I chose the pairing of the poem ‘A Worthless Play’ by Cam Foster and the essay ‘On Depression, Feeling Worthless, and Finding Your Truth’ by Henri really hit home with its views into what you can do to improve your life. He realized that even though he was “living [his] passion, surrounded by people [he] loved”(Henri) he felt empty. The author felt unfulfilled in his life despite the many things that brought him joy. Henri felt this way because despite his many things that he possessed, he was lacking some basic human needs that you could not achieve from the tangible things in this world. The poem hits on may of these points with the metaphors that represent faith, hope, and love. These are the things that Henri discovered through his journal that his life was missing. He didn’t feel like he had a purpose because of the lack of these intangible things that are harder to conceptualize.
“Then a shift occurred. I had the following thought: ‘I give up. I surrender. Let whatever happens happen. If I need to go broke, so be it. If I need to die, so be it.’ After that, I felt the urge to write. Not articles. Not essays. Nothing for the public. Write in a journal. Explore my thoughts. On Feb 6th, 2013, I wrote my first entry. I began exploring what I was feeling. The first lines of that entry read: ‘Any string attached to money comes back and strangles joy when I’m not aware of it. Yet, each strangle teaches. I may be left without oxygen, but filled with wisdom. I try to force [progress] because I fear the changing tide of the future.’
A Worthless Play
Cam Foster
So many times it is forgotten why I am here.
Lost in cacophony and forgotten in struggles.
But always remembered with paramount joy close behind.
What is happiness?
Happiness is diving off a board
with complete trust that the water will catch you
and keep you safe.
Happiness is persevering to
Stand triumphant
at the top of an unclimbable peak
Happiness is setting free
A bird that never
Was meant to be caged