The Radical Left

An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 16 – Final Exam Week – Part 4: Have you pinched yourself today?

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This isn’t a dream. It’s the thing itself. Your thoughts matter because they shape your next move. Your actions matter because they ripple outward in ways you’ll never fully see. You’re not watching life; you’re in it. Your presence matters because this moment literally does not exist without you in it. Every choice you make—whether it’s kindness, cruelty, or the courage to show up—matters. This isn’t a dress rehearsal where mistakes don’t count. Mistakes teach. Effort costs something. Love risks loss.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 16 – Final Exam Week – Part 3: Have you laughed at yourself today?

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Laughter is what happens when the ego trips over reality. It’s not about belittling yourself; it’s about forgiving yourself. It’s the pressure valve that releases the tension of our overinflated selves. Wanting peace while compulsively checking email. Seeking meaning while losing your keys. Laughter turns rigid beliefs into flexible ideas and reminds us that wisdom doesn’t always sound profound. Sometimes, it sounds like a snort-laugh at your own nonsense. And that’s freedom.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 16 – Final Exam Week – Part 2: Have you looked at yourself today?

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Not the quick glance. The kind of looking that doesn’t rush. The kind that notices before it judges. Self-examination isn’t about criticism—it’s about self-recognition. The goal isn’t to change; it’s to notice. To become aware of who you already are, and see the patterns, the contradictions, the softness, and the blind spots. How are you showing up these days? And when was the last time you really saw yourself… without flinching?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 16 – Final Exam Week – Part 1: Introduction – Have you been practicing?

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No trick questions. No Scantron. Just: Have you been practicing? Philosophy was never meant to sit in your head like forgotten furniture. It’s meant to be lived, in how you speak, listen, recover, and think. It’s not about getting it right—it’s about showing up again tomorrow, every time you fall or miss, and trying again. Have you been practicing? The mat is still here.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 7: Summary – Would you like this dance?

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The meaning of life isn’t something to be figured out or discovered at the end. It’s something we practice in every moment. The music is already playing. The clock is counting down. And you, dear reader, are already in it. So the real question isn’t philosophical—it’s personal: Would you like this dance? How are you going to move?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 6: What time is it on the sun?

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Asking “What’s the meaning of life?” is like asking what time it is on the sun. The answer isn’t waiting to be discovered; it’s made through how we show up in life. Meaning isn’t found. It’s lived. Through love, through relationships, and by being present. Instead of searching for an answer, we’re meant to step into life. The meaning of life is life itself, and the meaning we create shows up in the connections we make.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 5: Do you prefer the roller-coaster or the merry-go-round?

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Life isn’t meant to be a test or a march toward the end—it’s meant to be a ride. Whether you’re gripping the bar in fear or throwing your hands in the air and screaming with joy, the experience is what matters. You won’t get extra points for playing it safe. At the end of the ride, it’s not about how untouched you were, but how fully you lived. So, are you riding, or just circling? Life is waiting for you to take the plunge.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 4: Did you make your bed?

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What if you only had a limited number of days left? Would you make them count? Every day, we live with death in the room, but instead of fearing it, we can use it to sharpen our lives. Making your bed existentially means living fully today—choosing presence, boldness, and engagement over procrastination and hesitation. Carpe diem isn’t about recklessness; it’s about living with courage. If today were your last clean page, would you have written something worth rereading?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 3: Who’s your hero?

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Sometimes, the most meaningful lives don’t look meaningful at all. It’s not about grand achievements or leaving a name etched in history—it’s about the impact we have on others. A kind word, a listening ear, a small act of care—it all adds up. What if the meaning of life isn’t about greatness, but about connection? George Bailey didn’t build an empire, but he changed lives just by being there. We all do, too, whether we notice it or not. So ask yourself: who will you help tomorrow—just by being you?

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 15 – Meaning of Life – Part 2: Do you have any regrets?

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When we look back at our lives, what do we regret? It’s rarely what we’ve done—it’s what we haven’t. The chances we let slip away because we were waiting for a better time, more certainty, or permission. But the truth is, life doesn’t wait for us to catch up. It asks us to step through the doors it opens, even if we’re unsure. Would you recognize a “fast-pass” moment if it showed up today? Or would you let it pass, hoping for another one? It’s not about rushing—it’s about showing up.

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