Getting to Know The Boys In The Basement – #63

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Nicky Mendenhall
  • April 12, 2013
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Randall J. Bjork* satisfied my curiosity regarding the fourth boy in the basement (ecstasy) with one word:  

“Orgasm!” 

After taking a moment to enjoy my startled expression, Randy assured me: “Bacon and eggs on Saturday morning are orgasmic.”

Since Saturday morning crispy bacon and hash browns at the Cozy Cafe have been known to satisfy my carnal desires, I grasp his point immediately.  

I continue my cross examination: “Do you have a treatment plan for the Boys in the Basement?” 

His answer surprises me. Contrary to my initial instinct to keep the boys locked in the basement, Randy indicates that entertaining the boys daily would be prudent.  

Here are Randy’s words to me after reading Post #62: 

Those Boys represent the primary, unmodified emotions of the mammalian brain.  Just think of some pleasant pastels of them for everyday balanced living…sort of a Goldilocks approach to things.
To address your interest in ecstasy, a pastel might be enjoying a nice cup of white peony tea while reading Emily Dickinson or contemplating Ecclesiastes on The Sabbath.  You can define unbridled ecstasy for yourself, but it might involve increasing your calorie count–don’t forget to push fluids.

In more practical but less poetic words, I would say monitor and make conscious inchoate** fear, kindle a  spark of anger when needed for self- protection, embrace a dark smudge of despair and coax it to reveal its deep roots, and indulge in at least one activity a day that brings pleasure.  

Or – if you prefer – increase your calorie count and push fluids!

We will learn more about the boys in the coming weeks! In the meantime, my suggestion is to introduce yourself to your boys in the basement. Let them know what you need and let us know what you discover!

Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall


*Dr. Bjork, M.D.,”Neurophilosophy: The Meaning of Life” – a presentation in Bangkok for Creativity and Madness Conference, 2013.

**Inchoate – a new word for me meaning just began and so not fully developed. 

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2 comments

  1. Hi Nicky,

    Nice to know you are back and posting again. I was surprised that in last week's post you were saying that perhaps "ecstasy" is taboo in our culture.

    I would think it quite the opposite. I think our culture is rather bent on finding ecstasy in the primitive brain sense. Our culture is not exactly inhibited when it comes to seeking out intense pleasures in sex, food, drugs (there's even one named ecstasy). Some of us may be personally inhibited in this – but our culture is not.

    I find the phrase "boys in the basement" curious and a bit odd, truthfully. First, that they are "boys" but also in the basement. Are you or Dr. Bjork suggesting that they are unconscious? (basement is sort of psychodynamic representation of unconscious…)

    Anyway, in my mind, the only true joy or ecstasy worth much of my attention is spiritual union with God. I'm not saying that pleasure is bad – it can be a gift. But we can also get pretty messed up seeking it if we give it too much priority (or don't pay attention to our priorities).

    If there is a God (as I believe), the joy potential in divine union is eternal and unconditional. I'd much favor this over passing brain reactions in a brain that will pass. Ah well, you know how I am…

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