The Necessity to Struggle / The Futility of Effort

In which John recalls an afternoon at the airport.
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[@joellebrooke42]

John, your John Green is showing. Don't stop

[@WhySoSquid]

++++

[@ethan-loves]

++

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

+

[@cynthialivingston4849]

+

[@thelastcube.]

++

[@justina7639]

John, this reminded me of something else you once said: I mean, sure, the world is going to end and Venice will sink under the sea, but not yet.

[@vlogbrothers]

Once I was in an art gallery and I saw a young woman who had the words "Not Today" written on the inside of her wrists, and I have often thought that if I ever got a real tattoo, that'd be it. Not today. Not yet. -John

[@emilymartin5418]

@@vlogbrothers I'm thinking of getting a tattoo of a phrase I try to keep in mind: "This doesn't define me." In my own handwriting, on the inside of my arm, with real ink. I've wanted it for a couple of years now, so I feel like I wouldn't regret it. Thank you for making and sharing this video, and so many others. I hope you have a wonderful day today.

[@yankonapc]

@@vlogbrothers Hey mate, I don't want to rain on you but I think that phrase in that location is a bit heavier than you present it to be, and flags up a bit more than a philosophical existential crisis. You be careful out there. This sort of spiral thinking can be dangerous and difficult to pull out of. Beyond not yet, how about not ever?

[@Daniel.Walker]

@@yankonapc Peter Rollins has some interesting writing and recordings on dialectical logic and it's connection to grace narratives! For some there are healthy ways to look into that spiral, and through that painful experience find some solace. Rather than avoidance for survival (an experience that is valid as heck), there's a planned exposure, a diving deep, a recognition of the pain that is at the crux of those individuals' survival and experience of life. Not speaking for John, or anyone else, but there's a bit of truth for me right now in my life that resonates with the idea behind these tattoo ideas! (He has a podcast with Eliott Morgan called the Fundamentalists and you should check it out if you like internet things and also discussions of existential dread, psychology, and societal/non-theistic theology!)

[@travisscavoni369]

@@vlogbrothers kinda like Project Semicolon

[@Jrv1s]

Friends and soft pretzels are the meaning of life.

[@vlogbrothers]

I think there's a good case to be made for this. -John

[@MsFredWeasley]

Especially if you are from Philadelphia.

[@mvwinf]

Rebecca Bunch?

[@hardboard82]

Both are great aspects of life that bring us happiness. But if everything is meaningless, should happiness be our top priority?

[@elderlyoogway]

Laurin Schmidt that depends, you decide. There’s countless cases to be made for happiness, but it doesn’t mean it is the right one. It’s just that humans like to self-justify their natural inclinations.

[@OliverHatched]

I'm disabled by mental illness, and one of the most useful things I learned in therapy is something you mentioned in this video: thought patterns that make you feel worse are useless, no matter how true they are. I've learned to redirect my thoughts away from the despair and nihilism, and toward the present moment. Doing this has provided me with more relief from my depression than anything else has.

[@airwolfguy]

The previous comment was one of three that I made in rapid succession before getting to know your channel better. I think I get it now. I'm sorry about what happened to you. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

[@aleksandraa5146]

I can relate to this but wonder how do you manage to redirect those thoughts? If you wouldn't mind sharing that is. I also struggle with derealisation, however, so it is harder to focus on the present too... I am really glad that it has helped you though!

[@nidhiphal2867]

@@aleksandraa5146 Try to practise noting. It's a mindfulness technique that allows you to step out of the thought spiral and just stay. Also you can try nothing 3 sounds, 3 objects and 3 odors in the present moment, so you step out of your busy mind

[@peterlopinto]

"...but we don't live in the grand scheme of things" is inspiring. I think I'll adopt it as a mantra the next time I'm experiencing this thought spiral. Thanks John

[@1234kalmar]

I made that realization a few years ago, and it helped so much. The universe is big and indifferent towards us! Well, then why should *I* care about *It*. Its sun's might burn for a billion years. Cool. I made a friend laugh yesterday. That's what I care about.

[@peterlopinto]

@@1234kalmar +1 I love that. I think for me the popularized "live in the moment" idea can feel like an overwhelming mission whereas the reassurance that we are creatures of this moment is a truth that keeps me grounded

[@AshKetchum442]

Something that really helped me out of my existential depression is that if nothing really matters why should i waste my time thinking about how pointless it all is? Who decided it was pointless? Im here for only so long, why shouldnt i enjoy it!

[@ellw7830]

I feel constantly caught between wanting to do something big enough to alter the grand scheme of things and the crushing realization that I cannot possibly do anything big enough to alter the grand scheme of things... at least not yet. This quote is definetely something that might help me, and it's similar to one I need to remember more often; "When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser and realized the world would not change, I shortened my sights somewhat, and decided to change only my country; but it too seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, I settled on changing only my family and those closest to me--but alas they would have none of it. Now I lay on my deathbed and I suddenly realize that if I had only changed myself first, then by example I could perhaps have changed my family, and from their inspiration and encouragement to me I would have been better able to help my country and from there I may even have been able to change the world." (Taken from the tomb of a Bishop in Westminster Abbey 1100 A.D

[@peterlopinto]

@@ellw7830 Wow that's a lovely quote. It reminds me of the Michael Jackson song Man in the Mirror, where he also comments on improving the world by improving himself.

[@thedavescloop]

This is me when I fold laundry.

[@courtneymarcon349]

Dorvid for me it’s ironing

[@annariordan2801]

Yes!!

[@ahmedelmogi5113]

Exactly

[@ampz1466]

This is why my laundry takes weeks to get folded.

[@courtneymarcon349]

Ampz14 From now on my excuse for not folding and ironing laundry will be that if I do it, I might have an existential crisis.

[@pandapan8281]

It’s like the starfish story. A beach is full of starfish and a boy is throwing them back in the ocean. A guy tells him it is useless that there is too many starfish. The boy throws another and says it matters to that one. It really doesn’t matter how many people you knew or helped. It just matters that you helped one person and their life was better because of you. Cause in the grand scheme of things no one is more important than anyone else. We just have to try and make a difference for who is around now.

[@MattPalka]

I love that story SO MUCH

[@amyblueskyirl16]

Ha that's almost exactly what I said! lol Love is the best remedy for existential angst imo :D

[@MattPalka]

@@amyblueskyirl16 Agreed. While one person is criticizing whether or not something is working, there are real people doing the actual work that matters. We can each help so much in even the smallest of ways

[@thejesuschrist]

Amazing!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for your support, Jesus. -John

[@benjaminlquinlan8702]

Jesus Christ my man!!!!

[@notquiteneutral2590]

Ayo Jesus, what’s up?

[@benjaminlquinlan8702]

He's up ... And to the right hand side.

[@DragonsOfDream]

+

[@beccabonham8137]

“we don’t live in the grand scheme of things, we live here, in the day to day” i really needed to hear that. (and this whole video in general) thanks john!

[@mjschul]

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[@ivanna6608]

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[@benypenaloza3182]

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[@Michelle-je9jk]

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[@cheyennemarie7075]

Gee thanks, John. I was about due for an existential crisis👍🏾

[@intheclouds4453]

I have existential thoughts all the time it's getting ridiculous and scary

[@emilymartin5418]

@@intheclouds4453 I hope you have or find someone you can talk to when it gets scary, because sharing helps so much. If nothing else, or if you prefer, there are plenty of Nerdfighters and beautiful Internet strangers ready to listen.

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

+

[@ToyKeeper]

Yeah... I came here hoping John had motivational insights into why I should do that thing on my todo list instead of mindlessly clicking through videos while time burns away one more page in the short book of my life. But this video didn't really help. Maybe instead I can extract an answer from 8 hours of osmosis with my pillow.

[@nickiaconis]

@@ToyKeeper if nothing else, hopefully you'll feel rested after that

[@emmachambers4037]

If you could describe John Green in one phrase: 'AND THEN, I started to think some more'. I love it

[@eli88958]

Stop John, I can't got into an existential crisis right before midterms

[@squeeerle]

It will be ok, you've got this.

[@ellw7830]

your profile picture looks like it's verbalizing your comment

[@squeeerle]

So how did exams go?

[@benas_st]

@@squeeerle it's been 2 years, I think it wasn't good

[@squeeerle]

@@benas_st bummer! Well, at least that class is long over.

[@moiradarling97]

This video is exactly how I think. I go from “God I love sitting at the beach and watching the waves.” To “Its sad that I have no idea how much longer I have to enjoy this world.”

[@pumpkinomom4446]

Moira H Hi fellow Moira! We have the same Name! ❤

[@moiradarling97]

Pumpkinomo M yesss, it’s very rare!

[@mandoman69]

Then back to "i really love starring at those waves"

[@smhill818]

It's strange to think of, but that future version of you that can no longer enjoy this world will actually not be you at all, because you will no longer exist-and therefore, being nonexistent, you won't be able to feel sad about being unable to enjoy the world. From your own perspective, you can enjoy the world right up until the end of time, because your perception of time (among other things) will end once your life ends. I dunno, I find some odd solace in that. It kind of helps me stop feeling sad and get back to enjoying.

[@mossboy2564]

“Brains are so weird” God, I *felt* that

[@gitoshrisen7687]

literally!!

[@TheOtherDibbler]

The comment about everything we own and love eventually becoming landfill and ceasing to matter made me think of an experience I had a couple of years ago. At a medieval recreation event I got to hold a genuine medieval pot that had been discovered in an archaeological excavation. It wasn't a beautiful fabulous thing, it was roughly made, created to be used and discarded, yet it had survived hundreds of years. Preserved in the clay was a fingerprint. A person whose name and face have long been forgotten once made an unimportant thing, and left the most personal and unique of all marks on it, and hundreds of years later I held it in my hand and placed my finger where theirs had been. And maybe that's nothing much, when considered on a universal time-scale, but it FEELS pretty big, and it makes me wonder what 'meaningless' everyday items from our own lives will be someone's treasure one day.

[@lillyhill6093]

+

[@rush8280]

This is one of the coolest KZbin comments I've ever read

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

As someone who studied art history: YES, YOU GET IT

[@saniyapaliwal1454]

+

[@UnwarrenD]

This is a genuinely beautiful comment that stood out to me out a bleak and cloudy Sunday afternoon.

[@bicooo1]

This video really spoke to me. I love that you said 'this is the Hunger Games and I am a resident of the Capitol' because I have that thought at times. People in third world countries that are dying of famine would be disgusted by the way we use food, and the way we use so many things in ways that aren't right. When I read the Hunger Games I thought that surely if I lived in the Capitol I would do everything to help the other districts, yet in real life I'm mostly worrying about my own struggles.

[@killerwolfxx7]

For like 9 years John has been laying down the philosophical knowledge on me, That or giraffe sex

[@vlogbrothers]

My two great areas of interest. -John

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

vlogbrothers Don’t forget presidents and last words. Sometimes both simultaneously.

[@clairehirano5889]

@@vlogbrothers I think you meant fields of expertise *insert collage of grassy fields here*

[@MichaelTavares]

People who love giraffes who love giraffes

[@Carina5707]

In the grand scheme of things Even the greatest of kings Are just little hands Building castles out of sand. Edit: Wow thanks for the love, guys. I make poetry videos in case you care. And if you want to quote me somewhere, my name is Julie Merson. Thank you ^^

[@Carina5707]

redmeetingwhite my brain lol

[@Carina5707]

redmeetingwhite it IS finished lol. I think it says all it needs to say in a single verse tbh

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

+

[@tsumni3421]

That is beautiful in ways that I can't put to words

[@cynthialivingston4849]

Beautiful words, @Juice.

[@imsocorkyy]

“Isn’t it absurd how temporary we are despite all our efforts to feel permanent?” The kind of questions that keep me up at night. It gives me way too much anxiety to think of how fragile our lives really are.

[@ConBadger]

"...but we don't *live in* the grand scheme of things, we live *here*, in the day to day, at gate A7 on an early Wednesday afternoon." I have a lot of those same thoughts of, nothing really matters. But that brought me back to the here and now. Helped to make things a bit clearer. Really good line, thank you.

[@KarolaTea]

now I want a soft pretzel...

[@vlogbrothers]

Same. -John

[@flashsurfing]

The most Midwest of comments indeed

[@KarolaTea]

I'll... take that as a compliment ^^

[@brucefrizzell4221]

Double Bourbon , please . Great video .

[@niffler09]

with butter on it nomm

[@Mehrnooshb]

Added to my “Favorite Vlogbrothers” playlist.

[@vlogbrothers]

Awww thanks! :) -John

[@gitoshrisen7687]

+

[@pessimistkai5569]

Can you share your playlist... Please

[@pamelarojas7754]

I feel very identified with your way of thinking. Thank you for always making the best content, making me think and laugh, always improving my mood as I gain more knowledge and perspectives. As an aspiring writer, you truly are an inspiration to me ❤ Thanks all the way from Costa Rica

[@CodyRushDriving]

A thing is not beautiful because it lasts. We are a means by which the universe can experience and know itself.

[@NinuRenee]

The latter is incorrect, we are merely means to an end for the universe and mother natures game of evolution. We are only reciting what the universe has already achieved.

[@vickylikesthis]

"It's not so much which of these ways of looking at the world is true. It's which of these ways of looking at the world is productive". This is so important, and yet I always forgot this.

[@vickylikesthis]

I'm an academic and a Hufflepuff. True vs Helpful is a constant tension!

[@meirihareven5092]

Or as Camus put it: "One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

[@vlogbrothers]

Or at the least one must imagine Sisyphus productive. -John

[@insu_na]

And one must imagine Sisyphus immortal. That's my key takeaway from this

[@SacchieILU]

I came hear to read or post this exact comment. Effort is, in itself, rewarding. It is not my successes that give me meaning, but my trials and attempts to overcome.

[@Richard_Jones]

Ah Camus, fine philosopher and halfway decent goalkeeper. If he weren't dead he could play for AFC Wimbledon.

[@StridentEclipse]

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[@lillyhill6093]

+++

[@kieran163]

“maybe nothing matters in the grand scheme of things, but we don’t live in the grand scheme of things, we live here.” damn, john.

[@zoozoozee]

Unrelated but my AP world history teacher assigns us your crash course world history videos! You're the only one that makes it interesting for me

[@vlogbrothers]

That's great to hear. Please thank your teacher for me. (Also, we've got new crash course history vids coming soon.) -John

[@swampfox1007]

My humanities college course does the same. Just watched the video covering the Greeks.

[@amberbydreamsart5467]

@@vlogbrothers I remember when crash course world history first came out, it was not long after I'd taken my AP World History test and I was absolutely struck by how similar the curriculum was. I'm so glad teachers and students are using it as a tool now! I was definitely a bit jealous I didn't have the videos to help me study back in the day

[@seanplayscl]

Same! I'm always surprised at how fast john is talking about history stuff compared to the speed of stuff such as this video

[@Amy-nz6sm]

Thanks for putting my thoughts into a more manageable idea this actually just helped me in my current situation 🤔👍🏼

[@saritacheeks]

Alice Samesies!! John is so good at doing this! :D

[@albinsandin7835]

The number one guy for the job

[@nicolem8754]

me too!!

[@tausiatahsin3240]

I'd know you wrote TFIOS even if I didn't know it

[@blarblablarblar]

I see it's time for our semiannual existential crisis

[@luddity]

carb withdrawal is pitiful

[@Carina5707]

Nerdfighters are a lovely bunch, so here’s a poem I wrote once. Cheers. Infinity We’re here to live We’re here to die So who do you want By your side Is it him Is it her Or just the company Of a written word Why do we love Why are we here Why do I panic In the shadow Of such insignificant fears? It’s been six months How strange It’s been ten years What even is change At least none that I can feel Is any of this Even real Look in the mirror Look into your eyes Is it you Or a haphazard disguise Do these tears taste of salt Or is it the flavor Of all your faults Blotched cheekbones Bobby pins Sunrise whispers And burnt skin Mugs and spoons A little paint Is my life unremarkable Or just quaint Is there a difference Who even cares When feelings aren’t much more Than uninvited exhales? Edit: Wow thanks for the love, guys. I make poetry videos in case you care. And if you want to quote me somewhere, my name is Julie Merson. Thank you ^^

[@mini1834]

Juce wow remarkable poem! :)

[@literatouristin]

I screenshotted this to read it over and over again.

[@Jemini4228]

Amazing work. Well done :)

[@geovanniangelica8532]

Absolutely fantastic!!

[@naomilamont3277]

I loved the last six lines especially. Keep up the good work ☺

[@decaf4me2]

Superb, John. I loved every word. As always, thx for sharing. No matter how futile it may seem, your words make a difference now...and probably for some time to come. Cheers!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks, Brent. Really appreciate the kind words. -John

[@thelastcube.]

Another way of your "which way is productive" would be what's the alternative. Like, you can either sit like a rut in despair and do nothing or you could try to fix the problem to as much as you can

[@katherinesebeck3787]

The moment of waiting at an airport gate is bizarrely distant only 2 years later.

[@Edwahlq]

I love that thought... we don't live in the grand scheme of things. It's a good check on perspective.

[@amaliawilde8978]

Thank you, John. I needed this today.

[@lou2850]

Same my dude, same

[@LouisMoga]

This.

[@jessicamcglone5715]

Sending love!

[@catalyst1738]

THE ART TO STOP AND SEE THE WORLD FOR A WHILE

[@tiffanyhoffman4830]

Relating so much to your thought patterns and I can't even tell you how much I needed this reminder right now. Blind optimism spouted out by well-meaning loved ones honestly just leaves me with an increased sense of frustration and panic and anxiety, pushing me deeper into depression and nihilism. What I need is that reminder that there is a much finer line than we think between that darkness and a strange sense of hope and freedom and joy - the honest kind that can see the world as it is, both eyes open, and embrace it. For me the way out of that dark mental space isn't up from it but out through it - to the other side. Thanks, John.

[@c.omalley]

i’m just after getting rejected from one of my first choices of uni and i must say, this video is strangely comforting. thanks, john ❤️

[@6023barath]

Sorry to hear that, best of luck!! :)

[@alaska7766]

John I would highly recommend you read/reread Ecclesiastes. It is entirely about striking the balance between everything under the sun being meaningless in the grand scheme of things but also finding meaning in the day to day. I think it would really encourage you.

[@kaiyakershaw1028]

Ecclesiastes is exactly where my brain went! In a newer translation, the Common English Bible, "all is pointlessness under the sun" is a thematic refrain. Sometimes I'm in an "all is pointlessness" mood, but then I remember that God also made everything good in it's time (chapter 3) and intended us to enjoy our lives.

[@besma2627]

"The absurd arises from the confrontation between the human call and the unreasonable silence of the world" -Albert Camus

[@japita1578]

It reminded me of the quote "If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do."

[@abelsanchez2070]

Angel, love that show so much

[@1Deejay7]

I feel the pointless and mundane effort to make my bed in the morning.

[@vlogbrothers]

Making the bed is such an interesting activity to me. I might write an episode of the anthropocene reviewed about it. -John

[@Halosty45]

My parents didn't bother making my sister and I keep our rooms spotless or our beds made. All they required was we have clear, clutter-free paths to the bed/closet/etc. I never make the bed... because then I would have to specifically un-make it to go to sleep. I pull out the covers and wrap them around me like a sleeping bag.

[@ladyalfhildrforestofvioletmist]

Yeah, I sort of reverse make the bed when I'm going to bed at night. In the morning I generally leave a blanket tangle behind me, and then at night I straighten it out so that it all lays nicely on top of me. If I have people coming over, I throw the blankets over the pile of clothes on the side of my bed and try to make everything as level as possible, but otherwise I agree there's no real reason to make the bed.

[@JenHurler]

So freaking good. Thanks, John. You always articulate the feelings. You should be a writer.

[@alishak6073]

He is a writer. ??

[@saimalishahid1406]

@@alishak6073 he is, an amazing one at that. He wrote the fault in our stars.

[@gabrielaramos3975]

I remembered feeling seen by your words when this video came out about a year ago. It's funny how we are living the tomorrow that rendered that yesterday meaningless so soon. I might find this video even more important today.

[@brianmorton9419]

We DO find it odd that in 2019 we went to crowded airports

[@pumpkinomom4446]

Me: This video is more a piece of poetry that "just a youtube video"... Also Me: This is why John Green is a writer! *mindblown*

[@matttucker3]

Good morning John it’s Tuesday I really enjoyed the video and found it incredibly insightful and inspiring thanks. John, I’ll see you on next Tuesday

[@noas3949]

I've struggled with depression and mild suicidal ideation since I was 12 and goddamn. this spoke to me. I literally burst into tears after the video ended I can't even put into words what this meant to me, hearing someone I look up to so much putting into words thoughts I can barely have the mental capacity comprehend much less analyze. And to hear you think the same thoughts, and with the same logic turn it into something hopeful...I don't even know what to say. The tears speak for themselves.

[@cjspurg]

This was wonderful, like a weight was lifted and I felt more heard just by hearing someone else say this aloud. Thank you, John.

[@vitormelomedeiros]

But yeah, our clothing will look SUPER weird in 50 years, I mean, LOOK AT IT!

[@portentouslad5051]

They already look pretty weird to me. Does that mean I'm getting old?

[@SrValeriolete]

I don't really care about my clothes

[@hanabarrett6046]

The interesting thing to me is that people who just wear whatever still wear way different things in different times. Like the time we live changes how we do everything.

[@courtneymarcon349]

For some reason these thoughts you shared particularly towards the end, immediately made me think of the poem “A Brave and Startling Truth” by Maya Angelou. One of my favourites.

[@vlogbrothers]

Great poem! -John

[@helengreatrex242]

Thanks! Your comment led me to hear this poem for the first time. It's fantastic :)

[@yellowstone3587]

Indeed.

[@laurak8240]

Thank you, a really meaningful poem.

[@bunsprout]

you're always so good at expressing things i already feel but can't put into words. hearing someone else talk about it is also comforting and makes me feel not quite as alone

[@d0fabur5st82]

This video has seared itself into my very core. 4 years later I come back and it still resonates with me

[@karissalago4451]

"I'm never more than a couple minutes of thinking away from abject nihilistic despair" OMG I've never related to anything more than this

[@xxkhaliyxxxox3553]

Love your video, always gives me something to think about.

[@turtleking7772]

I may have downloaded the audio from this

[@tavanthomas7118]

TurtleKing777 same here !

[@Cynita]

This man is a walking poem and it's absolutely beautiful

[@kalikevin432]

Videos like this remind me I'm not the only one to think about how futile our brief existence is. Yet recently I've started to be more present in the now,which is making my futile existence more enjoyable

[@hardboard82]

KaliKevin I’d love to discuss this. What is the point of making a futile existence more enjoyable? In a meaningless world, do you think joy/happiness should be each person’s top priority?

[@kalikevin432]

@@hardboard82 I think everyone has a different top priority. Mine is not happiness but I will find it when I can through activities that bring it out. I feel like if you don't try to have some fun along the way, your life might turn out boring and feel meaningless from your lack of effort to do anything.

[@viviantompkins7925]

"We struggle on in the hopes of the lives to come and of the worlds to come" Nicene creed reference? (I look forward to the life of the world to come). Beautiful regardless! :)

[@vlogbrothers]

Yes, Nicene Creed reference. -John

[@viviantompkins7925]

Yay! :) I feel like a good Episcopalian for catching that, lol. And thanks for the reply, it made my day! :D

[@ronpeck63]

John, I just enjoy the journey and you help so much in that endeavor. Much appreciation.

[@stephanie93gomez]

I love that your optimism takes work and that you are willing to do that work.

[@edixon2225]

I love listening to your ideas and thoughts. You always put things in perspective. Right now sucks for me because of an idiotic college professor, but even in the grand scheme of my lifetime, it is a minor speed bump on a long road of adventures.

[@meganbockelman9050]

"But then I started to think some more" perfect description of my brain most of the time 😅 Edit: Also "brains are so weird" Yes like what the heck? Lol

[@camelopardalis84]

Everybody's brain is weird. So dumb and malfunctioning while at the same time so freakishly versatile and full of potential.

[@afreennaaz7626]

Hi fren ||-//

[@meganbockelman9050]

Afreen Naaz Hello fren!! 😊 ||-//

[@afreennaaz7626]

@@meganbockelman9050 cool to find a Nerdfighter clique member, maybe we can find eachother on twitter

[@meganbockelman9050]

Afreen Naaz absolutely! I actually have two twitter accounts... 😂 @dmajumpsuit is my tøp stan account and @meganbockelman is my personal account (where I occasionally RT vlogbrothers stuff too!) 😄

[@JessicaBiilor]

“We don’t live in the grand scheme of things” is both an absolutely profound, intimidating and beautiful truth to me. Thank you.

[@mariama.1538]

The relatability of this video is comforting. Was in a rut like that last week and thought there must be someone else who felt the same and I feel like this video is a transcription of my thoughts and feelings.

[@catarinaldi]

It's actually nice to hear that we don't live on the grand scheme of things and that humans are weak and need other people. I always think about how meaningless life is and end up being more depressed and suicidal, so to hear other people saying that yes we are meaningless but just in the great scheme of things and we don't live there, it's a little relief. Thank you Jonh. Thank you all for vlogbrothers and nerdfighters.

[@LivinOnBorrowedAngst]

similar thoughts of stagnation and futility have been circling me like vultures lately. this is a timely reminder that i'm not alone in these thoughts and they don't need to overshadow my view of positivity and progress. it's so weird that, like the polarity you mentioned, one moment i'll be thinking about charity organizations or newly discovered species of frogs or the themes of star trek, feeling optimistic, and the next i'm overwhelmed by the abundance of low-quality products and corruption, entropy... this all has been on my mind a lot lately, and it was good to hear from you about it. i think i'll take "the necessity to struggle" as a bolster going forward.

[@smhill818]

Thank you, John! This hit the spot, as I've been working through a bit of an existential crisis myself these past few weeks. Your words and the discussions they've kicked off in the comments are a good source of positivity, rationality, and solidarity to draw on when the fear, uncertainty, and doubt return.

[@VinceTibo]

dude. this is so good. I'm at a lack of words to express the awe I feel towards how beautifully Joh puts his (and often my) thoughts into words. I always love John Videos.

[@whyshouldicarehistory5038]

If you wanted a vlogbrothers version of Charlie’s letter at the end of perks.

[@dixar8589]

chris cucinotta omg gg

[@FutureNow]

Several times per day I wonder why I'm so concerned about my life goals if I'm going to die in the not-so-distant future anyway. So can definitely relate to this. It's impressive any of us continue to just live despite this knowledge and do cool things and make new relationships. Thankfully these thoughts tend to be, like our mortality, fleeting.

[@arletbode4847]

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND NOBODY UNDERSTOOD ME. Thank you for articulating these ideas so well and providing a resolution I resonate with. I'm feeling much better now.

[@candycoatedcactus]

This is the John Greeniest video I've seen yet. Thank you for inviting us into your personal life and discussing these things publicly. Your fierce and sometimes quiet hope for humanity in spite of the negativity you are drawn down into is inspiring. May your future be filled with more pretzels and fewer friendless flights

[@nebulouskoala9058]

This is a good video :) let's put in some work, people!

[@gabby4558]

At least I'm not the only one who thinks "okay everybody in this room will be dead at one point". Oh, and "at one point, no one in this room existed". We exist for such a short time. It really puts things into perspective

[@gljames24]

I had an existential crisis a month ago and ended up thinking along similar lines. John, I want to thank you for your wise words, the comfort they bring, and for spreading hope. Hope is probably the scarcest resource, so your words are truly invaluable.

[@colleenanne4032]

Thank you! I am sooooo relieved and oddly energized by the fact I am not the only one who has these thoughts repeatedly. Thank you for sharing. This is so valuable for all of us. Esp the young people.

[@MrFindX]

Ah yes, this is the John Green we've come to love over the years.

[@MCRogueHaven]

Have you seen Kurzgesagt's video on Optimistic Nihilism?

[@vlogbrothers]

Yes, I love it very much! I don't *agree* with all of it, but it is so well-articulated and carefully argued. I think Philipp from Kurzgesagt and I look at the world with very similar values, but from slightly different perspectives. I am such a huge admirer of the work they do, and I am a big fan of the sturdy hope that optimistic nihilism can provide. -John

[@MCRogueHaven]

@@vlogbrothers Where do you disagree?

[@MethosOhio]

That question sounds like a topic for another video I'd like to watch.

[@dannybou-maroun8028]

@@vlogbrothers Hey look at that, you guys did a video together!

[@lamiasfaust6867]

This has been one of my favs of ur videos in a good while. Thank you John

[@TheStarToTheRight]

My mom started watching over my shoulder halfway through, and was crying by the end. Thank you for such a wonderful video!

[@kezla]

Loved this. I often see the moon in the daytime and think about how pretty it is... which leads to how vast space is... and also how insignificant we are and OMG. But then I take a breath and remind myself that even though we may eventually be insignificant, this moment right now isn't, in the now... And the mood is still pretty 🤓

[@trinkab]

John, once again you have turned a fleeting thought into a 4 minute "GAAAAAAAHHHH!"

[@TheatreChick73]

I often find myself watching your videos and exclaiming (albeit in my head so as not to scare those around me) "Oh my goodness, I think that way too!" It makes me feel less alone and less freakish. But then, you take it a step further and comment on the thought patterns in some manner that helps calm me and understand myself better. Thank you so very much for that.

[@harleyshanks]

Kind of on topic anecdote: My friend recently asked me if I would ever get an “impulse tattoo”, and I told her “Oh yes.” because to me, my body feels temporary. One day my body will decay into the dirt or be turned to ash, and my tattoos will go with it. C’est la vie. I feel like this is how I look at a lot of things nowadays. I will die and so will everyone else, but I can make a person’s day by smiling at them or trying to make a pretty heart in their latte. (I’m a barista) I can write down all the quotes I love right now in my bullet journal, or listen to the new Marianas Trench album on repeat for days, or take a hundred photos and videos of my friends. And its not for nothing. These small things are things are make me happy right now. Small actions can make others happy right now. And sure, we’re just on a rock floating through space destined for doomsday, but right now? Right now life is beautiful. And if I want a pretty image tattooed on my body “forever”, then that’s beautiful too.

[@camelopardalis84]

Supply chains are a less mundane topic than you seemingly think they are and the stuff we acquire will not end up in landfills in its entirety since part of it will help the already existing garbage islands grow as well as possibly form new ones. That's all I have to say for now.

[@vlogbrothers]

Oh I love supply chains! We spend a lot of time talking about supply chains at dftba. They are incredibly important! But the thinking I was describing in this video is disordered thinking--it is misplaced anger and oversimplified (and therefore inaccurate) nihilism. Hope that came through in the end. -John

[@camelopardalis84]

@@vlogbrothers You're tuning out the garbage island part of my comment, aren't you?

[@whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatw]

hits so different after 2020

[@FordRasmussen]

Very insightful. I was at an airport terminal last week, and you know, being there with a bunch of strangers living unique lives really does open the mind. Everyone should experience that every once in a while.

[@tiffanytham710]

Just the most beautiful video ever made. I shed tears.

[@patblack781]

I know those highly different world views... Sometimes I am so worried about the future and what I will do and then I am so calm because well... it'll work out somehow and I will end dead anyways

[@SlayerOfAll10]

We're at 2021 now and 2020 made 2019 very forgettable in comparison. I miss the old norm

[@sjenkinss13]

John (and Hank in other videos), thank you for giving words to the complex feelings I experience and, therefore, find difficult to share with others. It makes this world seem more connected and comforting, and less like a cold space rock spinning through the void.

[@lauralivin]

Thank you for sharing, John. Recently I've been learning more about Ethics & have been facing situations that have confronted foundational beliefs about faith I've had since I was a child. My mind now tends to travel back & forth and question everything, so the fact that you shared this meant a lot. We're definitely not alone, and today that brought me comfort. Thanks.

[@Emily-ss7zv]

John, it's funny how similar our thought processes are. I worry about these same issues. Pretty much whenever I contemplate outer space I start out in awe of how big the universe is and how beautiful the images we have of space are. But then I start thinking about how small Earth is and that the sun will eventually kill us. I really like how you pointed out that we don't live in the grand scheme of things. It is difficult but I'd like to be able to focus more on the present moment than on these bigger issues that I have no control over

[@mlemleh]

Great name, Emily. Have you read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy? Or, better yet, listened to the radio series by the same name (which predates the books)? It’s great. Your description of space reminded me of it.

[@Emily-ss7zv]

Haha thanks! I like your name too. I have read part of that book but didn’t finish. I’ll have to check out the podcast, thanks for the recommendation!

[@ankurhasija7262]

No, I am gonna go with companionable silence being the meaning of life.

[@lucasswift3881]

I find myself far too often sinking into this when left to my own devices, then forcing myself to ignore it as to try and avoid the anxiety. This lifted some of that weight off my back, even if just for a little while. Thank you.

[@redcrest5]

True, heavy, pragmatic, hopeful and sad all at once. You're so good at crushing my heart and helping me reason my way around the pitfall of despair/pain in such a short space of time. I have whiplash now.