When we lose that sense of the possible we lose it fast. One day we are absorbed by dressing well, following the news, keeping up, coping, what we might call staying alive; the next day we are not. One day we are turning the pages of whatever has arrived in the day's mail with real enthusiasm-maybe it is Vogue, maybe it is Foreign Affairs, whatever it is we are intensely interested, pleased to have this handbook to keeping up, this key to staying alive-yet the next day we are walking uptown on Madison past Barney's and Armani or on Park past the Council on Foreign Relations and we are not even glancing at their windows.
In Joan Didion's "Blue Nights," she reflects on the fleeting nature of interest and engagement in life. She captures the contrast between moments of vibrant enthusiasm, where one actively engages with the world through fashion, news, and cultural events, and moments of detachment, where these once-enjoyed pursuits become irrelevant. This rapid shift illustrates how our sense of possibility can be lost in an instant, leaving us feeling disconnected and disinterested in the very things that once captivated us.
Didion emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of connection to the world around us. She portrays the poignant realization that what once brought joy and perspective can swiftly change to indifference. This message serves as a reminder of the fragility of our engagement with life and the impact it has on our well-being, suggesting that when we lose our vision of what is possible, we may find ourselves slipping away from meaningful experiences and connections.
