The wind at my face (#547)

I would prefer that the wind be coming at my back to help carry me forward, but such is usually not my fate. It seems that I am mostly pushing forward into the wind. I am using the wind as a metaphor to illustrate how I am living my life. It is real that I am born during the early stages of human experience. There are millenniums behind me but they are characterized by mostly tumultuous and barbaric histories. The more enlightened experience of humanity is only centuries old and I suspect that there will be millenniums ahead where life should be characterized by our better natures instead of our worst. So, knowing that life is still evolving as to how we live it, there is much work still to do and moving forward is the path. It is hard to break out of paradigms that are comfortable and easily enough endured. However, progress toward greater life experiences than what we now enjoy is hard and sacrificing work. I can only speak for myself. I want to do everything I can to move the evolution of the human experience along for the sake of preserving humanity. The walking against the wind analogy is the struggle to improve how we all experience life. I have no other intent than to be a part of something special. Our current generation has opportunities to effect future behaviors and experiences. To not do something to continue to change and upgrade our society, as society continues to mature, is unthinkable to me. This is my position and not an indictment of anyone else. It is a peek into the window of my soul. I just thought I would open myself up to the light of examination.

The importance of family (#546)

I am smiling just thinking about how I could not wait to get out on my own and live my life. As a young man I was so eager to separate myself from my parents and siblings because I wanted to experience the world on my own terms. Free from the prying eyes and advice I was used to having around me. I remember the feeling of freedom and it's excitement. Over the years since, I have come to have that personal perspective I needed to be able to see how important my family was to me. Growing up with family all around me was stifling at times. Then growing up even more without family around me was lonely. I have learned to appreciate my family now in ways that were never obvious to me when I was younger. I am fortunate to have had a family to grow up in because I know that many children don't get that experience. All of these thoughts and emotions come back to me now and I see how blinded I was because of my own selfishness. I needed to get out on my own and understand things in the best way I knew how. I also know that even though I thought I was right about so many things, I was unwilling to listen to others who's advice would have been helpful to me had I the ears to listen. I cannot change the way things turned. What I do today is appreciate my family. They are the part of me I was willing to let go of earlier in my life. Not so anymore. I get it now. Life is really short. I stay connected to my family because I know now that they will always be a part of me.

I must push myself (#545)

Some days are better than others. Usually there is a steady flow to my daily living that is constant. However there are days when I feel I am pushing the rock uphill similar to King Sisyphus of Greek legend. I have to dig deep within me just to do the normal activities I usually do without giving any thought to it. It is a question of what my character is when faced with challenges. Where do I get the fortitude to push myself when it would be so comfortable to rest and delay things? From within my conscious soul. I learned from an early age the concept of perseverance and have incorporated it into my strategy for living. I am not always afforded the strong desire to implement my fortitude but when I am tired I still find a way to push forward. I do not claim any special recognition for doing what I should be doing but I do appreciate it when I can push myself to action when I can get by with not doing so. For me, it is important to present to others and myself a lifestyle based upon my strengths, not my weaknesses. The only way to be strong is by being strong, every moment of every day. For me to be the man I want to be is not only thinking it but doing it. Being accountable and, me, following through, intentions with actions, is all I know. Some days are easier than others and some days I have to work very hard to maintain the level of living I demand of my life.

Society versus natural rights (#544)

This is always the great struggle, how do we conform to both without sacrificing both. The way I see it is to be as natural as I can be without denigrating the demands of society to any real extreme. So now it is apparent that I hold my natural rights to a higher standard of worth than I do the rules of society. The reason is this; society is a structure that is constantly undergoing change. My natural self is consistent and is how I was born. I know the need to have a society that continues to evolve and keep us from chaos. This is valuable and necessary. I also know that generally the concept of society is to maintain and nurture the best of human principles. I have no doubt of the intent of society. What I do have is an individual life that is not a readily conforming nature. Again, society is structured in a general way, it does not fit all of us conveniently. Our diversity is a strength. Toleration of our diversity helps us maintain our individualness and gives us the freedom to live our own individual lives and still fit mostly within society. The purpose for life is yet to be known in the absolute. Our society then must be a loose fit for all of us to be able to cloak ourselves within it. There is still so much left to the unknown and a society that is open to the curious nature we have and allows us through the compassion we feel in our souls to explore the boundaries of the known, has a better chance of surviving as a society and gives us more freedom to express our own natural rights.

I must know who I am (#543)

This is my life. I have a finite amount of years to live. I guess saying that I must know who I am is an obvious statement. Certainly the person inside of my body is me, that takes care of the physical part of the statement. But who am I as to the soul part of the statement. Some questions I can ask myself to help me get a clearer understanding of who I am, are; Generally, how do I feel about other people? Do I have a vision of what life should be like? Do I value my heart and my mind equally? What do I think about our planet and the universe? Do I still hope for greater things for all of us? There are a lot of other questions I could ask myself but these are a few. Based upon how I answer these questions I can get a good idea about who I am. Once we have a better understanding of who we are, we are better able to state our ideas about concepts that are constantly being forwarded. I know we are still changing through continuing education and experience but we don't need to take someone else's idea and make it ours. We can add our own ideas based upon how the concepts line up with who we are. As individuals, we are all unique. Although we have many things in common, we are also very different as well. No person is more unique or the same as anyone else. We all have the same great attributes of humanity. All of us are worthy of knowing who we are and letting the rest of us know what we think based upon who we are. We are all leaders. At the very least we lead ourselves.

We can be who we think we are (#542)

I know with me, I am one thing in my head and another thing in my actions. Not always but enough of the time for me to notice. My understanding is that I am not as well coordinated between what I want to be and what I actually am being. This is eye-opening to me. For the most part I have known of this disconnect but I assumed that I would grow into maturity and my actions would come from my reasoned thought. Not true. What I now know is that I must consciously remain aware of my thoughts before I act. It is not easy and often leaves me with a headache. That is a small price to pay however considering the benefit. More-so I think that the headaches that come with keeping my mind focused is the result of my mind having to rewire it's previous slacking mode. It is like exercising a muscle to gain greater efficiency. That is my thought on that. By forcing my mind to focus in a more consistent moment by moment manner, I am starting to see the result. I am less likely to give into involuntary responses without consideration of the responses effect. This is huge if it was the only benefit. I am also able to formulate analyzed and reasoned responses appropriate to the current circumstance. It is logical that if I work toward betterment that betterment would be evident. Staying focused on the now and allowing my good nature to reveal itself allows me to be who I think I am. At the very least I am working toward that.

What my idealism means to me (#541)

It is fashionable these days to label oneself to particular movements. So I will also. I am an idealist. Now I know that there really is no organized movement of idealism but if I am to label myself something, idealist would be it. Of course being an idealist is a recipe for frustration in our world today. Seldom do outcomes reveal themselves as being ideal in the true sense of the word. This does not bother me however, since I am only striving to obtain idealistic realities. I know that compromise in ideals are necessary in moving anything forward and I accept that present logic. I will continue to work for ideal outcomes despite slow progress moving forward. I like the term idealist because it encompasses all other labels. Which, by the way, I am also. I am not just one label. I am many different labels depending on the topic being discussed. Here are some general examples; in society I am more of an egalitarian progressive. In morality I am more of a quasi-conservative. Neither is a line in the sand but nonetheless, starting points. I feel much more clear and energized about my being an idealist in all things over an other type of label. Someday soon I will try to describe in words my view of existence. Until then though I am happy to know that I want the best for all of us all the time. Yeah, I know I am being unrealistic but I am not a realist per-se, I am an idealist who must conform to reality when that is the path available.

Being happy even when it is hard (#540)

I remember a WWII movie about a man who lost his family at the beginning of the war and then at the end of the war got his family back. The reason I am using this illustration is because this story touched me at the depths of my soul. He got his family back but with extra children included due to the ravages of what war did to his wife. He accepted his new children because he had a greater heart than I could imagine a man having. What I understand today is that no one is due anything. Life comes at us and we deal with it as we are able. I often think about how I sometimes don't get what I think or feel that I should have and immediately I start the pity party. However, I use little reminders to pull myself out of that thinking. I remember that I am not any more special than that character in the movie who did everything he could to survive and make his way back to his family, even such as it became. I remember the gut-wrenching feeling I had at the end of the movie and I just could not understand how he could accept his lot in life. Now nothing in my life has ever gotten to that extreme for me but the principle is always the same. No matter what, be thankful for everything. Never let the circumstances in life tear me down so far that I cannot appreciate even the smallest gift I have.

A new day with a fresh outlook (#539)

I could have entitled this hope but it really is more than that. Hope is a vision for something as yet to come to fruition. But in that hoping state is also the time between the hope actually happening and the hope as yet to happen. Confusing? Sounds confusing to me. Anyway, there is a time between and it is in the time between that I find different emotions coursing through me. Some are doubt, some are dreaming as if the hope has already been attained (future-tripping) but most are a sort of limbo where I cautiously plan my day around the hope eventually coming into being. What is the protocol for waiting for a hope to appear? I suppose there is no protocol and the best thing is to forget that I even have a hope and let destiny determine itself. No, that can't be right. I influence fate by my actions so I must need to act in some way that will bring about my hope in the best possible way. I do not know what to do most of the time except for what is right and in front of me. This seems to work but it does not allow me to formulate a strategy for procuring my hoped for event. Maybe that is a good thing that I don't control how my hope should come about. I am at the mercy of other events beyond my control and I have to realize that hope is really a wish and may not be granted. Life really is a funny thing. I can do one thing however and keeping a fresh outlook about what I am doing at every moment is it. Hopefully!

Good versus Bad (#538)

I feel this more each day. Like it is pressing in on all of us and we all need to make a stand. All of us must be accountable on this subject. What does this mean? Within each of us there is a sense of what good is. It takes many forms but the telltale sign is usually a smile or a feeling of accomplishment that is well satisfying. For me the most obvious sign is that I have sacrificed something from myself toward someone who had or has greater needs. A reaching out of the hand to others even when to do so goes against everything I may believe. I am determined to include everyone in existence who has the slightest shred of hope to becoming a better "good" person. Our time is now to decide the future of our society and how we wish the rest of humanity to see what we stand for. My overall point is two-fold, one is to decide which concept, good or bad, will be our destiny and second, there is no more free-ride as to taking a stand. We need to show our cards, as it were. My conviction tells me that most all of us are decent and want it reciprocated. We seem to equate the biblical axiom of "Treat others as you wish to be treated by others", as a valid guide. It is now just a matter of declaring our intent to do just this. I know that what I write here seems so "Pollyanna-ish" however there really is no other way to get to the heart of the matter than to just declare it in the most simplified form. Knowing what we need to do is one thing, putting that which we know into action is where we must begin and never stop.

If the path doesn't exist, make one (#537)

I have been waiting all day for a topic to hit me and finally one has. It is customary for us to look at the way things are done to get our bearings about how to proceed with aspirations and goals in our life. In my particular case my latest aspiration just came into view for me. As I am discovering that a protocol for advancing aspirations and goals may preclude me from the difficult path for achieving it I must conclude that an alternative path must be created as a fail safe. In other words, if I can't achieve progress one way I must try another way. It is the thinking outside the box that will help me to devise a program that could lead me to the goal I have for myself. I am alive only one time and I must give all effort to my dreams despite any difficulty in attaining them. Life is fun. I get to create a path that will work for me. Woohoo! In all seriousness, forging new ways to think about ways to reach goals is something we all possess within us if we have the enduring will to succeed. Things are in a constant state of change and so is my determination to continue to try different concepts. Who knows whether I will succeed, really that is not the point of my goal. Giving everything and never giving up on myself is the goal. I can live with that as long as I know I didn't hold anything back.

Talk is cheap; action is proof (#536)

Everything takes two steps. One to think then the other to act. At least that is the way it should mostly be. Some actions happen without thought and some thoughts need no action. However most everything else needs both. What we usually get though is a lot of thought turned into speech without the follow-up of action. I catch myself being guilty of this often. Especially when I want to pontificate on some subject of my churned-out insight. I often though catch myself before I turn my thoughts into speech and therefore save myself a later realized rebuke or gentle reminder, from others or myself, that there were more complexities involved than what I had accounted for. All of this is to keep myself into a perspective that when I do know what is right and I act upon that, I have done what should be normally done. My actions will always speak louder than my words. That is not a cliche it is a fact. If I expect others to act then the least I can do is act myself. The least I can do. I prize my humility today as a strength of my character. By following through with what I know to be right, I have elevated myself outside my own personal defaults into an arena where only the truth is revealed. I open myself up to scrutiny. If I do what I do in the light of the day and the intent of my doing is right, then I have begun to become the man I hope to be. Less hot air, more hard work!

"Realization path" (#535)

I received a comment on one of my blog posts. In it was this phrase I use as the title to this blog, "Realization path". I am profoundly grateful to have had this phrase illuminated to me. It is comforting to know that others, like myself, have a comprehensive view of the winding path of their life as well. I am not the person I was 10 years ago or even 5 years ago. I am continually evolving into a better person, at least that is what I hear from those who know me. I feel confident that they are right because I am thinking and acting more from my heart than from my head. I care about the things and people around me like I have never done before. It is because I have come to realize what I now know as what is really important in life. My path has changed because I realize that living a life based upon the better and best of human principles is a positive thing, not a weak or dumb thing. I don't have to be the selfish person I was taught to believe that I needed to be to find satisfaction in this world. Satisfaction for me is how I feel about who I am and living who I am. Purpose and contentment make me feel so alive. I am an individual who's potential has yet to be fully understood. Yet I do know that my potential is within me and my experiences help to bring them to my understanding. My realization paths have given me the key to becoming the person who is inside me waiting to come out.

We should lead with our honor (#534)

I find that when I commit to being honorable as an action of the first resort, all things follow upon that lead. It has been somewhat of an eye opener. I also find that I do not weary defending that which I hold as high principle. It is as if I was created with the unlimited energy to stand against that which would detract from honorable intentions. This is some of the evidence I know from myself that helps me define why I think our natures are compassion and curiosity. The negative natures of greed, lust, gluttony etc... have not the fulfillment and or the sublime contentment that defending honor arouses in me. I have come to the conclusion that living a life that only allows for honor, gives me the spiritual and physical sensation that calms my anxiety about why I am in existence. I am here to experience the senses of my being. To know what best triggers their manifestations. For me being an honorable man is what gives me the best understanding for fulfilling my purpose in life. I hope I am not being too muddled here in trying to describe the key to living my life as best I know how. It all hinges on being a virtuous soul. When I am leading with honor and backing that up with determination and resolve, then I am strong in conviction and energy. How do I lead with honor? I start by being selfless and defending that position to whomever will question my intent, including myself at times. From selflessness all other virtuous principles will flow.

My "rights" should not harm you (#533)

This is something I have had to learn mostly through trial and error. It is sad to me that I could not see the big picture at an earlier age so as to save myself and others hard feelings. When I was younger I used to think that I was due great accolades just for being alive. I was a gift to life and should be treated with extra special dispensations. The fact that I existed was sufficient for me to claim a right to all the high road. Don't you know who I am? That was my thought process in my head. Arrogant to say the least. I have since learned that I am no different than anyone else at all. We are all significant. This brings me to my topic, my rights should not harm you. What are my rights? If they do not cause me or you a harm then I can be assured that they are my legitimate rights and not some theory of what my rights should be. The complication of knowing what is a harm to you and to me is something I can learn through logic, and I do. However most of my learning takes place through experience, coupled with logic. I am fortunate that I had survived my earlier incorrect thinking about my own worth and again am fortunate that I have found a way to evolve into a person who considers how my actions and thoughts affect myself and others.

"Get busy living or get busy dying" (#532)

"Get busy living or get busy dying. I saw and heard this line in the movie "Shawshank Redemption". If I think about what these words mean and how they apply to me and society around me, I begin to understand the significance of what is meant. If I am not willing to change and grow in my life, if I am not willing to let go of my selfish ways, if I am not willing to learn and understand more about how our world works then I am just hanging around waiting to die. If I am willing to see things through other people's eyes, if I am willing to put other people first before my own cravings, if I am willing to open up my thinking to comprehend why others do things totally different than myself, then I am getting busy living. I do not want to miss out on life. The real life where I am actually a part of what is happening day to day. Not hiding out in some enclave safe and apart from the things that bring me discomfort. Life, unfortunately is uncomfortable, it has elements to it that are disagreeable and unsatisfactory. However if I am not making an effort to improve that which is uncomfortable then I am not part of the solution but more or less condoning the problem through inaction. Life should be interesting and full of opportunities, not chaotic and depressing. In getting busy living, I am taking the power of who I am and taking a stand about what is happening around me.

Human exceptionalism (#531)

This is where we must see the world through the eyes of a maternalistic or paternalistic person. It is only if we see the world as being dependent upon our actions will we actually start to treat the Earth and Cosmos with a sense of value. It is natural for us to nurture our own species, so that transition to nurturing our planet is not a great leap. Realizing that we are also dependent upon our planet for our own existence, the argument for establishing a comprehensive plan to coordinate an Earth friendly environment for the actions of life on Earth should be overwhelmingly agreeable. What holds us back is current conventional practices and a mindset of an unlimitedness of Earth's ability to sustain itself without our intrusion. Under scrutiny, the argument for doing nothing or very little is less effective because of on-going warning signs we are able to register. Common sense would also dictate not to treat our Earth as a temporary resource acquisition entity but instead as a necessary component for humanity to evolve and be nourished itself. There are many ways in which to protect and sustain the resources are planet gives us. We just need the focus and determination to let logical solutions guide our behaviour and progress. Indeed, many will resist and to their resistance an overwhelming agreement by everyone else will eventually move us past resistance and to the goal of nurturing our planet for continued and unlimited sustenance.

Let my imagination out (#530)

"Don't be afraid". To let my imagination out I need to step up and put to action what I would like to create. I feel confident now that I can achieve something I have dreamed of doing. Whether I succeed or fail is not the point. The point is I am going to try. It is my turn to change the reality surrounding me. No longer will I wait for things to happen but I will be the one to make things happen. I trust who I am to be a good example for others to notice. I have a vision of accomplishing something to be helpful to our society. I have been accumulating information and learning through experience and now it is time to put these things together and try to create opportunities for myself and those around me. I cannot do this on my own but I can initiate the inertia to start the process. I see so much potential in the people I meet and I hope to give them an opportunity to forge new beginnings for themselves. The society we live in now is a bit dysfunctional and therefore the timing of my endeavor could be beneficial. I hope to start a business that will not only be Earth friendly but based on a plan that allows maximum involvement of all involved. Until I have pushed further into my vision I will abstain from highlighting any more details. But regardless, I feel a sense of mission and I have only the best of intentions coursing through me.

My word is my bond (#529)

This has not always been so. Today it is however. Why? I find that I appreciate being told something and having it followed through on. So it follows that I should do the same. But it is bigger than that. I have moved on from the thought the Universe is just a chaotic event. That the rules we try to live by are not just some gimmick to keep us all in order. I have come to know about myself and what is important in this life outside myself. In other words I have stopped being selfish. I am not just some animal scratching and clawing for anything and everything I can get a hold of. I see myself as a guardian and sentinel toward protecting the concepts of reason and intelligence. I know how precarious life can be, whether through or own ability to annihilate our species or some cataclysmic natural event. There is nothing like us in the known Universe. We are wholly unique and of value. I choose to represent the human species as best I am able. I have found a noble purpose with which to apply myself. We are greater than the boundaries of our skin. We should and must be held to a higher level of scrutiny than any other living species. It is our heritage and station in existence. I had not always understood this. But through observation and humility I have come to know that I have a duty to myself and to what I realize to be significant and important. Such as attempting to represent what is the best of what humankind can and should be.

Critical thinking (#528)

I will also include this in my continuing series of "Don't be afraid". The reason I do this is because fear leads us to take positions and make statements that affect how we live our lives. I want to make a distinction of definition about some terms I often use. Subjectivity: A personal belief, feeling or opinion expressed in the context of what the speaker believes as fact. Objectivity: What is actually real or a fact. Now let me explain how I see objectivity most of the time. It is as simple as saying I am alive and the air I breathe helps keep me alive. These are true statements of fact, therefore objective thinking. I also use objective thinking to describe my thoughts about not knowing something. Such as I need to keep an open mind. Subjective thinking is more of a personal complexity that is based upon hoped for or faith based options. Remember, subjective thinking may be true, however it is mostly construed with being a best guess or desired opinion. Often, through fear, our society will adopt a comfortable concept of thought and present it to help us deal with our insecurities. The unknown can be overwhelming and in the absence of courage, fear and it's manifestations lead us to more subjective thinking and less objective thinking. I am no pillar of courage but I do know that striving to see the world as it truly is, is better than capitulating to a default position and not allowing my curiosity to flourish and attain it's nature to understand.

Faith not me (#527)

Another installment in the "Don't be afraid" series. I have difficulty explaining what I mean by faith not me. I live it more than I can explain it. I trust, yes, trust that my life will be full of adventure and satisfaction as long as I do not plan it. If I just be me and do the things that I know are right then my life will be fulfilling. Why do I trust? For the simple reason that when I get involved in the planning all my fears and doubts creep in. I dislike my fears and doubt and wish to not have them involved in my life. I still have fears and doubts but they are not part of me just living up to my potential as best I can. I trust the course of my life to destiny, fate or whatever description is necessary to explain serendipity or providence. Some may think I am abdicating my will to effect the course of my own life. I agree with this to a point. I am still living my life the way I wish, less mistakes, but I am not trying to plow the road in any particular direction. I am letting the road plow itself and following that path. It makes my life more constructive when I can focus on the things that I can control and gives me the confidence to be the best human being I can be. The best hope for me is to live in the present moment and no other moment. I have the ability to make quick decisions with awareness and clarity. Maybe, if I am lucky, at the end of my life, I will see how I have lived. In the meantime however, I am too busy just living to be able notice.

Solutions to problems, not cynicism (#526)

Another in the series of "Don't be afraid". I am constantly in conversations with people who have all kinds of problems they rant about. They are so disgusted with events around them and their solution is to throw out the process. I know what they are feeling. It is a sense of hopelessness and anger. It all can be so overwhelming. My take on the troubles we face is a bit different. I see our problems as opportunities for solutions. I steer clear of labeling the process as one thing or another in hopes of creating a divide between us. I would rather define the problem and establish a framework for dealing with it's inherent problems. There is an answer to most every question but are we willing to rise above declaring the problem and using it as a device to establish some other criteria. Each problem has it's own unique nuances and as such needs to examined within the whole of our human needs. If creating a better society is our goal and having that society fortified with egalitarian principles then we all have a stake. If we do not start out with a society that offers all the same opportunities to work, learn and contribute then we will continue into a deepening chaotic existence. Holding onto process' that are incomplete as to total objectivity, relegates our society to division and turmoil. There is hard work to be done to advance solutions to pressing problems but not working toward each solution begs the question why not? We need to be free of ulterior motives and discuss our problems with honesty and logic.

Find out who you are (#525)

In a continuation of the "Don't be afraid" series, This one might be the scariest one of all. On a personal level that is. Stereotypes and expectations are forms we find ourselves contained within. They offer a sense of security and fellowship. If I stay within certain societal and or dogmatic behaviours then I have an arrival of a self-satisfying feeling of belonging. When I was younger all I could imagine is just being like everyone else. I knew within me that I could not measure up to regular people unless I was like them. This is an illusion I was caught up in. There is no regular concept of everyone else. But what there is, is a sub-conscious and even conscious herd mentality in how we present ourselves to each other. We strive for sameness in hopes of maintaining acceptance with each other. I think we should understand each other and if there is sameness then well and good but if there is not sameness we should express that as well. Knowing who I am and defending who I am are both equally important. I am not afraid of finding out who I am inside me. I am who I am, that does not make me any less or more than anyone else. What makes me different is whether I have the courage to live who I am, Instead of trying to fit in with who others are. Being afraid is normal. We all share this in some form. But being afraid should not be an obstacle in discovering who we are and accepting that our personal uniqueness is just as viable as anyone else's.

Don't be afraid of knowledge (#524)

Here's a weird concept. People wanting to remain in the familiar instead of moving beyond that. I guess when I put it that way, it does not sound so bad. Except, life is a one-time deal and not living it with our potential possibilities is dull and wasteful. I guess a particular satisfaction is garnered by having security and peace without any uncertainty. Although that kind of logic seems to accept the status quo, however the status quo is just an illusion. Everything is in a constant state of change. As a human being I am born with a free will spirit. I am able to decide many things that could happen in my life. I am able to have decision making power over my environment mainly with the help of knowledge. If I do not accede to the logic that with knowledge comes power, I will put myself at the mercy of others deciding for me. I know many people who do this, let others think for them, as a way to avoid having to do critical thinking for themselves. They either feel that there is too much information to know well enough to understand or they feel that their time is better spent on pleasures or sacrifices. This society we live in is complicated but can be understood in some simple generalizations. We wish to have better, we wish to have peace and we wish to feel happiness. We can have all of these things if we regard education as valuable. We all need to have knowledge and a means to gain knowledge throughout the total course of our lives.

Compartmentalization (#523)

I do this as a strategy. When I cannot come to a conclusion about something, I am able to put it in a metaphorical box and move on to other things until I am able to come back to it with another possible thought. In other words, I have a bunch of concepts sitting inside my head with no obvious solution. This is how I am able to stay in the present without getting hung-up on current unanswerable questions I have. I am just smart enough to know not to obsess about things I have no immediate way of resolving. It does make for a crowded memory bank, but the alternative is far more chaotic. I treat my brain as a resource, ready to help me in wherever my interest at the time takes me. By compartmentalizing I am keeping an orderly process for my thoughts to move about without being funneled into a particular problem. I am chuckling to myself as I write this but really, it does work for me. It sounds so funny critiquing how I think. lol. I have so much going on between my ears and I do need a way to put some order to it. I am not saying that what is going on is of much value, but to me it is important enough to make me pause and ponder. Well, this was fun doing this post and if anyone out there has anything to add about how thoughts on particular subjects can be organized I am listening. :)

On the subject of telling the truth (#522)

When I was a child I was told to tell the truth. I believed this and did as I was told, mostly. When I didn't it was because I wanted something not to be known or I wanted something and telling the truth would not get it for me. What I should have been told, along with always tell the truth, was why. It should have been explained to me in detail the consequences of telling and not telling the truth. Being so young I was not able to consider how each action would affect me and others. Logic has mostly been understandable to me and a great guide in deciding what course I should take. Granted, we are not all blessed with parents or mentors who are versed in the complexities of logic, as they themselves were not given detailed explanations either. The cycle must stop however and all of us, understanding that the details of living a good life, are necessarily needed to make a good foundation in our lives. Here is a problem I have often seen and wished to explain. It is in the details that we learn good living. When we do not take time to explain things or ourselves in detail we often confuse or send a wrong message. Using a logical form of explaining helps to convey a more accurate description of teaching others and ourselves what we need to know. I want to know the truth, I have no time for fallacious concepts or theories. The truth is where I grow from and knowing it in detail is my hope for me and all of us.

Life should still be about fun (#521)

Most all of my posts are relatively serious and should be so. However, occasionally having fun gives the perspective as to why my posts should be serious. It is because when we have honed our society and life experiences to better circumstances, we get to enjoy the reward of accomplishment. All work and no play make for a dull life. The purpose we hope to craft, a better society, is not unfamiliar. It is so that our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness has equal footing for all of us as to viably achieve. I must take time out of my determined effort to write and talk about the nature of humanity, in hopes of understanding what type of society best fits all of us, to express and be apart of the joy that life offers. The goal is before us. If I was satisfied with some sort of untoward framework similar to what Hobbes (Leviathan), Machiavelli (The Prince) or Plato (The Republic) forwarded then life would be a yoke instead of a boundless opportunity. I must continue to search my nature, and by extension, yours as well and consider how that would fit within a societal framework that exhibits what is best about us. The purpose for society is to maintain security and keep us busy being constructive. If society can give us possibilities that capture our imagination and fill us with hope for our future then we are on the beginning of the right track. Just as important though is actually having happiness and fulfillment manifest in each of our lives.

Thinking outside the box (#520)

What is it going to take to get us to think outside the box. We seem to think that all the best ideas have already been pondered. I know for myself, I was certain that I was not intelligent enough to add anything significant to our society. I was wrong. The status quo is maintained not because it is the best for us but because varied interests have advantages that are more important than doing what is best for all of us. Elitism, deficient philosophy and fear keep us entwined in processes that are familiar and comfortable, regardless of their outdated ineffectiveness. I take exception to anyone who argues with me about maintaining the status quo due to historical conventional wisdom. Precedent is not good enough an answer for questions that arise consistently in a constantly changing society. We must think outside the box. I am one who is fervent in my call for a reorganization of thought concerning the value and respect for every individual. My main theme is that life is a gift and therefore anyone who lives in existence should be afforded a right to maintain a survival within our society. Incumbent on every individual is the responsibility to cultivate society for the betterment of society on a whole. We must give the tools for everyone to use for understanding. We only get better and more advanced if we allow all of ourselves the opportunities to explore the talents all of us have. All of us have!

Cause no harm to no one (#519)

John Stuart Mill exclaimed this as the underlining of all human behaviour. At least what it should be. I agree with Mr J.S. Mill. What does that leave then? Well either do good or great, or do something that equates to a neutral action. He basically gives us a philosophy that may then be filled in according to each person's principles. If the outline is to do no harm then the body of the work is waiting to be filled in by each and everyone of us. In simplicity, we are then able to shape the complexity of our thoughts and actions. Knowing what might be a harm is difficult at times, but for the most part harm is easily recognizable. The simplest way to get to know what a harm is, is to check our own experiences with being harmed or committing harm to others. A conscious effort by ourselves must be made in order to change our behaviour away from previously learned behaviours if needed. This is not easy to do since a lot of our behaviours are done without a thought being given to them. A subconscious reaction on our part. A relearning must take place however and not having the control over ourselves to adapt to better ways of living is unacceptable. It just takes effort. We must force ourselves to logically understand the need to not harm anyone. The importance is fundamental to all life. It should be taught at the earliest age so that the significance of not harming anyone has a better chance of being incorporated into all society.

The ebbs and flows of emotion (#518)

From despair to ecstasy and all emotions between, the ebb and flow of emotion is fascinating. I would rather not have much despair in my life however without an example of it I would not appreciate the ecstasy when it occurs. Emotions are by far the factor that gives us humans the most value in our day to day lives. I have spent some days without much emotion either way and have not felt as if I was actually alive. I knew I was alive but I didn't feel like I was a part of anything going on around me. Naturally, I do not wish to have any more of the negative emotions that exist. I don't need to understand them or learn from them. I have had enough negative emotions to last the rest of my life. What I have learned from them I have incorporated into how I react and think. It is important to learn quickly from negative emotions so that they don't need to be repeated in a deja-vu kind of way. That just adds a depressing factor to an otherwise already bad experience. What I do like is good emotional experiences and I strive to focus my life toward those outcomes. I am able to do this by keeping my temperament positive and by acting in ways that contribute to positive effects. I do not understand why in life we have these varied emotions but we do and I can help myself experience more positive ones by adjusting my thinking and actions in ways that enhance what is good about being alive in this existence.

Start at the beginning (#517)

Seems simple enough. Yet in the most profound adventure the human race could alight on, we have forgotten this fundamental principle. In the context I am writing about is the betterment of civilization. Everyone attempts to say what is the right thing to do for society and the world on whole. That is all well and good. However, we must understand what it is to be human. We must know and define our natures to the core before we can begin to establish the best society for our present and future. All things we establish for our society must be defined through the lens of who we are. It is my judgement that we have two natures that are inherent within us, compassion and curiosity. We care about things and we wonder about things. There is the survival instinct, and that is the wild card that seems to be a subset of both compassion and curiosity. Now you may wonder how I can say this with a straight face. It is easy for me to say this because all other natures displayed by humanity are a direct result of being denied one or both of the natures of compassion and curiosity. It is my contention that we are noble beings at creation and that environment and circumstance whittle us down to lesser than noble beings. Caring and discovering are what we are. Our society must reflect the most opportunity that these two traits need to flourish. Starting at the beginning of who we are will help us continue to elevate the living experience for us. We are inherently noble beings and we should have a society that allows us all to reflect that.

Why do I care? (#516)

About what? It does not matter what it is I still find that I care. There is something within me that craves to be a part of things that are worthy of completion. I am an idealist. I have to admit that. More than anything I know that I am mortal with only a short time in this existence left to experience. Somehow I have moved past the paralyzing fear of looming death to a place where death does not hold any significance. It will happen no matter what I try to do. Acceptance of this has brought about a desire to be as much in the flow of life as I can handle. I see now that what I do from now on is all that matters. I have lived the learning part of my life that helped me with perspective and the understanding of a purpose for me. Now I am putting all my effort into that purpose with the hope that I can leave behind me some ideas worthy of helping to make this world somewhat better for all life here. I have no wife or children of my own yet I feel an obligation, rightly so, to pass on to all, any hope and premise I can that will add to the knowledge of a chain of ancestors who have already done the same. I have always felt that a connection between all humans and other species of life exists on some level. Life is the gift and the form of the life does not detract from that. I care because it is right within my soul to care.

Change is instinctual (#515)

If I know one thing about myself it is that I am constantly in a state of change. I am not constantly changing who I am but slowly I am evolving into a better person than who I was before. I also have a will that is powerful and unrelenting when given a virtuous task. My eyes widen and my resolve is evident in the hardening of my determination. I am dissatisfied with the world we currently reside in and will with {every breath I take}, (one of my favorite Police songs, lol) attempt to change it for the better. I have no time for those who would stipulate that the project to improve or change our world is impossible. They are like millstones wrapped with rope, tied to and chafing my neck. My spirit is beyond my body and I wish for my body to catch up with my spirit. To do this I cannot waste time debating whether something cannot be done but rather exploring possibilities and complexities toward a solution. There is little time for all of us in existence to sit back and claim some high ground that wastes more time in the name of feeling superior or thinking that there is nothing more to learn. I am here now and my life will have meaning. I will not let the existing powers that be over-ride brilliance with mediocrity. I know that I am not alone in this and persevering is what I will do.

Respect or power (#514)

It is rare that both respect and power can come together in the form of one person. There are occasions where it does occur but not very often. What we constantly end up with is either one or the other. There are so many who see power as a greater reality than being respected. Power can always be justified, if we are willing to deny that having power over others is more beneficial to ourselves. For most people who seek power a great amount of selfishness is the motivation. Quite often power is the link to greater wealth or control over other types of desires. Respect is less a prospect because it requires one to be less selfish and more selfless. I rather enjoy the paradigm of respect because it implies that I have done something for others that they feel grateful to me for doing. In making others happy, I find a reward within my soul that is greater than any reward that has a material component. I have lived long enough to know that my peace of mind and my moral, legal and ethical sense weigh more heavily in my personal scale of justice. It is as if I am preparing myself to be right for when my end in this existence comes so that my mind will be clear and ready to accept whatever may be next. I have my own value system for the possible endless circle of eternity. My life here on Earth is to be the best I can live and think while I am here. Whatever happens next whether something or nothing will not change how I like to feel while I am here.

Hope is my saving grace (#513)

I have not written about hope for quite awhile considering how important it is to my life. I guess I try to keep my personal feelings and personal hopes to myself. I can say however that without hope in my life I would probably not have a life right now. I would have given into the fatalism of giving up and ruination to the ultimate extreme. Now let me make this point very clear, whether my hope(s) ever come to fruition is not the point. The hope or chance or possibility of my hope(s) becoming real is the point. It is amazing that I have found peace in this concept. I know what I feel and have within me yet I only need the possibility of it happening for me to stay positive and move forward in my life with purpose. A peace has settled over me in that I know that the control of things beyond me are not up to me. The whirligig of time and space will have it's say in what happens in my life. What I need to do is recognize what I hope for in my life and be ready if it comes my way. Of course I live in a way that will help the cause of my hope(s) to become reality, but never with assumptions that they will or expectations that they must. I am at the bequest of fate and destiny with all my heart. How the Universe places what I have inside me toward what everyone else has inside them will be a mystery to me. It is not just what I have for hope(s) but what everyone else hopes for as well. May we all enjoy the dream of having our wishes come true.

Rethink our values (#512)

Fear of change is a crippling position to be afflicted with. When I have found a place that I feel comfortable with and wish to maintain, I am actually being selfish. Being selfish in some respects is okay but when it has an adverse effect on others then it is not okay. Life is all about change. There is nothing that stays static. We may wish for the status-quo to remain but that is an illusionary wish with no hope of happening. Our models for society are in constant need of upgrading and holding to the older models as ideals when intelligence and technology have moved beyond them is just wrong. For whatever reason, fear or ulterior motive, the older models must adjust with the constantly changing nature of life. We learn that to live together in society we must have a structure that occupies us in constructive ways. Otherwise chaos and the baser instincts of humanity will dominate. By adjusting our concept based around the value of life we may find different and unique ways to make the living experience fruitful and full of discovery. No structure for living is greater than one single life. When we are able to recognize this and develop along that line our society will reflect what it is to be human with dignity and respect. Do not fear change, it is natural and right when the change reflects the better and best of what humanity is all about.

The patience of faith (#511)

It is one thing to say I have faith about something it is another thing to actually practice that faith. Practicing faith is what I am experiencing. To hold to something and hope for it's eventual fruition is work requiring patience. I have never given much thought to how to have faith, I just supposed that it would happen or not within some short time frame. Well, I have since learned that having faith for something to happen may take my entire life to happen. It is in patience that I find the reward and satisfaction of giving my faith a form. I am not a person who can command his emotions to be what they should properly be at all times. Through patience, I have found a way to gather my emotions under a general control that reminds me to stay focused on what I can do and not on what I want to happen. Being patient is a work in progress for me but I am remembering to practice it even as an involuntary action. What an amazing gift patience is. For me to be patient without even thinking about it is an amazing growth story about me. It could be that maturity is finally settling in into my life, I don't know. What I do know is that patience allows me to have long-lasting faith where before my faith was shallow. My life has a sense of completeness to it now and as I continue to work on the best things that life has to offer and make myself available to them, then regrets will be few indeed.

Listening as an art (#510)

My ears are on my head for a reason. So that when I hear something it can get directly to my brain in practically no time flat. The problem I have sometimes is that my brain begins to interpret what I am hearing before what I am hearing is finished being heard by me. I find I am anxious, at times, to interject before the telling is finished. Is it a strategic action on my part to save time? That's ridiculous. To show how intelligent and worldly I am? Probably. Insecurity in the first degree. I have noticed this trait within me a few times and I have taken to correct it by forcing myself to stay patient. I listen until the train of thought has been delivered then I attempt to interject. Even then I find that more is yet to come and I must continue to listen and understand. Listening is not new to me but listening equally to all things being spoken to me is. I have gotten much better at it since I have become aware of this old trait of mine. It is so important to be able to complete a thought and I need to respect the giver of the thought as I would like to be respected as a giver of my thought. Like I try to build in my life, wisdom to know what I am doing and what is going on around me. Listening is so valuable as a tool to understanding those around me. I have very little to offer at times but what I can always do is listen and be good at it.

What is a belief system? (#509)

Anytime I or anyone else says "I believe..." a belief system is being advanced. Generally, most common among belief systems are faith based understandings. Why is a belief system needed at all? For me there are times when emotionally I am despondent or troubled and having a sense that I am not in control of everything and something or someone else is, is what I need. It is during the calm, rationally healthy times that I think about what a belief system means to me. If logic were our only guide, I cannot fail to see how something has to be in a greater control than just serendipity or chaos. As logic takes me backward, I am left with the knowledge that something cannot come from nothing. It would break the laws of physics for it to happen. I know that the laws of physics as we know them today very well could change and become more viable to a conclusion that something can come from nothing. At this point, in human evolution, that what is known by the general population is not there yet. It is more comforting to think of a belief system as having an idea about what we are suppose to be. A security blanket for us. I totally understand the concept and welcome it's purpose. What I don't condone is a belief system offered up as a fact where there is no room for dispute. Denial can take many forms and holding any BELIEF system up as the absolute answer to humanity and our future is ludicrous and egoistical by those who proclaim it so. The purpose of a belief system is to offer a comforting hope to those who need it on an individual basis. Not as a demand that everyone must accept.

What should I desire? (#508)

Everything? Well, maybe not everything but I do want what I want when I want it. lol. This has always been tricky for me to answer. The selfish part of me is always clamoring for bigger and more for me. The unselfish part of me is always clamoring for bigger and more for everyone else. The balance for what I should desire is somewhere in between. I need for myself a sense of fulfillment, a fulfillment when it comes to love, joy and happiness. Whether I attain these in a constant state in my life remains a mystery. These are emotional needs for me personally, but I also wish them for everyone else as well. It is no fun being in a world where I would be the only one having a blissful life. I also desire health, welfare and opportunity for everyone including myself. Life can be grand if we decide to serve each other the way we would like to be served. We have always had the answer to how we can live life in the best way, it is we have not been able to implement a process for doing that. Obstacles are out there in the form of greed and the illusion of power. I am not sure we will ever be able to construct a new society when we are so caught up in the illusion of what is a priority in our life. Each of our little worlds of existence must align so that the bigger world of existence can begin to form as a reality. It is all in our heads, and that is where we can find our way around and through any obstacle. Serving each other the way we would like to be served is our foundation. Everything must flow from that genesis.

What do I mean when I say compassion? (#507)

When I talk about compassion I am talking about every good emotion we have. All of them are considered by me as being under the heading of compassion: Love, desire, affection, ecstasy, euphoria, gratitude, happiness, joy, hope and wonder, to name most. I may be wrong but it seems that compassion is part of all these positive emotions. Regardless, it is how I interpret what I am talking about. I also use the term care to describe the positive emotions within us. I may seem idealistic also but again it is my interpretations I am talking about. I choose, did you catch that? I choose to see the world through the lens of what it could be knowing full well that it is hopeful at best right now. I have no illusions about what is going on in the world but I do not delude myself into thinking it can never change. I have the force of will within me to change it by myself. I cannot do it by myself although I feel the power to want to try. I just will not accept the status quo as all that can be done. It is not in my nature and is not within any one else's either. We just need to all get on the same page. Is it going to take something cataclysmic for us to work with each other for all of our benefit? Again I think we can bypass the cataclysmic and use rationality with logic and get there also. I keep working for our curiosity and compassion to eventually manifest itself completely for all of us.

Customs and traditions (#506)

What is it about ourselves that that helps us to define who we are? It is our recorded history. Our ancestors have come and gone but not without leaving a legacy. To honor what they have done in some respects we have practiced imitation and celebration in the form of custom and tradition. When we flatter the past through tribute we are celebrating what is honorable within us. It should stoke our ambitions and resolve within us to maintain and surpass what has been to a better what will be. Humanity is imperfect and the living of humanity can use all the help it can get. Through our customs and traditions we are able to maintain the daily foundation which to start from in our hopes of creating a better society. Customs and traditions are flexible as well in order to keep up with an ever-increasingly intelligent population. As our particular nationalities grow toward commonalities with each other our customs and traditions intersect and combine to hold significantly more value to increasing numbers of individuals. Customs and traditions are guideposts for us to evaluate where we are in our journey of life. They are established to commemorate and distinguish what is important about how we live. Customs and traditions give us hope that despite our own individual struggles we as a humanity on whole have value and are worthy to continue to find what is good and right about ourselves.

It is not what we say it is what we do (#505)

The conversations are endless about what we should do. I have never heard so much advice in my life more abundant concerning what I should do. It is curious that the time spent telling people how to live takes away from those same people the actual living of their lives. Proof of the pudding is in the eating. Same goes for living, proof of the life is in the living. We are all given one assignment we are each responsible for, that being living our own lives to the best of our ability. We must never allow others to guide our lives without knowing where we are going. Even then any abdication of our will to others is a violation of our individual freedom. Consider whether anyone is more worthy to live your own life than you. Each person must stay on top of their own life and not interject themselves into anyone else's life. I have often been asked to give my opinion on subjects in general and occasionally in personal situations. I will always answer these requests with objectivity. I see my response back must give the ask-er all the information I have so they may continue to evaluate what their decision will be. I am just a bank of information when I can be and nothing more. The best thing I can do for anyone is to live my life in the open and let the living of my life be an example for others to see. Nothing speaks louder than words except action.

Is there a higher power out there (#504)

How is it that existence exists. All things must have come from some beginning. We know this because of the concept of time. It is also manifest in our experiences in existence with beginnings and ends. My next question then if I assume there is a higher power is how did the higher power come into existence. My question is really irrelevant however since beginnings seem to come from ends. The questions can then be understood to cycle to infinity. But even infinity must have had a beginning. Existence is a marvelous paradigm. It's genesis is unknown and mysterious. However, I am still convinced a logic exists to satisfy my curious mind. Whether the logic is ever conceptualized is neither here nor there. What is important is that I question all in order to discover what I can. My own personal experience tells me that there is something greater than myself that has been with me. Some unseen force of immeasurable control that has guided me to everywhere I have chosen to go. Whether good or bad, I have not felt left behind. I am in control of my choices for the most part. I get to move about somewhat without restriction and resistance. But the beauty and majesty of what existence offers with a Universe yet undiscovered all around me leaves me in awe about my presence here in life. Not of my doing but of some doing nonetheless.

A milestone of sorts and responsibility (#503)

This blog posting today marks the 500th consecutive day out of 503 days I have posted a subject. It has been a privilege to do this. I do not always make it easy on myself to write on a topic but somehow I find a way to put something down that has some interest to me and hopefully to anyone who may read it as well. Today I want to talk about responsibility. Don't go away! Responsibility is a really good thing. It is something we have all desired at one point in our lives. To make a difference about anything is an achievement. To be responsible about making a difference is even more rewarding. Responsibility should be enjoyable and sought after. It reminds us what can be important to us. I know that I sometimes say to myself "if only they would have done it my way". Well, when I have responsibility for something then I have that opportunity to do it my way. Being responsible gives me the chance to show what is important to me. It allows me to reflect back out to anyone what I am made of. Of what makes me tick. Of what I hold as good and right in my life. The way responsibility can be expressed by me is the showcase of my life and what impact I want to have on the world. To become responsible is an honor and to be recognized by others as responsible is even more of a gift. It marks the days of my life with a sense of real accomplishment.

Curiosity must be fed (#502)

Besides my emotional needs, there are just questions and answers. All of my life is centered around asking questions and searching for answers. It is imperative that for every question that is asked an as complete answer be given. It is difficult to know how much better all of our lives would or could be if all of our questions where given serious and proper answers. I feel as if I could have been so much more of a person who would contribute to society if I was able to receive correct information at the time I asked for it. I understand deeply how important it is to give the most knowledge I have when it is requested. There are some personal things that I only share with others after I am confident they will respect my privacy, outside of that I try to be as forthcoming in a complete way as is possible. I, personally strive to be as enlightened as possible so that I may in some small way be a positive influence when I can. The difference some imparted information has may seem insignificant at the time however it may grow into some profound moment for all of us at some later date. Every moment of every one's life is an opportunity to advance knowledge. Any opportunity missed to advance knowledge is unfortunate in that existence is shaped by our presence. We can have a tremendous influence on what existence will be and what we do now will ultimately define who we are.

My time has come (#501)

I have been blessed with the knowledge that there are those out there who see me as someone to be looked up upon. It appears that I am worthy of making a good impression upon some. How I got to this point is secure in my mind. I want to and I am trying to become a better human being. I am also patient and consistent in my actions and thoughts. That is all I have to do to reach for a better existence for myself and for others. I am humbled that others have noticed and asked me for guidance in their lives. I am privileged and respectful of this responsibility. As I help others see what can be possible for them, I also sharpen my view as to what I can continue to do to see what is even more possible for myself. I am the key to what others see. I need to never give up in my quest to be the best man I can be. This is such an enormous opportunity for me to have an input into how others may begin to see themselves. I need to become a positive fortress to them so that in time they may become a positive fortress to others themselves. I am ready to do this for others now, I know this. If this opportunity had come to me earlier I would not have been ready for it. It is as if the timing of the Universe is in harmony with my soul. What a glorious time it is.

Courage and finding it (#500)

What is courage? As an analogy it is the line in the sand that will not be crossed. It is a determined action or thought in practice. It is the willingness to sacrifice at any cost that which I would hold dear in order to protect the best principles of humanity. I like courage because it gives me an opportunity to reflect what principles really matter to me. I am able to summon up all my energy at one moment and declare my intent. I am a human who will be heard. I will not stand by and let the lesser of human interests claim victory over the greater of human nature. I have too much respect for the ideals of human value to not take my place in the chain of life that has already stood to defend the right and good of life. Some may say that courage is the lack of fear, but I would say that courage is able to manifest itself out of fear. Fear, more times than not, is the catalyst that drives courage to great achievement. All humans possess the ability to be courageous at one point or another. The important thing is to find courage within ourselves, at the moment it is needed, when we are challenged to display it. I have found that being honest as much as is humanly possible helps to set the atmosphere for courage to be easily summoned up within me. When I am living the best human principles I am feeling the humility of strength of conviction. In humility my courage is pure and stalwart. p.s. This is my 500th blog posting.

Plumbing the depths of my honesty (#499)

How deep will I go to let the honest in my life come out. There are several layers of honesty I choose from depending on the circumstance and whom I am speaking. With some people I can say anything about what is going on in my life because they have shown and proven that they respect my privacy. With others there is some bit of unknown and therefore I am hesitant to share some personal truths. I am only speaking of personal truths and not anything other than that. I have the highest regard for the truth and it being available to everyone. Some people do not wish to hear some truths due to long held opinions they have. I know not to push these situations and move on to other conversations. I know personally, that there is nothing I will not listen to with an open mind. If some conversations are badly argued or are devoid of objectivity, I will move away from them and find something else to do without trying to offend anyone. There are times however when I will interject a response directed at the conversant about how the opinion expressed is lacking in validity. I usually, as a rule, will however leave the person to their opinion and politely excuse myself. I am not the arbiter of truth however I am a student of humility and anything that is not based on humility is most likely not worth learning.

Hide the ball (#498)

This is a term used in law classes when professors would only give out slim clues as answers. In essence they were hiding the ball in hopes that the law students would figure it out by themselves. This is barely okay in a setting like that but to hide the ball as a way to keep people ill-informed is dastardly and cowardly. Why some people feel a need to lord over others in an unfair and delusional way is troubling. Insecurity by one party is no excuse to thwart natural growth in another party. Knowledge is an accumulation of ideas and process' belonging to all of us. No one should deny or dilute it's understanding. I often rationalize that curiosity is one of a twin fork of human traits, along with compassion, instinctual to all of us. If we are not allowed to be curious and learn from knowledge we are only damaging the human race for whatever purpose. It would seem insignificant any variation of purpose valid to deny positive human nature. Selfishness and power are the two ingratiating purposes that come to mind, however there are myriad others. What exists in our minds outside a common respect for each other is indicative of the lack of discipline we allow our thought processes to entertain. Principles of virtue should be our bedrock of thought and courage should be reflective of our actions. All of us have the better and best within us, we do not need to wait for some signal to snap us to know this. Our knowledge tells us what we can do and giving our knowledge is how we get there.

Love and it's little mysteries (#497)

Love is a different dimension for me. I can just be cruising along in life and then wham! I am all of a sudden struck with an emotion of weak-kneed, heart pounding and gut fluttering sensations when I gaze or think upon someone who has absolutely rocked my world. Funny thing about this for me, the woman may not even be aware she has done this to me. Such is my experience. There must be some kind of connection that comes into existence when these revealing sensations occur. Pheromones, maybe, psychic connection, who knows but it is something that feels like destiny and has soulmate written all over it. Unfortunately this is only a one-way street unless the object of my attention also has the same type of experience. For some reason I have, probably because I am a great romantic, never wanted any other kind of love in my life than the greatest true love that ever existed. lol. My optimism surely is overly employed by me, however I am what I am. My personal happiness will either be ultimately realized or I will suffer the pangs of a life with no one to intimately share with. Such is my direction. I will never understand why I am this way and not more logical about mating and companionship. It would seem far more rational to find someone who is practical and full of commonalities with me. I guess I am just not smart enough to be practical and my outcome will either be a miracle or I will live my life without that cherished paradigm of marriage.

Obsessive behavior (#496)

Obsessive behaviour is a general term I use to describe my willingness to write this blog post everyday until I am not able. I do not mean to imply that I have a clinical disorder, I mean to imply that I am motivated to a process of continuity, simply for the creation and pleasure of a writing habit. In that sense I could have defined myself as being driven to accomplish a goal. I could have but I didn't because I am obsessed with the idea of creating order within my life and doing a daily blog post is helping me to realize that I can be consistent in how I live my life. It is my evidence that I do try to make myself into a better human being. It is not always easy to have a different subject matter ready to discuss after so many days but somehow, intuitively, something of significance usually finds it's way onto my page. The genesis of my blog was to start establishing a pattern of writing in order to eventually write a novel or book of something worthy of being published. It is still the impetus behind my daily blog. However the blog has become an old friend and giving it up is not ever anything I consider. I still do plan to write a manuscript eventually about something and the obsessive nature I display toward my blog will help me in not only spending time to write, but in how I type and in my better command of relaying sentences that read easily and understandably. The evidence of this is the comprehensive growth in my blog that has taken place since it first began.

Enjoying the calm (#495)

It was weird being in a state of calm. I was unfamiliar with this as I had previously always found a way to create some action due to my inability to be calm. Being calm had the significance of wasting valuable time. I do not think like that anymore. I find that it is not wasteful to be calm but rather it is restful. I do not look at calm having some connection to death. That was what was at the core of my earlier problem with calm, that I would be sacrificing some action and lose out on doing something before I died. I see this all clearly now and can justify to myself the new insight I have toward calm. I do not need to be a part of every activity possible. I can sit back and just watch life happen without having to be a part of it. It is refreshing to me that I can enjoy my own company without feeling anxiety over some imagined loss. I keep reminding myself constantly that I am a guest in this existence, nothing more than surviving is required from me. I have my own expectations for how I live but they are not contingent upon expectations of others rather they are contingent upon the best principles humanity can show. It is not the quantity of living I do, it is the quality of living I do. I can keep the smile on my face. That is a very high priority for me. Not just any kind of smile but a genuine smile that reflects what I feel inside me. Being in the calm is something I get to do today. What a treat.

Assumptions and expectations (#494)

I am getting better at not letting myself wallow in the misery that associates itself with assumption and expectation. The concept I have of not trying to predict or manipulate has begun to serve me well. I do not deserve anything. If something comes my way and it is appropriate for me to have it then I am well blessed by what fate has brought me. I am just in the stream of life doing the best I can with what I have. I am not under the spell of an illusion that leaves all things up to the unknown. I know that I have to work at and put action to the principles in my life that allow me to better become the man I want to become. I do not know what that future looks like but I don't need to know either. I just need to focus on what is directly in front of me. I need to stand up and defend what is right and good for all not just for me. By living this way I am giving existence the chance to use me to it's fullest and allows me to feel the purpose I have with full emotion and understanding. The key in life is to find what justifies our own individual experiences and putting them into action. It is a deeply defined struggle to know ourselves but once begun on the pathway it is the greatest of rewards. An inner peace and strength through being in harmony with life. I am blessed through the happenstance of discovery. Discovering what it is to be me.

Why do I question? (#493)

Nothing is certain except death and yet can death be overcome? We are in the infancy of our maturity as the human species, not all answers are available to us yet. But to find answers we must ask questions. This generation that is alive today is the furthest most intellectual product produced so far. we have the ability to advance our species even further by allowing discussion of what could be and investigating those possibilities. I maintain that our nature is to be curious and compassionate. When we deny these traits we become less of what we are and more chaotic. Following this logic then we need to advance our education for all and research and develop as if that is our only cause. The gathering of information will assist us in our search into the unknown. It is okay to search into the unknown, do not let fear of what we don't know hamper our instinct to know. Remember, questioning is the basis of our will to survive, without curiosity we would not fight to live. Why would we care? Some would argue that curiosity is not required for the will to survive, but what then would the will to survive base it's existence on? It is possible that the existence we inhabit has been distorted so much that we have adapted through necessity a curious nature in order to survive, but that logic has little support in that how could this existence have reformed? My theory of curiosity and compassion as the two fundamental instincts needed for humanity to have it's completeness is still viable to me.

Economics and basic human needs (#492)

The dilemma. Free market system with governmental regulation is what we have now. Yet poverty and the lack of equal opportunity are still with us. We have not divined or reasoned out the best economic system for humanity so far. There seems to be a disconnect between the value of our right to exist within a society that was established for the sake of security and the means we employ to maintain society and enhance life individually. Simply, if that is possible, We want safety but not equality. I say this all the time, life is really short and not advancing principles of equality, justice, honesty and a code of ethics and morality, as a priority for all of us by all of us is what is causing us to allow suffering within our control to stop. The free market is a good foundation for motivating and sustaining the ability to care for ourselves. It also gives us hope to build a life we would like to have, however the recompense for our labors is out of scale and differentiates us apart from each other. All of life is equal, the current system allowed for recompense is not equal. It should not be equal yet it should not be so out of balance in it's current scale. We are all in existence together and to admire a system that rewards few far above the just measure it should makes our society less egalitarian and more plutocrian. The real value of life is in the individual. We should rework how we honor this tremendous creation.

Character tempered through the forge of suffering (#491)

I recently read the title I am using from a sentence in a book called "Triumph of the Sun"-Wilbur Smith. It stuck in my mind so I wrote it down for a topic on this blog. It is so appropriate for me that I found this concept. I seem to learn the best when I do have to suffer. This is unfortunate because I know better yet I still attempt to change the outcome. It is as if it isn't real to me unless I actually do the thoughts or actions myself. The reward is that if I survive my suffering I end up in a better place than when I started. I know that I am not unique in this wasteful process of practicing denial but I hope that I can move beyond learning through suffering. I also know that as I continue in life my participation in learning through suffering is getting less frequent, so there is hope for me. I now have the perspective of hindsight and the insight of logic to help me beyond trial and error. My character will grow whether I suffer or not if I am willing to learn. The bottom line is for my character to improve not to add suffering to mine or anyone else's life. The wisdom necessary to distinguish the process I use to learn is also part of the growth in character that I am always searching for. I am getting older and hopefully wiser about my actions as they relate to learning. I need to stop and question my motives when I find myself in situations that do not feel right or correct. It is up to me if I want to learn through logic and intuition instead of selfishness and stubborn pride.

Why do we want so much when others have so little? (#490)

I know why I do. It is because I did not think about whether others had anything at all. I only thought of myself. It seemed to me at the time that everyone should have to strive for their own in this world. It was how things were and who am I to change anything? I used to think I was special because I had physical gifts that stood out from others. This was my destiny to have more than others because some force in the Universe had deemed me more worthy in my mind. I now know that this type of thinking is egotistical and narcissistic. I have become aware that we all deserve more. How is that possible for all of us to have plenty? There are only so many resources and availabilities. When I was wanting more I was inside myself trying to please my personal desires. This has not worked out well for me since I have tendencies that overindulge to the point of self-destruction. I have learned from my obsessive behaviour and have been given an insight into how life should be lived. Today I find satisfaction in enjoying whatever is in front of me and not letting myself future trip about things that only could happen. Everything in existence is unique and worthy of being noticed by me in my humble life. I am not anything special, except that I now understand that living with all that is around me in a mode of enjoyment is more precious than anything else.

Why I judge me (#489)

If I am ever going to be the man I want to be then I need to be honest with myself. I need to judge myself with the principles I hold dear. I do not get a pass on things because I know I can hide or deny them. I have to be my own conscious about what I am doing. I do not need someone else to judge me when I have every truth before me. No one knows me like I know myself. I am the best judge of me outside my higher power. Am I willing to let myself slide when I do not let others slide. It would be easy to let myself slide but it would not allow me to be responsible for the choices I make. I have to make better choices if I am to become the man I want to be. I value the principles in my life. They mean everything to me and instead of just being idealisms I want them to constantly be realisms that reflect my actions. What I have learned is that fear is the reason I do most everything against my wishes. I must learn to express my actions when fear comes upon me in a way that brings opportunity not cowardice. I have to stand for the things that matter to me. I cannot talk about living principles that are right and good but I must react with principles in my life that are right and good. I judge myself to keep an eye on myself and to tell on myself when needed.

What is my mind? (#488)

I often catch myself saying that "when I make up my mind..." and only now am I pausing to wonder what actually is my mind? It is where my thoughts are. It is where I generate toward most of my actions. But other than these things I am still curious about what my mind is. It is mine for sure. I know this because of the decisions I have made and the consequences that followed were directly related to my decisions. I am the impetus to the working of my mind. It would follow logically that I must be in control of the mind within me. If that is the case then again the next logical assumption would be that I have control over my mind. If I have control over my mind then I can direst my thinking in particular ways that I choose. Whether I choose to exert control over my mind then is directly proportional to what I consider a priority. If I choose not to direct my thinking in any particular way then I am either carefree in my mind's application toward myself or I choose not to care. In essence I have been given an awesome responsibility, namely that of commander of my mind. I have lived many years and in that time I have evolved my mind into a reflection of what I want to be. How precious is that for me? It is the most precious gift I have within me. That is how precious. I can move my mind toward areas of thought that I find of value. I can use the vast wealth of knowledge my mind has accumulated over the years in many fine ways. It is my mind to direct and I will continue to commander it with all myself.

I keep looking around me (#487)

What I see is is encouraging and disheartening. Encouraging that there are people who want to have better lives and are doing something about it. Disheartening because there are few opportunities for them to choose from. The daily struggle to survive and make something positive of our lives is getting harder with each passing day. However, there is still a steely-willed determination to push forward toward a better day. We need our society to provide incentive to make society work. Work is good in that it gives us a common purpose and a sense of security. What it does not give us is opportunities to make our lives better with any consistency at all. The archaic system that would put our lives in jeopardy for the sake of remaining static is unacceptable. We must continue to mature as a society and show the maturity in how we make opportunities happen for all of us. The genesis of existence is our individual life. We are born today into an intelligence gathered and matured by those who preceded us. They pushed along a system for living in the only way they were able, by just maintaining what structure they had. We are blessed with greater possibilities and pushing what we have been given is not enough. We must grow what we have been given into something greater and closer to appreciating the sanctity of every life. Life is more than enjoyment, it is also about being responsible to each other in the present but to also build a better life in the future for our offspring.

A gift I have been given (#486)

It is intangible. It has no form or weight. It cannot be seen. It can only be felt. Inside me is where this gift I have been given resides. As a gift I am surely happy that it has found it's way to me. Where it came from is not anything I know for sure but can only guess at. Whether this gift will ever be shared with anyone else is yet to be determined but I do have my part of it. Will I tell you what it is? No. In time I can reveal this gift to someone but not now. I am enjoying the fact that I have something inside me that makes everything seem so special. What is that? I am fortunate to have felt this and know it is real. It is my hope that all of us experience a gift from a good place that makes our lives happy. I just want to be happy and help others be happy as well. I don't need anything else in life except what this gift I have makes me feel. What I have learned from all of this is a perspective on how I should live my life. In truth and honesty, in self-sacrifice and justice. I have what I have always wanted inside me, and the thought of losing it is not a concept I wish to consider. Nothing else man-made will ever come close to giving me the feeling I constantly have within me. The smile on my face is warm and genuine. The thoughts about others is real and virtue driven. I like myself today because I have something very special going on inside me. I am a fulfilled man, as much as a man can be fulfilled, despite not having a companion to share it with.

The conveyance of concepts and ideas (#485)

The ability to put into words how I feel about anything is what I strive to do. I don't look for catch phrases or cliche's to express my thoughts, I want my own words to describe what I am representing. Too many times I see people say they like some political person and that is nice if that is what they do, like the person. However, mostly it is because they like the person's view on a subject. It is the subject that they should be saying they like with some explanation. It is so simple to let others think for ourselves but it is not in our own interest to do so. We all must convey some sense of knowledge and understanding on subjects we feel personal about. These subjects of governmental and social debate are for us individually to comprehend. When we leave the comprehension to others we abdicate a part of what it is that defines our freedom. Simply taking the time to objectively understand a subject instead of spending time doing some mindless activity would benefit us in understanding and expressing our own viewpoint. Life is not easy and thinking that we are owed some privilege simply because we demand that privilege is not real. We must always work for our right to think and express our right to think with a sacredness as precious as life itself.

Free flow of ideas (#484)

This is one of those posts where I have no idea where I will end up. It is just a free flow of what is going to come to my mind. I started this today with no idea for a subject matter. Only concepts I have previously written about. That is the beauty of this blog as well, what is in my mind is what ends up on the page. I am a bit sleep deprived and that must be contributing to my lack of creative thought process. lol. More than anything I enjoy this type of writing in that something will establish itself as the subject. I am still unsure what that something will be. Peace and calm is what I am experiencing at the moment and that is tremendous in itself. I guess I don't have to have an opinion to write about everyday. I can just carry on a conversation with as yet unknown people who may read my blog posting for today. That is fine with me as it gives me a chance to express the real time happenings in my thoughts. I have other distractions going on around me and that is normal as well. My dog is snoring loudly and my phone has just let me know I had a message come through. I am starting to think beyond what I could write here. I am already planning out my morning in my head instead of trying to be of some significance on some subject I have not identified yet. lol. I believe I will stop here since the stream of thought between my ears is little to none.

What it is to be alive (#483)

For me there is a duality of necessity. One is having thought perception. Rene Descartes statement of "I think, therefore I am." illuminates the concept that I exist. Along with thought is sensory perception. If I feel, taste, smell, hear and see in any combination or alone, then I am, along with thought, alive. Now, of course, I am only speaking of the human experience. Other forms of life exist without me knowing whether thought and sensory perception exist within them. From the smallest single cell organism, plant or animal, on up the evolutionary or creative chain. Having only thought and sensory perception is the minimal acceptable example, to me, of what it is to be alive. I maintain that curiosity and compassion are the two expressions of instinct we carry within all of us. Born from the need to survive. It is in the practice of curiosity and compassion that we begin to experience the gift of living the human experiment with a fullness greater than just existing. A scale can be devised to measure one's fullness in life directly proportional to how one utilizes the concept of curiosity and compassion as a rule. Within all of us is emotion, and through experiencing emotion, our own emotion, by our own actions, we are given a clue as to how we are living our lives. My sense of inner satisfaction based upon actions I think and allow myself to experience, help me understand, gauge and measure my personal utility of compassion and curiosity. That is what determines the fullness of life I have.

I am a blank canvas (#482)

When my life started I was unfamiliar with my surroundings. I did not know what to think nor did I know how to act. Over time through assimilation and repeating what others did, I gained the beginning of a process for living. Once I came aware that I could make decisions unilaterally for myself I began to discover many possibilities. Having no real perspective, or an objective outlook, I began my journey of enlightenment with many stops and starts. I am now at a point in my life where I can restart my journey. I spent a good part of my life learning and now I want to spend the rest of my life doing those things I have found to be in concert with who I am. I am a blank canvas again. I will not forget the lessons I learned from the past but I will not continue to live in them as a rule. My past has become my perspective on the things in life I look upon and wish to inculcate into my life. I often think of myself like the paraphrased version of a movie line I once heard. (It is as if I have lived two lives, one, the one I learned with, and the other, the one I want to now live.) It appears that I had to go through what I went through to get where I am today. I certainly wish I had not taken so long to have the vision of my life that I do have now but that is moot. What I do with the canvas of my life is now before me and I am willing and able to paint my present and future.

What do we say about ourselves (#481)

I look at myself and wonder why I have become who I am. Of all the millions of decisions, big and small, I have made over my life to this point why am I who I am? It is not just happenstance that I am who I am. There is very little serendipity in the making of me. I have guided myself to this point by making conscious decisions that effect who I have become. All of these many decisions in my life come from within me. The core of who I am resides within my values and hopes. I get to dictate my expressions through action based upon the drive within me. I cannot see who I am through others' eyes but I am truly a reflection of what I let myself be. Others will have to offer their perspective on who I am through some valid form of recognition but that is their perception. I often if not always refer to how I hope to become the man I wish to be, wise and kind. Do I show this in my life? Just because I want it does not mean I am doing it. Every little detail of my life must be in concert with the wise and kind paradigm. Nothing is too insignificant a thought or action from me that is unimportant a value in becoming what I want to be. It would be easy for me to tell everyone how I am working hard to become this person but words are simple and the actual doing is hard and constant. Although the hard gets easier with familiarity the consistent is more difficult in that it must remain relentless and vigilant. What I say about me is that I am still a work in progress unwilling to quit when getting better is an option.

A letter to the future (#480)

Hello, this is me, Carl Arthur Clark. I hope you are well and that what we did here from before and after 2010 has left a smile within your heart. It has been my fervent hope that we, as a society, have progressed in a positive way to make your existences even more rewarding than ours. It has been an honor being a human being and experiencing all the sensations attributed to us. We have five senses, touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. We also have the ability to gauge situations through a "gut feeling". Telepathy is something we think is possible but our technology is still rudimentary in trying to implement a telepathic system. We also believe that time travel is another possible formulation but again we are nowhere near any plausible formula to make it happen. Space travel is our latest preoccupation in order to expand our curious natures. We really do care about each other but our education and understanding levels are not where they should be yet. We still fight amongst ourselves, like adolescents or primitives. I have great hope for us however since the dawn of humanity a progression toward enlightenment has steadily occurred. We don't share information with ourselves yet as there is still distrust between culture, race and political idealism's. We are working out our differences and hopefully soon we will truly be a society that is as tolerant and diverse as I hope your society is.