Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining brilliantly. It is hard not to be positive and optimistic when we have such a day. The question becomes if the weather were dark and foreboding, would I still feel so contented? The reply, of course, has to be in the affirmative — it has to still be, yes. I cannot be unduly affected by the weather. Each new day summons a new start — a new beginning. Now, many would think that this concept is just naive. Of course, I can be affected by the weather or other external factors. Clearly, it is true that I am exposed to my environment: my job, my family, my age, and my health — to name but a few. This is the nature of life. However, human beings and other creatures have a self-reflective nature. (1) We are, potentially, aware that we are alive and perhaps able to think multiple thoughts at the same time. (2) Reflection is a wonderful gift, but also an odious curse.
Continue reading The new beginning
Being extraordinary
I love this word: extra — ordinary! It suggests bigger than what exists, larger than the average. — an opportunity to imagine something greater than endures at present.
In our zeitgeist, unfortunately, the term has become abused — overused, in fact! We are summoned to live exceptional lives or to have astonishing experiences. But, of course, most of us do not exist in these external superlatives. We are, nonetheless, bombarded with images from the Internet. This manipulates many people into living mostly vicarious lives in the blind pursuit of fame, riches, and glory: the capitalistic dream of economic achievement. All this marketing nonsense is simply designed to heighten our consumptive desires. (1) Don’t you want to look wealthy like your favorite, chique billionaire? Then, drive this particular Land Rover, etc., etc.
There is nothing wrong with physical wealth. It is wonderful to be able to live a good life and assist your family and friends. The problem arrives, in my estimation, when we look to extrinsic factors to live astounding lives. You must ask yourself, “Why does a man — usually men — kill himself when he loses all his money? Obviously, his lucre has defined him. Movie stars or people of immense fame also encounter the same kind of denial and anger. (2)
The conflict is not with society, it is with me. I must begin at the beginning when I am 20 years old or so — my first blush with consciousness. After prayer and introspection, I realize that I am distinct from my social identity, I am unique. I am extraordinary just by the fact of being alive. There is no one like me, there never has been, and there never will be. But, I am only a raw diamond, an unfinished tableau, an incomplete novel. Without an effort placed on my growth — spiritual, physical, and psychological — I remain nothing. I continue, perhaps for my lifetime, in an unfulfilled state.
Now to my development: firstly, my notebook is called for. Every single day, I begin to chronicle my special talents, my gifts. Which ones are innate and which ones must be developed? Prayer: have I developed a special relationship with God, Gaia, or the Universe — the maker of all things? Then, after my formal education, my thoughts and beliefs are put into action, again and again, and again. I accept that failure and loss are the necessary stripes of maturity. Without these struggles, success can never be achieved. And then, there it is — Flow. (3) I have arrived at what is extraordinary in me.
After further practice, I can present my contribution to society. It cannot be taken away from me by loss or rejection because it dictates who I am. I have become a person who is truly extraordinary. When Gandhi (4) died he owned six items, including his glasses, yet he changed the way we view peace and he further liberated India. He leaves us with his thoughts: Carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny.
A closing thought: It is important to draw a distinction between vanity and a true understanding of your attributes. We experience this when we meet people for the first time. The truly powerful do not boast of their accomplishments in the world of business, romance, or life. They are modest and yet all-powerful. The Dalai Lama (5) is a living example of this strength.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about being extraordinary. It is an undeveloped quality in all people.
To be noted: From Benjamin Franklin (6) — After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your pensive walk, please reflect on what your extraordinary nature means to you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave –critical thinking is great!
Quote: I am nothing without effort.
Footnotes:
2) William Holden: The Golden Boy | The Hollywood Collection
What is it like to grow old?
Aging is an oft-discussed topic. On the one hand, society lauds the wisdom of the elderly, and other the other, it vilifies the process. Most of us have a curious relationship with existence and our place in it. What is one to do? When we gain consciousness at 20 or so, we are confronted with the process of time. I will become 30, 40, 50, etc. What will this mean? Each generation has its own approach.
I grew up in a time that praised youth over age. “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” (1) Life is short — enjoy it! I was born in 1956, right at the tail end of the Baby Boomer Generation. (2) Our parents were mostly military veterans or married to military veterans who had endured the Depression and a violent war. Many of the retired soldiers came home altered and not at all happy. That said, there was an overall mood that hard work would make you rich. There was very little time for joy.
The average young person saw their embittered parents and consciously or unconsciously decided to “opt-out” of society before anything got too serious or excessively pernicious. They were going to have as much fun as possible and leave before the ossified nature of old age set in. So, they took their pleasure and attempted to change the world into a kinder gentler place.
This, unfortunately, was not possible because the Vietnam War (3) was creating the same societal trauma that their parents had experienced. In time, the Boomers joined “the establishment” and embraced the movement that accepted getting physically older as a time of pain, suffering, and, ultimately, death. (4)
I propose a different approach to aging. I simply do not identify as ancient. I do not identify as old, or middle-aged, or as young. I further do not identify as white, or black, or yellow, or brown, or combinations therein. Finally, I do not identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bi-sexual, transsexual, or gender fluid. I simply identify as a person — as a human being. This nature is pure and age-less.
Now, it would be naive to claim that my essence is not subject to a mortal life cycle because it is. I will physically die one day. I do believe, however, that God has a bigger purpose for all of us. But, this is not the point. It is how I live, not how I will meet my demise on Earth.
If a person wants to live a purposeful and fulfilling life, it is necessary to dispose of the externally-generated trappings of the self and set about developing the inner “beautiful me” and uncovering my God-given mission. This is not easy and requires a lifetime of introspection and work. So, what is it like to grow old? I don’t know. I am only worried about what is it like to live. As John Lennon (5) cautions us: Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.
A closing thought: One of the biggest conundrums we all face, I believe, is our relationship with the passing years. This is an enormous mystery. All around me, my environment changes. Creatures and other humans are born and they die, and yet I, seemingly, go on. This causes a form of trauma — and eventually, fear — in many people. To avoid this, we adopt a form of escapism that holds up bodily youth as an attempt to stop the vicissitudes of time. This is most certainly not unique to our epoch. The Greeks were fighting the same demons 2,500 years ago. The only answer to a peaceful co-existence with myself has to be in the realization that I am a necessary being and have an important job to fulfill while I am still alive, whatever this may be.
To sum up: This week, we discussed what it is like to grow and what this means to each of us.
To be noted: From Oscar Wilde (6) — Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your energetic walk, please feel and enjoy your body.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Well-being is associated with a positive mind. This is true at any age, regardless of your physical condition.
Footnotes:
1) “Don’t Trust Anyone Over the Age of 30”
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomers
3) The Vietnam War Explained In 25 Minutes | Vietnam War Documentarych?v=7tNTh6KlXXU
What is an education?
This is a complex question to answer. To paraphrase the late, great, Sir Ken Robinson: We live in an age of educational inflation. (1) Everyone, seemingly, has a degree or degrees. This was the promise, wasn’t it? A more educated populace would improve the plight of humanity — a higher level of schooling would construct a more loving and caring society. It hasn’t happened, unfortunately, why not?
Continue reading What is an education?
Can I learn from pain and failure — what is the positive response?
By the time we achieve consciousness, at 20 or so, we know that the Buddha is correct — life is suffering! (1) It is filled with pain and disappointment and loss. How then does make sense of life? Tragically, many do not. Here I think of the many millions living on the streets or those barely functioning deluded by drugs, alcohol, and failure. (2)
Continue reading Can I learn from pain and failure — what is the positive response?
What is truth?
This is a big question. For our purposes let us answer this query in an informal as opposed to a philosophically formal way. (1) In my opinion, truth itself can be broken into three broad spheres: objective, subjective, and societal or pragmatic truth.
Continue reading What is truth?
Social status
Do you often wonder how we socially position ourselves? I find that most of us, especially when we are young, nurture some form of status to give us a place in the hierarchy of society. Some, of course, are ill-conceived — bordering on amusing. Here, I am thinking of the individuals who constantly boast of their sexual exploits or their money. Usually, when we blatantly state something so intimate, it is probably a concocted lie.
Continue reading Social status
Do you have patience?
I am naturally not a patient man. Since I was a little boy, I have always been in a hurry — having little understanding for the people and things around me that marched at a more leisurely pace. This attitude lent itself to more than one upsetting event with hurtful words uttered thoughtlessly. I needed a more balanced view of life. At around 30 years of age, it became self-evident that nothing could be gained from a frenetic existence.
Continue reading Do you have patience?
Affirmations
What are affirmations and why are they necessary? We live in extremely dynamic times, experiencing a surfeit of information on a daily basis. It is truly overwhelming. Everyone experiences this. Most societies have a legacy of prayer. This includes an attempt to make sense of the world that we live in and the mortal death that appears to follow this life.
Supplication used to be sufficient for it allowed a true connectivity to God, Gaia, and the Universe. This, unfortunately, is no longer enough. We do not begin our day from a natural position of peace, for life is increasingly filled with noise and movement — from the time we awake until we sleep.
There is no quiet beginning to my day, the Internet tells me, as soon as I open my eyes, who I am, what I am supposed to be, and how I should envisage the future. This, of course, is all an artificial construct — all fake — having no correlation to the true me and the importance of my mission in life. Sadly, the thrust of our newfound connectivity is to become better consumers not improved citizens.
Affirmations, therefore, are statements that afford us a platform from which to develop as human beings. They give us the strength to accept ourselves and, in tandem with prayer, go forward in the great adventure of life “to slay our proverbial dragons.” (1) This is my suggested list of affirmations, and the ones that I say on a daily basis.
First, when I awaken, I thank God for another day of consciousness. How I experience this reality is of my own doing, of course. I mentally construct whether it will be a good or a bad day. I normally choose the former, as opposed to the latter, though not every day am I so disposed. “What a beautiful day! Thank God I am alive and able to experience one more day of life.” Second, I am grateful to the Lord for a relationship with Him — the I and Thou (2) thus described by Martin Buber. “I am a lucky man. I acknowledge the intimate relationship I have with Infinity and the peace this brings me.” Third, I laud my family and friends for always supporting me and my goals in life, even if they disagree with some of my methods. “I bless my parents, my siblings, my children, and my friends for always assisting me in my journey.” Fourth, I salute the opportunity to make this day unique — entrusting me with another day to affect change in myself and in the world. Today I exist in the now. (3) “I welcome that I live in the Now, not in the past and not in the future, and the strength this gives me to travel on in my life.” And finally, I accept that I am perfect. I was created in the image of God. (4) My job in life is to embellish this perfection — which is no small feat. “I accept my excellence. Let it be displayed with the humility necessary to become wise.”
These are, accordingly, my very brief list of affirmations. Try them every day for 21 days and they will become habit. See if they can benefit your life. If you do not choose mine, create your own. They will bring you closer to your truth. The great poet and philosopher, Rumi, (5) leaves us with a thought: Your heart is the size of an ocean. Go find yourself in its hidden depths.
A closing thought: Affirmations are a welcome addition to any morning routine. They assist all of us in giving some structure to our day. It is easy to forget that nothing truly exists outside of my mind. My worldview is essentially how I construct reality. The violence and anger we see in the world today are but the consequences of undeveloped minds. These actions can only be mitigated through prayer and reflection. As Tolstoy tells us: The Kingdom of God is Within You. (6)
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the power of affirmations.
To be noted: From the great bard, William Shakespeare (7) — We came into the world like brother and brother; And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.
Just for fun:
For reflection:
This week, on your peaceful walk, please reflect on the things that you affirm every day.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: I am perfect. I am created in God’s image
Footnotes:
1) You Have To Slay The Dragon | Jordan Peterson
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_and_Thou
3) The Power of Now Animated Summary
4) Genesis 1:27
5) Why is Rumi the best-selling poet in the US?
Your right to question
There are fundamentally two types of people in the world: those who accept all that they are told to do — from the time that they are born until they die — and those who question everything about the nature of life and love and God. The one will lead to a quiet and rather simplistic life that seems, at least on the surface, to be peaceful and conciliatory with nature and society itself. The other will be a struggle and a fight to find a reason or truth behind a position or an action.
Continue reading Your right to question