God dammit, you've got to be kind-Kurt Vonnegut
This is one of my favorite quotes. It's simple; it's straightforward; it's a little sassy.
There is infinite wisdom all around us-Gibran, Rumi, Hesse, Gandhi-these great figures and so many others offer us words to stir the soul, words to inspire men and nations, words to feed the mind. But these simple words simply say it all. Be kind. That is the only rule.
On this path to meaning, one thing that I have always sought is purity of soul. To absolve myself of any earthly concerns, and find love in everything around me. To remove fear. I have a long way to go......but I hope that, by adopting this mantra, I will find myself a little closer to that peaceful place.
Until next time.....
Showing posts with label meaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meaning. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Get Up Offa That Thing!
What motivates a person? This conversation was sparked this weekend, and it got me thinking.
My significant other is a highly motivated, goal driven individual. In my younger days, I would have said the same thing of myself. It was easier in those days, because the goals were predefined. Get good grades, get into college, excel at extracurriculars. However, as I have gotten older, (and the "adult goals" have become less defined) I have noticed a change.
When comparing "goal notes" with my honey, here's what I said: My goal is simply to be happy. Sounds simple enough. I want my happiness to be free, unattached to thoughts of money, success, or material possessions. If my happiness is pure, and resides in my being, then it cannot disappear or be taken away by circumstance.
But there is a drawback to abstract goals and a preoccupation with temporal satisfaction: If left untended, it can create stagnation. And while I think it's important to be able to be happy in any given situation, how do I motivate myself to move forward?
Perhaps there is a difference between "happiness" and "satisfaction". I would say that I am not satisfied with my present circumstances, even though I consider myself happy. So maybe it's simply a matter of defining the things in my life that are unsatisfying, and addressing them, all the while maintaining a positive disposition, and having faith in the journey.
Until next time......
My significant other is a highly motivated, goal driven individual. In my younger days, I would have said the same thing of myself. It was easier in those days, because the goals were predefined. Get good grades, get into college, excel at extracurriculars. However, as I have gotten older, (and the "adult goals" have become less defined) I have noticed a change.
When comparing "goal notes" with my honey, here's what I said: My goal is simply to be happy. Sounds simple enough. I want my happiness to be free, unattached to thoughts of money, success, or material possessions. If my happiness is pure, and resides in my being, then it cannot disappear or be taken away by circumstance.
But there is a drawback to abstract goals and a preoccupation with temporal satisfaction: If left untended, it can create stagnation. And while I think it's important to be able to be happy in any given situation, how do I motivate myself to move forward?
Perhaps there is a difference between "happiness" and "satisfaction". I would say that I am not satisfied with my present circumstances, even though I consider myself happy. So maybe it's simply a matter of defining the things in my life that are unsatisfying, and addressing them, all the while maintaining a positive disposition, and having faith in the journey.
Until next time......
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Hat Has Spoken
Sometimes you have to shake it up. So when my significant other suggested a couple of weeks ago that we take an international trip next year, I decided we should make it fun. So here's what I suggested:
We each pick 3 places that were reasonably traversable in roughly a ten day period.
We don't tell each other our selections.
We put them in a hat.
We draw one out.
And away we go!!
So that's what we did. :) Narrowing it down to three wasn't easy. I'll admit my selections came down to the wire. But we did it!
And...drumroll please....
We're going to PERU!!!! We are both very excited. Let the planning and adventure begin!
We each pick 3 places that were reasonably traversable in roughly a ten day period.
We don't tell each other our selections.
We put them in a hat.
We draw one out.
And away we go!!
So that's what we did. :) Narrowing it down to three wasn't easy. I'll admit my selections came down to the wire. But we did it!
And...drumroll please....
We're going to PERU!!!! We are both very excited. Let the planning and adventure begin!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Curves ahead
The road to meaning has been a curvy one. I suppose it is never a straight line for anyone. From pursuing my endeavors in the classroom to volunteering at the homeless shelter to finally picking up a guitar, I have searched for peace and a quiet soul. Through all my searching, I have known to some extent the fruitlessness of my search, It is in me and it is all around me. "I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty", Kabir tells us.
Traveling has always been one of the most literal manifestations of this search for meaning. I was bitten by the travel bug early, but probably caught the fever my senior year, when I visited London for the first time. Despite the freezing temperatures, I fell immediately in love with the city, and vowed to return, which I did for the first time last year. There is something so wonderful about putting yourself in a new setting, talking to different people, seeing different things, experiencing different cultures/customs/foods. For me, it's like being shaken awake. Lately, so much of my day to day feels robotic, like I'm on auto pilot. Traveling wakes me up to the real possibilities of life. A soul awakened.
I think you have to break up the monotony when you sense its presence. You don't have to cross oceans to do it. Just remember to keep shaking it up. Try something new. Talk to someone you've never spoken to before. Do something. Do anything. This is your life. Don't miss it.
Traveling has always been one of the most literal manifestations of this search for meaning. I was bitten by the travel bug early, but probably caught the fever my senior year, when I visited London for the first time. Despite the freezing temperatures, I fell immediately in love with the city, and vowed to return, which I did for the first time last year. There is something so wonderful about putting yourself in a new setting, talking to different people, seeing different things, experiencing different cultures/customs/foods. For me, it's like being shaken awake. Lately, so much of my day to day feels robotic, like I'm on auto pilot. Traveling wakes me up to the real possibilities of life. A soul awakened.
I think you have to break up the monotony when you sense its presence. You don't have to cross oceans to do it. Just remember to keep shaking it up. Try something new. Talk to someone you've never spoken to before. Do something. Do anything. This is your life. Don't miss it.
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