Existentialism- a very brief summary

I am reading a book called "Ideas that Matter- The Concepts That Shape the 21st Century" by A.C. Grayling. It has been a great way to re-educate myself on the type of things you discover in formal education but tend to lose every day use of when you are surrounded by mundane domestic life or friends who don't really have time to discuss concepts that matter.
The book covers in neat little chapters, everything from nationalism, Luddites, Nazism, idealism, Judaism, Laissez-faire economics (my fave), logic, creationism, humanism, etc. It's a great reference book for ancient and modern religions, theories, science breakthoughs, modern economic processes, and even archeological finds that are important to our current civilization.
Anyway, I stumbled upon the idea of "Existentialism" which I have summarized below:

" 'Absurdity' is the key notion applied by existentialists to the human condition, meaning by it that there is no extrinsic meaning, purpose or value to human existence: it is 'absurd' in being wholly accidental and in itself pointless. As Camus put it ..."Man stands face to face with the irrational. He feels within him his longing for happiness and for reason. The absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and unreasonable silience of the world'.
But this chracterization is not intended to be...so badly stated, pessimistic or nihilistic. Rather, it is the starting point for the claim that individuals must, in repsonse, create meaning in their lives by asserting the value of freedom, creativity, and love, and attributing dignity to human beings thus condemned to be self creating and self- valorizing. This is the basis of Existentialism. (This is also the root of the saying "the theater of the absurd" by Camus and is also found in works by Samual Beckett, Jean Genet and Pinter, whose characters are troubled and displaced, not attached to the a world that seems menacing to them...( this is because they have not taken it upon themselves to find meaning in the world that is indifferent to them; they must place themselves in the world, and creat their own purpose rather than waiting for the world to deem them worthy, or wait on another human to give them purpose).

Existentialism come svery close to atheist point of view that whatever meaning attaches to human existence is found in it or imposed on it by human beings themselves....because there is no purpose established for man 'outside'. Existentialism takes it a step further to include love, freedom dignity and creativity, to man's meaning, though Sartre describes the possesion of 'free will' as agony because it forces us to make choices in the face of existence's utter emptiness. But existentialism allows for 'authenticity' which means living according to one's beliefs, taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions, and accepting the agonies of one's own freedom."

In a nutshell, this idea speaks to me, it is how I have viewed life for a long long time. That is why I get frustrated with people who cannot seem to take responsibility for their own actions, and tend to seek blame for their mistakes. On the other hand, I have to realize I can only be watchful of my own, and if we would all allow that our actions are our own, people may treat each other with more respect and be filled with more pride and dignity.

thanks, and a have a great Sunday. I have a second load of laundry to do, and then checking out our backyard for weeds and other varmits.