LIFE IS A CONUNDRUM OF ESOTERICA

Inspired by Dr. Montgomery’s philosophy in A Series of Unfortunate Events, I personally believe and think of life as a conundrum of esoterica. 

Dr. Montgomery is a character who finds joy, beauty, and knowledge in things that others overlook–reptiles. Most people fear them and they believe that their facts are strange. But, his curiosity doesn’t need approval. What catches most people’s eye about him is not just what he knows, but how openly he loves learning.

With that being said, life often feels the exact same way. It’s full of ups and downs, which makes a person think, “Oh why me!?” It envelopes all sorts of mixed feelings at first– unfamiliar emotions, confusing choices or decisions, and questions without clear-cut, step-by-step answers to guide you. Much of what we search and yearn for is hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be noticed by those who are curious enough to look and brave enough to take a step back and breathe.

Throughout multiple books, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket in this case, I learned that it’s okay not to understand everything immediately. Some meanings reveal themselves slowly and with time, just like how the Baudelaire orphans eventually found out why this was happening to them. Each step they took would help them learn something they wouldn’t realize, whether that be going from one foster parent to the next and Count Olaf always after them making sure they never get peace or them together working together to save each other from getting hurt.

We often read books and sometimes skim over the most important piece of information without realizing. One must realize that reading becomes a way of exploring the unfamiliar without risks or fear. The Baudelaire orphans, gathered most of their information through books which helped them discover the truth in the end.

Thinking of life as a conundrum of esoterica means accepting confusion as a part of growth. It means staying curious, even if understanding takes time. And most importantly, it means finding beauty in what others might ignore.

Writer’s Note:

This reflection was inspired by dr. Montgomery from A series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and my own experience with curiosity, reading, and growing up. This is my first blog post and I hope it conveys my message to all of you. I really appreciate your time and patience in reading this first post. Books help me think–this is one of those thoughts.