My Sudden Obsession with Camus
Okay so last Tuesday I was scrolling through my dusty bookshelf when this bright yellow cover caught my eye – Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus.” Honestly? I bought it three years ago during that phase where I pretended to be into philosophy. Never opened it past page 5 until now.
Started reading during lunch break and bam – hit this brick wall called “absurd creation.” Felt like deciphering alien code. Googled it, but every explanation used words like “existential phenomenology.” Nope. Decided I’d crack this nut myself and explain it like talking to my neighbor Dave who thinks Kafka is a coffee brand.
How I Butchered Camus For Two Days Straight
First, I dragged out my highlighters and attacked Sisyphus again:
- Scribbled “WTF?” in margins whenever Camus mentioned “rebellion against the void”
- Made coffee stains on pages about “the divorce between man and his world”
- Stuck sticky notes everywhere like a mad detective
Then I did something crazy – I applied it to my boring Wednesday:
- Stood in line at DMV for 2 hours thinking “This is ABSURD. Why am I here?”
- Laughed when the clerk said their system crashed…again
- Realized my cheerful defiance was kinda…Sisyphean?
The Lightbulb Moment (While Scrubbing Dishes)
Here’s what finally clicked:
- Absurd = Humans crave meaning but universe gives zero answers. Total mismatch. Our search hits a void.
- Creation = Camus says: Keep making art/stories/life anyway. Not to find meaning, but to spit in the void’s eye.
Imagine pushing a boulder up a hill daily knowing it’ll roll back down. Absurd hero says: “Fine. But I’ll whistle while doing it.” That’s the rebellion. That’s absurd creation.
Why This Sticks With Me Now
Used to stress about my failed pottery hobby. Now I just enjoy smashing clay while laughing at my lopsided vases. Camus didn’t fix life’s chaos – just showed me how to dance in the earthquake. And if Dave ever asks? I’ll tell him it’s about finding joy while lost in Ikea forever.
