Stories and Wisdom from a Life Fully Lived

Category: Food for Thought

  • Which “I” Do We Mean?

    Which “I” Do We Mean?

    When we call ourselves “I,” which “I” do we really mean?

    There’s the first “I”—our ego, the conscious self we move through the world with, reasoning and deciding, shaping a narrative of who we are.

    But if we step into a yoga class or sit down to meditate, a second “I” appears. This one doesn’t stretch or breathe; it observes. It watches us enter downward dog; it notices the chatter between our ears. This is the witness—quiet, patient, and somehow a little above or behind the first “I.”

    Then comes a third “I,” the one that witnesses the witness. A fourth arrives in dreams, where it wanders through our sleeping landscapes, standing in for us while we rest. And then, most mysteriously, there is a fifth “I.”

    This fifth “I” is the one that writes our books, paints our canvases, launches our ventures. It doesn’t belong to the first four. It moves independently, yet it is undeniably us. This is the “I” that interests me most.

    Do I get lonely, sitting alone in a room day after day? Not at all. Because I am never alone. I am in the company of this other “me”—the one who is both myself and not myself, my lifelong companion. I have spent years seeking it, trying to prove myself worthy of it, and learning how to labor alongside it. It is muse, partner, and mirror all at once.

    And when it shows up, when it takes its place beside me, the work becomes something greater than I could have ever made alone.

  • Eternity—Infinity

    Recent deaths among family and friends always stir deep reflections in me. For example: Eternity. To me that means something like a timeline without beginning or end, or a forever NOW—infinitely forever—always, and Infinity: the same except with more focus on quantity; ie. infinitely small or large, but also without limit at either end.

    Here’s a comforting and optimistic poem. “Safely Home” that was printed in the funeral home visitation event program for my Cousin, Mary Jo Garnet. It serves its purpose, to console the bereaved, well. And it puts a spiritually poetic tone to the emotions, we who cared for her, are experiencing.

    Safely Home

    I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
    Oh, so happy and so bright!
    There is perfect joy and perfect beauty
    In this everlasting light.

    All the pain and grief is over,
    Every restless tossing passed;
    I am now at peace forever,
    Safely home in Heaven at last.

    Did you wonder why I so calmly
    Trod the valley of the shade?
    Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined
    Every dark and fearful glade.

    And He came Himself to meet me
    In that way so hard to tread’
    And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
    Could I have one doubt or dread?

    Then you must not grieve so sorely,
    For I love you dearly still;
    Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
    Pray to trust our Father’s will.

    There is work still waiting for you,
    So you must not idly stand;
    Do it now, while life remains
    You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

    When that work is all completed,
    He will gently call you Home;
    Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
    Oh, the joy to see you come!

    Those words are more for the bereaved than the deceased, for no matter our belief, hope, faith or…, none of us are eager to experience this thing we’ve observed as death, the unknown. And none of us can or will escape it. Birth, life, and death, are the obvious observed cycle for all of life—plant-animal—knowledge—understanding–literally everything in the known universe.

    And here’s an interesting video presentation from a physicist that I found quite interesting that seems to offer a bridge between religion, which I left many years ago, and science, which I’m now embracing. The birth, growth, death, lifecycle has been going on for eons. I wonder sometimes, if this is really a cycle of life and death, or an infinitely eternal cycle of life moving from stage to stage or dimension to dimension through an infinite universe. Since we already live in eternity, maybe our consciousness evolves—infinitely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzZ6nHwPfi8



  • Investing

    Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.

    Warren Buffett

  • Make Sure The Mountain is Worth Climbing

    Many things in life are hard. We value hard work and extra effort in our culture. BUT, just because you are giving a great effort does not mean you are working toward a great result. How are you making sure that mountain is really worth climbing?

    I’m entering the 9th decade of life on this planet and if I have any regrets about the way I’ve chosen to live out that time, it would be that most of my effort has been wasted on unimportant, unnecessary, frivolous endeavors with little or no ultimate value to myself or anyone else.

    Flat Squirrel

    I’ve always been curious about many things, and possessed with an adventurous spirit. I’ve travelled the world. I’ve supported life, (often not well), with a new job on average, every 2 to 4 years. That’s about how long it takes to burn out or figure out “that mountain ain’t the one I want to climb”. Been many places. Done many things. Jack of all trades, master of none. While I’ve never formally completed higher education certification, I have taken and still take hundreds of courses and read thousands of books. I’m a lifelong learner. I have MID (Multiple Interest Disorder). I still haven’t found THE mountain I REALLY want to climb. I thought I had several times. In the end, they haven’t panned out. Time is running out. While I do enjoy security and a nice lifestyle, I still long for an all-consuming project that will produce something of significance for the world. I love this life. It could be better. I’d like to make it better for those who follow.

    Those “flat squirrels” I mentioned are the many past versions of me chasing this, that, or the other “new” trend, “opportunity”, “purpose”, or “calling”. Those squirrels are flat because of poor planning and indecision.

    Learning to THINK for YOURSELF and filter all the well intended or otherwise, BS that parents, neighbors, friends, society, culture, academia, and snake-oil salespeople throw at you is the most important mountain anyone can climb.

    I think I’ll write a book—maybe a series. I’ve been a wanna-be writer for a very long time.

  • Terms of Service Update

    Could you tell me why businesses are always updating their “terms of service”?

    I often get notices from service providers updating their terms of service. And they never mention how that benefits me. It’s all about them. Got one today from my bank. I’ve had several from others too. It’s making me wonder; do they ever consider my terms of service? They’ve never mentioned it. Makes me feel like I’m not as important to their business as they are and that I’m being manipulated somehow. If you’ve ever thought about it, you may feel that way too! Let’s start a movement: Customers, consumers, clients, and users of goods and services Customer/Vendor Terms of Service Manifesto!

    Something to think about.

  • Mindfulness Tips

    For More Successful Living

    Apply This to Any Year.

  • Why? Why? Why?

    Why do so many people from all walks of life—all races, creeds and colors — continue to promote racism? Does ANYONE not know that the mere reference to skin color is racist?

    Why do we often mention “Black owned business” and never “White owned” ones?

    Why do some promote specifically “Black” organizations and not specifically “White” ones?

    Why do Black Lives Matter without mention of ALL lives? Doesn’t anyone else matter?

    If we’re trying to remove racism from our culture; why do we continue to use language that promotes or draws attention to it?

    I believe that ALL LIVES will become equal (as far as skin color goes), when we stop linking our thinking to skin color and instead, focus on contribution, service, skill, producing something of value to all humanity.

  • Live This Day as if It Is Your LAST.

    Live this day and every day as an active participant in the present. Each morning, ask yourself what is REAL and IMPORTANT to you, and then find the courage, wisdom and willpower to live your day around your answer.

    • It’s your choice.
    • YOUR choice!
    • You are choosing right now.

    If you are choosing…

    • to complain,
    • to blame,
    • to be stuck in the past,
    • to act like a victim,
    • to feel insecure,
    • to feel anger,
    • to feel hate,
    • to be naïve,
    • to ignore your intuition,
    • to ignore good advice,
    • to give up,

    then it’s time to choose differently. Do some mental hygiene. Clean up that “stinkin thinkin”! Start “linkin your thinkin” to what you DO want instead of what you DON’T WANT. For example:

    • Choose to be present.
    • Choose to be positive.
    • Choose to forgive yourself.
    • Choose to forgive others.
    • Choose to just LET GO of your stinkin thinkin.
    • Choose to see your value.
    • Choose to see the possibilities.
    • Choose to find meaning.
    • Choose to prove you’re not a victim.
    • ‘Choose to let go of your false beliefs and stories.

    You’re not alone in your life’s journey. We’re all on the same journey. Recognizing that brings some relief to me. I hope it does for you too.

  • Connundrums

    of Socialism in The United States of America

    America is capitalist and greedy—yet half of the population is subsidized.

    Half the population is subsidized—yet they think they are victims.

    They think they are victims—yet their representatives run the government.

    Their representatives run the government—yet the poor keep getting poorer.

    The poor keep getting poorer—yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about.

    They have things that people in other countries only dream about—yet they want America to be more like those other countries.

    These short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment:

    They advised us NOT to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics (and I agree), but they encourage us to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Both are serious threats to us all. What should we do?

    We often hear that Social Security is going to run out of money. But we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money. What’s interesting is the first group “worked” for their money, but the second didn’t. What’s up with that???

    They are cutting national military and local police budgets and failing miserably to uphold or enforce our laws. But they’re not stopping the flow of or payments or benefits to illegal aliens. Why? Why? Why?

    If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.

    Plato

  • When You Can’t Change the Situation

    Change Your Response to It

    I’m not always successful with this approach and you probably won’t be either, but I’ve found it to be a good place to start. Three things to do:

    • Just be where you are. Let the present situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be.
    • Do not regret the kindness and respect you have shown to the wrong people. Your behavior says everything about you, and their behavior says volumes about them. Carry on… with grace.
    • Let go. Don’t overreact. You don’t have to join every fight. Most situations won’t make one iota of difference soon.

    Think. Sit quietly with your situation. Resist the urge to respond in the same old way you always have.

    I like to write about it in my journal, let it rest a couple of days and come back to it. Often mental/emotional space opens up for a new approach.

    While you may not be responsible for your current situation, though often you are, you are responsible for your thinking, feeling, and action responses.

    Which Comes First?

    • Thought / Action—Action / Thought
    • Thought / Feeling—Feeling / Thought
    • Thought / Belief—Belief / Thought

    Almost all “situations” contain thought triggers, or memories real or imagined, which produce a wide range of responses—emotional, physical, behavioral, etc.. Our awareness of these triggers and our habitual responses to them completely dictate the quality of our life… regardless of circumstance.