Infinite Meaning

Earlier this week, I was rewatching the first season of Ted Lasso.

(It’s an amazingly charming show that you have to check out if you haven’t. It’s funny. It’s smart. It’s got heart. And It makes you feel good. It’s great.)

It is now in its second season. But I have watched the first one a fair bit.

The show resonates philosophically with me, you see. I see it as a meditation on how loving (if imperfect) people living in and with imperfect systems can find a better way.

A way that works better for all.

In any case, the point is, I was watching a scene I’ve seen more than a few times.

I won’t spoil anything for ya.

What’s important is that it’s a scene in which a character goes from being excited about the prospect of a one-night stand to receiving a text that seems to kill her buzz.

But this time…

This time I noticed something new.

Something different about the actress’s facial expressions.

There was a distinct look on her face. Not only of her buzz being killed.

It was something deeper.

It was a kind of weird sad emptiness that, to the brilliant actress’s credit, really moved me when I noticed it!

By noticing this small detail of a character’s facial expressions, I was able to find even more meaning in a scene that I’ve seen plenty of time before.

This reminded me of a powerful lesson that is near and dear to my heart:

Life Is an Infinite Web of Meaning

Life is made up of all kinds of texts from the media we consume…

To references to such media people develop…

To memes people create from such media…

There truly is an Infinite Web of Meaning with interconnected layers to be found all around us.

More and more meaning is always being created.

AND you can always find more meaning in something.

You can always ZOOM IN.

You can always focus your attention and notice some new detail.

Like I did when watching an episode I thought I already totally knew.

And

You can always ZOOM OUT.

You can always try to understand how something fits into a larger context.

Like when you realize that an episode is making reference to tropes in romantic comedies.

Or when you realize that there is a broader moral or political argument being given by the author in the way the character dynamics play out.

Like when an overly trusting tragic hero is finally betrayed by the friends they should never have trusted.

And upon zooming in/out…

You can always ZOOM IN/OUT AGAIN!

You can always zoom in and notice further details. Such as noticing in what other scenes the character makes that face or ones similar to it. Noticing when that same feeling takes over their spirit. And asking why.

And you can always zoom out and further contextualize things. By considering what other tragic heroes share a similar fate. And which other similar (but non-tragic) were able to avoid or overcome such betrayals.

This applies not only to piece of media.

But to all kinds of spaces and places.

The whole world is an infinite web of meaning.

In this way, there’s no limit to how much more meaning you can get out of life.

All by yourself.

You have the power to find more and more meaning in everything around you.

You have the power to get even more enjoyment out of the stories you love.

You have the power to find happiness in being a dedicated reader of life’s infinite web of meaning.

You don’t need anything else.

Only a willing mind. Willing to entangle itself in the infinite web of meaning all around us.

So, go forth and read this web.

And empower yourself to get more meaning and happiness out of everything around you.