Recently on my way to prayer, I was passed by two racing buses. “I didn’t quite catch that, what did you say?” Yes, it is true – two buses were “jockeying for position” down one of our city’s busy thoroughfares. It was a brilliant morning in the process of segueing into an even more beautiful day. The sun was out and, for November, the weather was temperate and comfortable. It was not the kind of morning that promoted frustration and anger. Walking and reflecting were being beckoned, not a call for misplaced justice and one-upmanship. What would produce such vexation, such hostility? The answer – the self — it is me that creates my perception of the world, not the other way round. I have come to observe, however, in my years on this earth that few people know this reality and even less believe it — why?
The simple answer is a combination of fear and of lack of knowledge – ignorance, in the most classical sense. (1) There is, unfortunately, no excuse for not developing a better, more socially responsible you. There are very few people in existence that are brilliant and even fewer that are fools. (2) This means that the majority of us sit in the middle — in a band of mediocrity or of excellence if we so desire. But to paraphrase Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” (3) In short, we must make an effort to improve our emotions and our expertise at anything. We must be students of our emotions and in this, we can also discover our true calling. We must believe that we can improve, we must never lose hope.
Hope: I often question what this word truly means. To me, it suggests that, until the day I die, I can affect change; I can make a difference. Since I was a little boy, I have always believed that life, though somewhat unpredictable, has true value. At birth, you are presented with the concrete opportunity to achieve whatever you want: if you truly want it and accept its consequences. Agreeing to this premise, my sentient journey has been a roller-coaster of successes and failures: in short, a grand adventure. I acknowledge whatever I have been dealt. I have no regrets. Increasingly with the classes that I teach though, I find that more and more young people are truly puzzled by the complexities of life, and therefore feel somewhat “hopeless and lost.” They are filled with false expectations by their elders and are thus afraid to begin their life mission. I constantly question what mechanism could be used to inculcate hopefulness. How are our schools and educational systems failing our children? It would appear obvious that not every student should go to university, for example.
This response is too effete and simplistic. All students should be inculcated with what they should expect out of life: its angst and its joy. In junior high school, a process could begin that would access the skills of each person: perhaps you are good with your hands at making things, you may like to dance or to paint: maximize this! These skills should be enhanced and burnished, and the less loved skills diminished. If we fail to begin this process of pedagogical change, “a blind generation” will be thrust into our society. Even more frightening, these youthful souls are growing up in an age that has lost its voice: it is mute due to the technology, in other words, the smartphone, and its ilk. Rhetoric as an art form is greatly endangered. Stand at any place where people congregate and you will be curiously stunned by the egregious silence. Where is the quiet buzz of conversation? It has transmogrified itself into a keyboard or a screen that carries thought: frightening! I am not a Luddite (4) but I believe that it is time to tell our “kids” the truth: life is not easy. There are no jobs! Tame the technology and develop your own, individual expertise and you will have a colorful life, though you may not live the American Dream.
Recently, I read an interesting article entitled How to Achieve Goals Through Persistent Starting. (5) Basically, it suggests that we should break all large tasks into a series of daily projects. “In essence, persistent starting means that you shouldn’t fill your mind with how big the project is. That will only make you feel overwhelmed. Instead, just focus on starting it every day: by doing that, you will eventually finish the project and achieve your goal.” To extrapolate further: if we wake up every day with a sense of excitement and passion, we will be given the results that the universe affords those who are happy and determined. We will not be one of those frustrated bus drivers on an irreplaceable Sunday morning. Sophocles, the great Athenian dramatist (496 – 406 BC), leaves us with a thought: Men may know many things by seeing; but no prophet can see before the event, nor what end waits for him. (Parts of this essay were originally published in October 2013)
A closing thought: A friend of mine recently commented to me about Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986). He lived in two centuries, two epochs really, and heralded the modern age of introspection. He was a great believer in personal development and gives us a lot of thoughts to ponder. (6) We all know that the world I occupy is, for the most part, created by me. And, yes, unfortunate things do occur in a person’s life. This is a common experience, I think. The critical point is how we overcome these failures and personal setbacks. Life is an experience that is meant to be fully lived not just noticed. I cannot or, at least, should not just be an armchair observer of my life. This will not produce the oft desired life well-lived.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about personal development and taking an active part in our own education
To be noted: When someone says, “You’ve Changed”, it simply means you’ve stopped living your life their way.
Just for fun: Brahms Double Concerto
This week on your reflective walk, please meditate on how you control your emotions
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: All wisdom is existent in the world; it is only to be accessed.
Footnotes:
1) Aristotle and Plato on Good and Ignorance
3) Excellence is a Habit: 7 Lessons from This Aristotle Quote
4) Luddite