Stories and Wisdom from a Life Fully Lived

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  • You PLAY Music

    You Play the Piano

    Alan Watts

                                                 English Spanish Gujarati Hindi                                              

    The existence, the physical universe is basically playful. There is no necessity for it whatsoever. It isn’t going anywhere. That is to say, it doesn’t have some destination that it ought to arrive at. 

    But it is best understood by analogy with music, because music, as an art form, is essentially playful. We say, “You play the piano.” You don’t work the piano.

    Why? Music differs from, say, travel. When you travel, you are trying to get somewhere. In music, though, one doesn’t make the end of the composition the point of the composition. If that were so, the best conductors would be those who played fastest. And there would be composers who only wrote finales. People would go to a concert just to hear one crackling chord… because that’s the end!

    Same way with dancing. You don’t aim at a particular spot in the room because that’s where you will arrive. The whole point of the dancing is the dance.

    But we don’t see that as something brought by our education into our conduct. We have a system of schooling which gives a completely different impression. It’s all graded and what we do is put the child into the corridor of this grade system with a kind of, “Come on kitty, kitty.” And you go to kindergarten and that’s a great thing because when you finish, you get into first grade. Then, “Come on” first grade leads to second grade and so on. And then you get out of grade school and you got high school. It’s revving up, the thing is coming, then you’re going to go to college… Then you’ve got graduate school, and when you’re through with graduate school, you go out to join the world.

    Then you get into some racket where you’re selling insurance. And they’ve got that quota to make, and you’re gonna make that. And all the time that thing is coming—It’s coming, it’s coming, that great thing. The success you’re working for.

    Then you wake up one day about 40 years old and you say, “My God, I’ve arrived. I’m there.” And you don’t feel very different from what you’ve always felt.

    Look at the people who live to retire; to put those savings away. And then when they’re 65, they don’t have any energy left. They’re more or less impotent. And they rot in some old peoples home, or senior citizens’ community. Because we simply cheated ourselves the whole way down the line.

    Because we thought of life by analogy with a journey, with a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at that end, and the thing was to get to that thing at that end. Success, or whatever it is, or maybe heaven after you’re dead.

    But we missed the point the whole way along.

    It was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing or to dance while the music was being played.

    by Alan Watts, a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and populariser of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience.

  • It’s What You Scatter

    This has been around the internet before, but it is a marvellous story, and it will make you think.

    Charles Tutt

     “I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes… I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. ‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’ ‘Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good’ ‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma? ”Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.”Good. Anything I can help you with?”No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.”Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.’No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’ ‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’ ‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’ ‘Is that right? Let me see it’, said Miller. ‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’ ‘I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked. ‘Not zackley but almost.’; ‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy.’Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’ Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile, she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community. All three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later, I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapidly than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and, knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell in line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts, all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm handover the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.’Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…. they came to pay their debt.’ ‘We’ve never had much of the wealth of this world, ‘she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho …’With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t make yourself…; An unexpected phone call from an old friend…. Green stoplights on your way to work….; The fastest line at the grocery store….; A good sing-along song on the radio.. Your keys found right where you left them. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!“

  • Curiosity

    It’s hard to overstate the value of curiosity. It’s what drives lifelong learning, fuels passion, and leads to new experiences. Albert Einstein, whose name is synonymous with genius, once said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

  • No Looking Back

    Always focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror. Colin Powell

  • And Now Everyone is doing it!!!

    This was a laugh that made the email circuit a few years ago.

    Shown below is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86-year-old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times. 

    Dear Sir: I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters—when I try to contact you; I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate. Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number, which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again; I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

    IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH,

    #1 To make an appointment to see me,

    #2 To query a missing payment,

    # 3 To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there,

    # 4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping,

    # 5 To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature,

    # 6 To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home,

    #7 To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier,

    # 8 To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7,

    # 9 To make a general complaint or inquiry.

    The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

    # 10. This is a second reminder to press* for English. 

    While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

    Regrettably, but again, following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

    May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year?

    Your Humble Client 

    (Remember: This was written by a 86-year-old woman) ‘YA JUST GOTTA LOVE “US SENIORS”!!!!!

  • Mistakes

    A mistake? Thank you!
    We all make mistakes. That statement is so pedestrian it’s hardly worthy running with. There is, however, a less obvious but very important aspect of mistakes and it is well worth considering: we never have a better learning opportunity than from mistakes. They may cost us money, time, and energy, but learning from them will save us much, much more.


    All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from them.
    – Winston Churchill


    What do you do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes. And what happens then? You make more mistakes and when you have made them all without drowning what do you find? That you can swim! Life is just the same as leaning to swim. Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no better way of learning.
    – Alfred Adler

    Bruno’s commentary
    I have made many mistakes. Some resulted in loss of money, some in personal setbacks. Some were minor, many were major and painful. Some time ago I opened a file called “Learning Experiences,” into which I put reports, notes, and thoughts regarding my mistakes. Over the years, this one file became many, until I needed a whole box to store my errors! From time to time I browse through these materials to remind myself of my mistakes and confirm what I have learned from them. This prevents me from repeating them.

    What did you learn from your most recent mistake? 

  • Partisans

    I recently published a “doom and gloom” article by an unknown author. This article, by Maarten van Doorn, is a brighter counter.

    https://maartenvandoorn.substack.com/p/the-puzzle-of-polarization?r=1cjs7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=copy

  • 2021 America

    Excellent portrayal of our lonely planet. Author unknown. Sad, yet quite erudite.
     
    “Men, like nations, think they’re eternal. What man in his 20s or 30s doesn’t believe, at least subconsciously, that he’ll live forever? In the springtime of youth, an endless summer beckons. As you pass 70, it’s harder to hide from reality.

    Nations also have seasons: Imagine a Roman of the 2nd century contemplating an empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East, thinking: This will endure forever…. Forever was about 500 years, give or take.
     
    France was pivotal in the 17th and 18th centuries; now the land of Charles Martel is on its way to becoming part of the Muslim ummah.
     
    In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the sun never set on the British empire; now Albion exists in a perpetual twilight. Its 95-year-old sovereign is a fitting symbol for a nation in terminal decline. 

    In the 1980s, Japan seemed poised to buy the world. Business schools taught Japanese management techniques. Today, its birth rate is so low and its population aging so rapidly that an industry has sprung up to remove the remains of elderly Japanese who die alone.
     
    I was born in 1933, almost at the midpoint of the 20th century—the American century. America’s prestige and influence were never greater. Thanks to the ‘Greatest Generation,’ we won a World War fought throughout most of Europe, Asia and the Pacific. We reduced Germany to rubble and put the rising sun to bed. It set the stage for almost half a century of unprecedented prosperity.
     
    We stopped the spread of communism in Europe and Asia, and fought international terrorism. We rebuilt our enemies and lavished foreign aid on much of the world. We built skyscrapers and rockets to the moon. We conquered polio and now COVID. We explored the mysteries of the Universe and the wonders of DNA… the blueprint of life. 


    But where is the glory that once was Rome? America has moved from a relatively free economy to socialism—which has worked so well NOWHERE in the world. We’ve gone from a republican government guided by a constitution to a regime of revolving elites. We have less freedom with each passing year. Like a signpost to the coming reign of terror, the cancel culture is everywhere. We’ve traded the American Revolution for the Cultural Revolution.
     
    The pathetic creature in the White House is an empty vessel filled by his handlers. At the G-7 Summit, ‘Dr. Jill’ had to lead him like a child.

    In 1961, when we were young and vigorous, our leader was too. Now a feeble nation is technically led by the oldest man ever to serve in the presidency.
     
    We can’t defend our borders, our history (including monuments to past greatness) or our streets. Our cities have become anarchist playgrounds. We are a nation of dependents, mendicants, and misplaced charity. Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels. 
    The president of the United States can’t even quote the beginning of the Declaration of Independence (‘You know — The Thing’) correctly. Ivy League graduates routinely fail history tests that 5th graders could pass a generation ago.  Crime rates soar and we blame the 2nd. Amendment and slash police budgets.
     
    Our culture is certifiably insane. Men who think they’re women. People who fight racism by seeking to convince members of one race that they’re inherently evil, and others that they are perpetual victims. A psychiatrist lecturing at Yale said she fantasizes about ‘unloading a revolver into the head of any white person.’ 

    We slaughter the unborn in the name of freedom, while our birth rate dips lower year by year. Our national debt is so high that we can no longer even pretend that we will repay it one day. It’s a $28-trillion monument to our improvidence and refusal to confront reality. Our ‘entertainment’ is sadistic, nihilistic and as enduring as a candy bar wrapper thrown in the trash. Our music is noise that spans the spectrum from annoying to repulsive.
     
    Patriotism is called insurrection, treason celebrated, and perversion sanctified. A man in blue gets less respect than a man in a dress. We’re asking soldiers to fight for a nation our leaders no longer believe in.

    How do nations slip from greatness to obscurity?

    • Fighting endless wars they can’t or won’t win
    • Accumulating massive debt far beyond their ability to repay
    • Refusing to guard their borders,
    • allowing the nation to be inundated by an alien horde,
    • Surrendering control of their cities to mob rule 
    • Allowing indoctrination of the young
    • Moving from a republican form of government to an oligarchy,
    • Losing national identity,
    • Indulging indolence,
    • Abandoning faith and family—the bulwarks of social order. 

    In America, every one of these symptoms is pronounced, indicating an advanced stage of the disease. Even if the cause seems hopeless, do we not have an obligation to those who sacrificed so much to give us what we had? I’m surrounded by ghosts urging me on: the Union soldiers who held Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, the battered bastards of Bastogne, those who served in the cold hell of Korea, the guys who went to the jungles of Southeast Asia and came home to be reviled or neglected.

    This is the nation that took in my immigrant grandparents, whose uniform most of my uncles wore in the Second World War, where they shed blood on foreign soil. I don’t want to imagine a world without America, even though it becomes increasingly likely.

    During Britain’s darkest hour, when its professional army was trapped at Dunkirk and a German invasion seemed imminent, Churchill reminded his countrymen, ‘Nations that go down fighting rise again, and those that surrender tamely are finished.’ 

    The same might be said of causes. If we let America slip through our fingers, if we lose without a fight, what will posterity say of us? 

    While the prognosis is far from good, only God knows if America’s day in the sun is over.”

  • From Slap Happy Larry, Down Under

    New To Me Words/Concepts
    Contents Tourism: Contents Tourism is a Japanese word and refers to that specific kind of tourism stimulated by Popular Culture. (New Zealand has a standout example of contents tourism: Bored of the Rings, of course. Okay, okay, for those of us who are Kiwis living in Australia, maybe it’s the Hobbit jokes that get old…)

    Homonormativity: The meaning of homonormativity wasn’t immediately clear to me, and I had to look it up. This word refers to the privileging of heteronormative ideals and constructs onto LGBT+ culture and identity. The word exists because the norms and values of heterosexuality are replicated and performed among the rainbow community.

    UAP: Unidentifiable Aerial Phenomena. We used to call them UFOs. The new phrase is from the much anticipated document released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence back in June. (Trust me, you’ll have more fun reading speculative fiction. Aliens don’t appear at the end.)

    I ran across this blog, https://www.slaphappylarry.com, and found it interesting. Maybe you will too.

    Every day is a good day–some better than others.

    Charles

  • Abortion

    Abortion is the Leading Cause of Death Worldwide, Killing 24 Million People This Year

    Nothing kills more people than abortion. Nothing.