WAHAT #1: Aren't You Hungry?

An image of a team hungry for success, as created by Canva Dream Lab AI.

I love food and drink. I love learning about them, experiencing new or noteworthy examples of them, learning to make them, and sharing them with loved ones, new acquaintances, and even strangers.

What I love most about food and drink is their universality. Everyone everywhere experiences hunger and thirst throughout their entire lives. That puts hunger and thirst right up there with birth, breathing, and death among things we all share.

Lately, the analyst-observer-philosopher in me has been wondering if there are things for which we all hunger and thirst beyond food and drink. Herewith, my take on what at least three of those things are.

Dortch's ABCs of Universal Hunger and Thirst

A is for achievement. Why do it if you aren't trying to accomplish something? From getting out of bed to finding and pursuing your life's passion, every day includes a continuing series of attempts to achieve, conscious and otherwise.

B is for benefit. What is the goal of the achievement you're pursuing? How will it help you and/or others you care about and/or the world at large? 

There is nothing wrongly selfish about pursuing personal benefit, as long as that pursuit doesn't involve hurting yourself or anyone or anything else. Because no one else is able or willing to look out for your needs and interests. And nothing is overly grandiose about seeking or pursuing goals credibly seen as helpful and not harmful to the world at large. Heck -- gotta start somewhere... 

C is for connection. Whether with your higher and best self or like-minded, like-hearted others, connection drives much if not all pursuit of achievement and benefit. We all want to share our moments of happiness and joy and often seek solace from others when the world upsets or frustrates us.

Now What? Your Serve...

I am naively optimistic enough to believe there is value in trying to look at what I do, how I do it, and why I do it. Writing about things like those in this piece is part of that process. So the achievement of writing and sharing this piece delivers the benefit of helping me crystallize some thoughts and feelings, and tighten up some of the internal connections linking my body, mind, and spirit.

This collection of thoughts and feelings also offers the promise of connection with others. That's where you come in. 

Your reactions eagerly sought and warmly welcome. Feel free to leave your thoughts wherever you’re reading this if comments are supported, or to email me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com. I hope this begins some interesting conversational threads, excerpts and summaries of which I will gladly and gratefully share (anonymously or with attribution as you prefer) in future outings, several of which are already in various stages of construction.

Thanks for reading. Thanks again in advance if you share your reactions with me, share this post with others, or both. And please stay connected so we can continue and extend this emerging, evolving conversation.

We All Hunger and Thirst (WAHAT) is a series of pieces I’m writing and publishing to share things I’ve learned and foster connections and conversations about various elements of life and the world. Send your suggestions and reactions to me directly at medortch@dortchonit.com and feel free to share what you’ve read with others. Thanks!