The idea of clarifying what is real from what is unreal is a new phenomenon.  There was a time when only what we might call real things, existed.  Nothing else seemed possible.  Real trees, real people, real books, real entertainment, real relationships, real work, real money, real friends, and even nature was real.  Now oddly we live in a time where people have to use expressions like ”real talk” and ”keeping it real”, because real appears to be a diminishing thing.  Foods like cheese are sometimes labeled “made with real cheese” so as not to be confused with being only real cheese.  Costume jewelry, reality tv, synthetic foods, implants…. nowadays things aren’t always what they appear to be. 

Listen, this is real talk. (As opposed to the usual talk) 

Most things in the  past tended to be real.  Now unfortunately many people, especially younger folks, are growing up with a skewed sense of reality and of real things.  Many people today have lives that are mostly made up of what would have been considered in the not so distant past, as artificial or fake things. 

Even more sad, people today appear unable to distinguish the artificial from the real.  They assume that everything is real because it exists in any form, not realizing that just because something is visible or exists doesn’t mean it is real.  What a tragedy.  I hope I am not confusing you.   So to minimize any confusion, let’s explore a few brief definitions.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines real as:

1.  of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things (as lands or tenements)
2 a : not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : genuine <real gold>; also : being precisely what the name implies <a real professional> b (1) : occurring or existing in actuality <saw a real live celebrity> <a story of real life> (2) : of or relating to practical or everyday concerns or activities <left school to live in the real world> (3) : existing as a physical entity and having properties that deviate from an ideal, law, or standard <a real gas> — compare ideal 3b c : having objective independent existence <unable to believe that what he saw was real> d : fundamental, essential e (1) : belonging to or having elements or components that belong to the set of real numbers <the real roots of an equation> <a real matrix> (2) : concerned with or containing real numbers <real analysis> (3) : real-valued <real variable> f : measured by purchasing power <real income> <real dollars> g : complete, utter <a real fiasco>
3 of a particle : capable of being detected — compare virtual 3

— for real 1 : in earnest : seriously <fighting for real>
2 : genuine <couldn’t believe the threats were for real>
3 : genuinely good or capable of success (as in competition) <not yet sure if this team is for real>

Unreal is defined as:

lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness : artificial, illusory; also : incredible, fantastic

Artificial is defined as:

1 : humanly contrived often on a natural model : man-made <an artificial limb> <artificial diamonds>
2 a : having existence in legal, economic, or political theory b : caused or produced by a human and especially social or political agency <an artificial price advantage> <artificial barriers of discrimination — R. C. Weaver>
3 obsolete : artful, cunning
4 a : lacking in natural or spontaneous quality <an artificial smile> <an artificial excitement> b : imitation, sham <artificial flavor>
5 : based on differential morphological characters not necessarily indicative of natural relationships <an artificial key for plant identification.

Much can be  learned from just these simple definitions.  How much of what is out here is, or is related to things that are ”fixed, permanent, and immovable“?  How much of what is observed is not illusory (deceptive or not real)?  How many things that we see and eat are actually artificial?  How often are things exactly “what the name implies”?  How much of what is eaten is “humanly contrived based on a natural model“?  How often do people encounter something or someone that lacks “in reality, substance, or genuineness”?  How much conversation and time is actually spent on things that are “of or related to practical concerns.”?  If dollars were measured by “purchasing power“, are they as real as they once were?  How much of what is believed “occured or exists in actuality“?  This shows us the reality of real today. (I couldn’t resist putting it that way, forgive me.)  The real is gradually fading as the unreal is blended in with it.  Pay attention.   It is happening right before our eyes.

So as you go about the next few days consider how much of what you say, do, hear, observe, believe, possess, eat, think, and feel is actually real.  Consider whether you even care, or prefer the real over the artificial.  And if you do prefer the real, then make an effort to build your life on and with people and things that are actually real and leave the artificial to those who are inclined as such.  

But in truth, the reality is, if you are on this blog and reading it, then it is likely that you prefer the real, because I am about as real as it gets.

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