The frustration a young man expressed to me the other day is endemic to us all, I am sure. He had chosen a path of study, but upon arriving there had come to discover that it was absolutely not to his liking – not his chosen métier. Now what? He has told his friends, his parents, his classmates — he had, in fact, told the whole world.
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Find your good day
Yesterday, I had a good day. This is a time acknowledged by everyone and should be benchmarked — noted as a point of meaning — I believe. We don’t often get a really fine day, do we? I awoke early, before the alarm in fact, and felt refreshed. As I did my yoga, thoughts of righteousness and prosperity washed over me. The negative, for an instant, tried to intrude.
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Warmth and tenderness
We all need warmth and tenderness. It is the lotion that oils our emotional joints and makes us more psychologically supple and sensitive to the vagaries of life. How many times do we wonder whether those broken souls who reside in the hidden creases of buildings or lying prostrate in an underground pedestrian tunnel are simply devoid of love? There have been numerous studies of orphaned children in large hospital-like institutions. (1)
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Your mood will change
Isn’t human nature fascinating? You are in the throes of despair – a lost love, a failed interview, a dearth of money or a surfeit of angst, etc., etc. Then something occurs: you receive a wonderful email, someone smiles solicitously, you are blessed by the wind and the rain, you wake up refreshed — whatever it is — and suddenly, once again, you are thrust into the bosom of happiness.
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I must be willing to change
Many people believe that bureaucracies are filled with minions, addled by boring and repetitive tasks, simply filling in time, and living mundane and pitiful lives. In this view, bureaucracy, or government, is therefore a nonsensical blight on mankind and must be reduced, if not stopped altogether, though this is probably impossible. The anarchist, (1) Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921) is an exciting to read in this area. If we adopt this view, then we must realize that its sycophants are not elected but wield enormous power.
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The family
The family has been at the core of human development since time immemorial. The first man, according to Judea-Christian tradition, even after the Fall, (1) was allowed to form a family. Though problems did occur, with God eventually deciding to cleanse the world with the Flood, (2) he still allowed Noah and his relations to survive and build a civilization.
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Virtual reality
What is wrong with the concept of virtual reality? Nothing, but it is, well, virtual — not authentic! This is analogous to reading about a country, but never visiting it. You are left with an impression, but you do not experience the true sights and smells. I often think of young people today, for example. Very few have ever had a part-time job. They are then suddenly thrust into the real world of employment — the early-morning hours, the office politics, and the stress. It is totally understandable why so many want to escape and “lie flat.” (1)
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Friendship
This is a topic that is fraught with undue amounts of pain and frustration. When we gain consciousness at 20 or so, we realize, fundamentally, that we are alone. — at least all thoughtful people do. Life then becomes an attempt to bridge the distance between other beings in our society and meet people who are like me
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The explorer within
I am a very conservative man. But, like most of us, I harbor a deep affection for the renegade, the bon vivant, the explorer, and the adventurer — the person who breaks conventional norms and steps into something unique, something different. That said, the true quest, I maintain, is to embark on the great crusade that is within me. Where can I go with my life? What undiscovered territories and lands reside inside of me?
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Our personal temple
The body is our private sanctuary, is it not? That said, over the decades, there seems to be a remarkable explosion of tattoos littering the corporeal landscape. The ones I greatly enjoy are those to be seen in the most frigid of weather. Their display is only amplified by the dearth of clothing which should be covering an exposed piece of flesh. Why do we deem it necessary to mutilate our temple – our own piece of God’s gift of life? This is because we are subject to an overabundance of displays and ideas.
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