Most Americans are just fucking stupid when it comes to understanding the workings of our democracy. Another sign of someone who falls into this category is how willing they are to be told how to think.
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I discovered this while walking through the Seattle Center fountain courtyard. I would never have known what this was unless I had seen a mouse scamper along this trail, never veering off the path…
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If someone is not giving you the space you need to be yourself there is a question you need to ask: Is that person someone you truly need in your life? Would you be better off If there were more distance between you and that person?
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When it’s time to retire, it’s best to walk away and start a new life. You only get one shot at living, don’t spend the entire time doing the same things over and over again…
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Heraclitus and Parmenides defined the basic conflict that society must continually resolve. The conflict between stasis and flux. You cannot have a society that evolves in a positive direction if you adhere unwaveringly to one or the other of these views and refuse to acknowledge the role of the other.
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I am happy to have firmly held beliefs, but that does not put me above you, that does not give me the right to impose those beliefs on you. As long as we respect the law and our fellow man, we can say we are living justly.
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You should always keep a vision in front of you. No matter how weird or unattainable it may seem, it is the force that drives us and keeps us moving forward.
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Life is short. It’s a shame we tend to realize that so late in the game. It’s time to play catch-up.
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All good thru-hikers have a trail name. I’m not exactly a thru-hiker (maybe a thru-cyclist) even though I haven’t done the AT or the PCT, I’ve done other “thru” like things. I’m going to say that gives me an excuse to adopt a trail name for myself… My friend Terry would probably call me “Postman.” I like that, but the meaning is a bit obtuse (except of course for Terry and me). The truth of the matter is, that you have to be given your trail name by someone else. I haven’t been granted that privilege yet…
I’ll go with “Postman” for now, but I’m leaning toward “B-Rad.”
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My favorite work of art is Albrecht Durer’s Melencolia I. This was the first piece of art to explore perspective visually. It illustrates clearly that what we see is relative to where we stand. All knowledge is gained by altering our perspective. I find this notion uplifting.
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What Dante did not realize (or did he?) when he was describing his journey through Purgatory and Hell to reach Heaven was that he was also describing the journey through a Black Hole to reach a White Hole.
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My Mantra:
Shins on boot tongues
Knees over toes
Edge - to flat - to edge
Chin over the turning ski
Pressure downhill
Turning ski, turning arm
Elbows in front of the body
Shoulders back
The letter “C” is your friend
That’s a lot to remember, but probably the biggest tip of all is to roll from edge to flat to edge. You are only flat momentarily when the skis are perpendicular to the hill. One way to help get on the edge of the turning ski (the new downhill ski) is to remove weight from the free ski at the same time forward pressure is applied to the new turning ski… or just pretend you’re a stork… riding a horse…
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Stress and the circumstances that cause stress are transitory. To recognize that is to give yourself the tools you need to move through the moment. Problems aren’t truly problems, they are just moments that we have difficulty seeing through.
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I admit that writing for me is a compulsion. I hope that it is a good compulsion. It feels good…
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History should never look back and say “We need to return to ‘x’ state of affairs.” History, if it asks any question of the past, should ask what the past moment tells us about where we need to go.
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We are all Americans. Our country is not the total of all individual wants and desires. Our country should be the sum of what is best for everyone.
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“Always start slow and small.”
Pick small goals that are stepping stones to your larger goals. Celebrate each small step. Pace yourself. The adage “It’s not a race, it’s a marathon,” is the key to all success.
“Build a routine.”
Someone recently asked me, “How do you have the discipline to write every day?” You don’t start with discipline, you start by finding enjoyment in what you are doing. Once that enjoyment reaches critical mass, you want that feeling every day. Discipline is just the urge to seek that enjoyment.
“Track your results.”
Using a journal to record progress (and setbacks) is a strong incentive and support. It does not have to be fancy. It provides you the opportunity to look back and correct, as well as look ahead and plan.
“Cut yourself some slack.”
Be gracious to yourself, there are going to be good days and bad days. In the greater scheme of things bad days are nothing more than opportunities to examine what isn’t working and avoid those things going forward. We are not perfect. I know that about myself, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to get better. I’m not worried about reaching perfection.
“Keep going.”
If you don’t feel like pursuing your goal today, that’s okay, but take a step anyway. The result might be shit but that doesn’t matter, what matters is that you took the step. Even if the result is less than satisfactory, you will still feel rewarded by the attempt. There is reward in the doing. The product will take care of itself.
Inspiration for this entry came from an online article I found on the Lochby website.
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Looking back, if I could have pursued any career, I would have chosen to be a historian. I can’t think of any work more rewarding. That’s saying something because the work that I did was very satisfying.
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When you look into the sky and you see your path, don’t ignore it. Your path is written everywhere you look, all you need to do is open your eyes.
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“Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again. “
—Og Mandino
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Occasionally we unexpectedly catch sight of something essential about ourselves. We need to be open to allowing that to happen. When it does, we need to be open to incorporating that revelation.
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Most people don’t concern themselves with self-expression beyond their normal daily pursuits. That’s a shame. Society would be better if more people pursued self-expression for the purpose of becoming a better person.
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Rather than ask yourself “What am I seeking,” try envisioning “Who would I be if I weren’t seeking anything…”
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My cat notices immediately when I play Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” He may be more culturally evolved than I am. Even though that is likely the case, he still loves me. When I leave he sits by the door waiting for my return. I don’t know anyone else who does that.
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I got a call from someone in Florida, out of the blue. He fed me dinner four years ago when I was cycling across the country. He wants to meet again next year… I suppose there is no greater compliment than that…
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