Evidently, you live a well examined life, Jack - the only worthwhile kind per Socrates. To relate, I escaped the lure of fame early when I realized that even someone wildly famous and popular - George Washington or a first century apocalyptic preacher in Palestine - leaves almost no evidence of who they were in the moment. We see GW on our money and JC in the forest of crucifixes, things that surround us regardless of our wishes, but no one - no one telling the truth, that is - knows who they actually were in the depth of their character, what they liked for breakfast, what they were like when they were frustrated or joyful, how they related to others in every day situations. All we have are myths and legends that draw broad lines and general statements of character, fanciful stories of specific actions (throwing a dollar clear across the Potomac or feeding 5000+ people with only a few loaves and fish), and a few quotations - of which none can be established with any degree of reliability. I contracted my circle of concern in this regard (i.e., whether I should care about "impressing" large numbers of people who I neither know now nor could ever know in the future) to focus on being the best and most caring person I could be to the people who I do know and will know in my little area and in my brief moment of time in this vast universe. It made sense to me then and still does. The difference that we make individually with those around us, including your readers, when aggregated with the differences the rest of us make in our own effective zones of influence, helps determine the fabric of the society that is created by the aggregation of our efforts (and lack of effort). It is part of why I believe that raising our children to be curious, caring, empathetic, self-confident, humble, and honorable people with a sense of duty to the past, present and future of the society into which they have been born is our highest calling. Plant that tree; love that child; drop that pebble into the pond of time. The ripples will go where they will.
I've always believed that a writer who doesn't know themselves is a writer wasted. It's taken awhile to get there, and it's a daily grind, but I realize that part of my gift is to deliver a message. That message is only part politics, culture, and public affairs. It should also be about looking inwards and figuring out what each of us can do to make our mark- what can each of us do to leave this place better than we found it?
That's what I'm working toward.
I may not cure cancer or solve world hunger, but I can do my bit to contribute. I don't know if I'll be remembered specifically for any one thing, but I hope that my being here will have left at least a few folks feeling better. That will have made the whole long, strange trip worthwhile.
Edit: Of course, GW's statements can be proven through well preserved, written contemporaneous historical documents. As for JC, we only have relatively few statements passed down through a 2000-year game of telephone, memories of which being influenced heavily by 3-4 centuries of doctrinal claims developed in many instances to buttress male clerical control of the movement and eventually to facilitate political integration - a process still at work today (sadly).
What a beautiful and insightful piece. Having been a previous anxiety victim, through (CBT) Cognitive Behavior Therapy with my psychologist, you’ve hit on many notes that ring true. For instance, leave the past behind, tomorrow is a new day, take advantage of it. One step at a time brings patience and understanding where you want to go, life isn’t a race. Lastly, once one stops learning, you become dead inside. Perception is crucial to how we interpret things. A problem is just a challenge, a setback is just a lesson that can be overcome. I still go every three months, not because I have to, but because I get to, to learn more about my self. That’s a gift I didn’t see coming. Optimism can breed happiness.
Also: there's a *lot* of good meat about self-image and goal-setting (and working yourself to death in pursuit of unachievable things) here. Thank you very much.
Jack, a nit and I hope that small corrections don't bug you. World pop is about 8Bn. Worldometer is doing a count based on average rates here: ( https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ )
I got something wrong? Stop the presses!! Eight billion? Thanks for setting me straight…and I’d rather be corrected than be putting bad info out into the world. 😳😊
Evidently, you live a well examined life, Jack - the only worthwhile kind per Socrates. To relate, I escaped the lure of fame early when I realized that even someone wildly famous and popular - George Washington or a first century apocalyptic preacher in Palestine - leaves almost no evidence of who they were in the moment. We see GW on our money and JC in the forest of crucifixes, things that surround us regardless of our wishes, but no one - no one telling the truth, that is - knows who they actually were in the depth of their character, what they liked for breakfast, what they were like when they were frustrated or joyful, how they related to others in every day situations. All we have are myths and legends that draw broad lines and general statements of character, fanciful stories of specific actions (throwing a dollar clear across the Potomac or feeding 5000+ people with only a few loaves and fish), and a few quotations - of which none can be established with any degree of reliability. I contracted my circle of concern in this regard (i.e., whether I should care about "impressing" large numbers of people who I neither know now nor could ever know in the future) to focus on being the best and most caring person I could be to the people who I do know and will know in my little area and in my brief moment of time in this vast universe. It made sense to me then and still does. The difference that we make individually with those around us, including your readers, when aggregated with the differences the rest of us make in our own effective zones of influence, helps determine the fabric of the society that is created by the aggregation of our efforts (and lack of effort). It is part of why I believe that raising our children to be curious, caring, empathetic, self-confident, humble, and honorable people with a sense of duty to the past, present and future of the society into which they have been born is our highest calling. Plant that tree; love that child; drop that pebble into the pond of time. The ripples will go where they will.
I've always believed that a writer who doesn't know themselves is a writer wasted. It's taken awhile to get there, and it's a daily grind, but I realize that part of my gift is to deliver a message. That message is only part politics, culture, and public affairs. It should also be about looking inwards and figuring out what each of us can do to make our mark- what can each of us do to leave this place better than we found it?
That's what I'm working toward.
I may not cure cancer or solve world hunger, but I can do my bit to contribute. I don't know if I'll be remembered specifically for any one thing, but I hope that my being here will have left at least a few folks feeling better. That will have made the whole long, strange trip worthwhile.
Edit: Of course, GW's statements can be proven through well preserved, written contemporaneous historical documents. As for JC, we only have relatively few statements passed down through a 2000-year game of telephone, memories of which being influenced heavily by 3-4 centuries of doctrinal claims developed in many instances to buttress male clerical control of the movement and eventually to facilitate political integration - a process still at work today (sadly).
What a beautiful and insightful piece. Having been a previous anxiety victim, through (CBT) Cognitive Behavior Therapy with my psychologist, you’ve hit on many notes that ring true. For instance, leave the past behind, tomorrow is a new day, take advantage of it. One step at a time brings patience and understanding where you want to go, life isn’t a race. Lastly, once one stops learning, you become dead inside. Perception is crucial to how we interpret things. A problem is just a challenge, a setback is just a lesson that can be overcome. I still go every three months, not because I have to, but because I get to, to learn more about my self. That’s a gift I didn’t see coming. Optimism can breed happiness.
Thanks, Erik. You get it. That’s wonderful!! 😊😁
It takes courage to bear one’s soul, which I find empowering. Especially if it helps others. Purge the BS and keep on truckin’. 👍
Also: there's a *lot* of good meat about self-image and goal-setting (and working yourself to death in pursuit of unachievable things) here. Thank you very much.
/phil
Jack, a nit and I hope that small corrections don't bug you. World pop is about 8Bn. Worldometer is doing a count based on average rates here: ( https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ )
I got something wrong? Stop the presses!! Eight billion? Thanks for setting me straight…and I’d rather be corrected than be putting bad info out into the world. 😳😊