes everyday
Stay active
Do birthing ball exercises
Do prenatal yoga
Eat more salads
Eat a balanced diet
Eat enough fiber
Eat protein at every meal
Get enough calories
Drink enough water
Take prenatal vitamins
Talk to the baby
Sing to the baby
Practice hypnobirthing
Do enemas twice weekly
Eat chia or flax seeds every day
Stay warm
Massage your belly
Massage your breasts
Play music for the baby
Have your partner talk to the baby
Avoid stress
Get enough sleep and rest
Meditate
Practice your breathing
Visualize your birth
Eat five dates a day
Drink raspberry leaf tea
Avoid sugar
Have sex
Take this suppository to relax the cervical muscles
Eat pineapple
Try acupuncture
Go to a chiropractor
Massage your perineum…
…and so on.
With all these things on my mind, this list of to-dos which are certainly well-intended but induce a certain level of stress and anxiety in me in and of themselves, I start to wonder…
Does an ape, pregnant, also partake in some set of disciplined rituals to prepare for the birth of her offspring? Does she do special stretches to open her pelvic floor? Get a breast massage from her partner?
Does a female cat visualize the successful birth of her healthy litter of kittens before, ultimately, retreating to a dark place and surrendering to the *natural process* of birth?
If not, why do I *need* to do all these things to prepare for a natural labor?
What makes me, makes us humans, so special?
Why doesn’t Mother Nature just do her thing through us (and work for us) like she seems to for all other species?
These are the questions I’ve been sitting with these week, in the (natural) predicament I find myself in.
Maybe the answers are something like:
Things are the way they are because that’s the way they are. There’s no use in asking ‘Why’ sometimes.
Nature is not perfect. Humans have just figured out how to ‘optimize’ nature.
I don’t know why things are the way they are.
Should I do all of those those things on my list?
Or can I just relax into my human nature, and trust some natural force will work its magic and carry me through what’s sure to be the most intense moment of my life?
Are we humans just too smart for our own good?
Do you also find it strange to be… us?
What arises in you when you read this?
Goodnight and thanks for reading these mumblings of a fellow human being.
Yours truly,
Chelsea