Thanks for the photos.☀️ I like seeing someone “interact” with his books: underlining, margin notes, etc. (Also, nice to see that your favorite Good Bi yellow mug is still hanging in there.)
Connection is something i seem to continually worry (not anxiety) but seek to see where I am headed. Reading is a forward and a past map for me. I have to go back to remembered favorites of the past now and then. I took a short detour back to Sabatini and was surprised by what I thought I remembered. I also note the evolution of the person I was then, and am now -- but whom shall I be in the future? And theree is the momentary shift when I read Thomas Merton and realign him with the other Merton of my recollection - the Oxford College and its founder.
My take is that the through line is the fear, or it's derivative emotion, each feels. The point is that we have to meet each moment of our lives as who we are in that moment - making no choice is also a choice. Uncertainty provokes anxiety, feeling awkward, etc. Acceptance of Life on Life's terms helps, I think. When I am feeling fear from uncertainty, I tell myself, “The Universe is unfolding perfectly, whether you know it or not." That is a paraphrase of a line written by Max Ehrmann, I believe. It helps me to release any feelings and relax into the moment.
Thanks for some intellectual stimulation this morning.
I enjoyed reading this article very much. On some level we all do want some kind of guidance even if we are afraid to ask. As a widow of 76 years old I question everything and yet I find it hard to believe in the guidance that is given to me.
Always enjoyable and interesting! I think about choice and find the thoughts entertaining and sometimes helpful. I wonder if the millions or billions of little microorganisms I can't see--supposedly more than the the number of stars in the universe--have thoughts about choices that drive the choices I think I'm making. Probably doesn't help to think this way, but it is interesting.
we are all searching for the way to live our lives. Do I follow Mary/Jesus, authorities or find it through trial & error( Frodo).? Thanks John. Food for thought.
I admit I have been affected by analysis paralysis more than once but never forever or about the important things. I was taught "when in doubt do nothing" and sometimes that IS the right solution for a time. It usually means I need more info.
As opposed to allowing someone else, human or deity, tell me how to live my life and what my decisions should be. That is such an anathema to me it brings an immediate, gut reaction. My decisions are mine. My mistakes are mine. My wins are mine. Not that I do not seek advice of those with more experience. I gladly do and often. But ultimately it is my life, my choices.
I love a post that makes me think, and yours always do that. Today was one of those days that hit home with me because I had to really think about who or what thoughts have guided my life. Am I Frodo, off on an adventure I never really understood because there must be a point or end or treasure somewhere? Or am I the Christian who wants to believe that I am guided wholly by God and the example of Jesus? I know I am not the soldier who willingly gives up his choices to follow commands that protect his brothers/sisters in arms, and maybe I am sad about that lack of loyalty.
I don't do 'dependence' well if at all. Don't like it. Not comfortable with giving up control of my mind, body, or soul to others. Been that way my entire life even as a child. I have to suss things out internally.
It was completely new several years ago, laying on a gurney in an ED, understanding that for the first time in my life I had to give up control to strangers, life and death decisions I did not have the capacity to make. But even to this day, years later, I've trained them all well. I will do my homework, I will bring questions, I will expect good answers or options (the what/why) as if I have the ability to discern 'good' but I analyze it deeply. I much prefer straight truth to soft, cushiony edges... but in the end I almost always defer to them. But I have to be me.
I need to feel respected, recognized as an individual, thinking human. We must always assert ourselves as our own best advocate. I admit, It is a bit of a relief sometimes to not feel responsible for myself. It's new.
That is why, to me, if we must live with the results then we must be the ultimate decider. Else we could be remorseful forever. If I choose the path that feels true to me then I know I have done the best for myself whether it ends up the way I wished or not. And sometimes that 'break' is needed to remove the veil and open ourselves to something even better. So little in life is black and white.
Your commentary is wonderful. Smart, honest, humble and enlightening. Yay you!
Excellent share today. I wonder, though, if another through line is the surrender of ego and the distortion it produces?
You make me want to be smarter everyday. Thank you.
Thanks for the photos.☀️ I like seeing someone “interact” with his books: underlining, margin notes, etc. (Also, nice to see that your favorite Good Bi yellow mug is still hanging in there.)
Connection is something i seem to continually worry (not anxiety) but seek to see where I am headed. Reading is a forward and a past map for me. I have to go back to remembered favorites of the past now and then. I took a short detour back to Sabatini and was surprised by what I thought I remembered. I also note the evolution of the person I was then, and am now -- but whom shall I be in the future? And theree is the momentary shift when I read Thomas Merton and realign him with the other Merton of my recollection - the Oxford College and its founder.
My take is that the through line is the fear, or it's derivative emotion, each feels. The point is that we have to meet each moment of our lives as who we are in that moment - making no choice is also a choice. Uncertainty provokes anxiety, feeling awkward, etc. Acceptance of Life on Life's terms helps, I think. When I am feeling fear from uncertainty, I tell myself, “The Universe is unfolding perfectly, whether you know it or not." That is a paraphrase of a line written by Max Ehrmann, I believe. It helps me to release any feelings and relax into the moment.
Thanks for some intellectual stimulation this morning.
I enjoyed reading this article very much. On some level we all do want some kind of guidance even if we are afraid to ask. As a widow of 76 years old I question everything and yet I find it hard to believe in the guidance that is given to me.
Always enjoyable and interesting! I think about choice and find the thoughts entertaining and sometimes helpful. I wonder if the millions or billions of little microorganisms I can't see--supposedly more than the the number of stars in the universe--have thoughts about choices that drive the choices I think I'm making. Probably doesn't help to think this way, but it is interesting.
we are all searching for the way to live our lives. Do I follow Mary/Jesus, authorities or find it through trial & error( Frodo).? Thanks John. Food for thought.
Our conundrum, do we want more or less choices...
Too many or so many choices invite paralysis. Could there be fewer, simpler choices, mandated or otherwise?
I admit I have been affected by analysis paralysis more than once but never forever or about the important things. I was taught "when in doubt do nothing" and sometimes that IS the right solution for a time. It usually means I need more info.
As opposed to allowing someone else, human or deity, tell me how to live my life and what my decisions should be. That is such an anathema to me it brings an immediate, gut reaction. My decisions are mine. My mistakes are mine. My wins are mine. Not that I do not seek advice of those with more experience. I gladly do and often. But ultimately it is my life, my choices.
I love a post that makes me think, and yours always do that. Today was one of those days that hit home with me because I had to really think about who or what thoughts have guided my life. Am I Frodo, off on an adventure I never really understood because there must be a point or end or treasure somewhere? Or am I the Christian who wants to believe that I am guided wholly by God and the example of Jesus? I know I am not the soldier who willingly gives up his choices to follow commands that protect his brothers/sisters in arms, and maybe I am sad about that lack of loyalty.
I don't do 'dependence' well if at all. Don't like it. Not comfortable with giving up control of my mind, body, or soul to others. Been that way my entire life even as a child. I have to suss things out internally.
It was completely new several years ago, laying on a gurney in an ED, understanding that for the first time in my life I had to give up control to strangers, life and death decisions I did not have the capacity to make. But even to this day, years later, I've trained them all well. I will do my homework, I will bring questions, I will expect good answers or options (the what/why) as if I have the ability to discern 'good' but I analyze it deeply. I much prefer straight truth to soft, cushiony edges... but in the end I almost always defer to them. But I have to be me.
I need to feel respected, recognized as an individual, thinking human. We must always assert ourselves as our own best advocate. I admit, It is a bit of a relief sometimes to not feel responsible for myself. It's new.
Too many choices often invite indecision. And yet...life is full of choices. What we decide, which path we choose, can make or break us.
That is why, to me, if we must live with the results then we must be the ultimate decider. Else we could be remorseful forever. If I choose the path that feels true to me then I know I have done the best for myself whether it ends up the way I wished or not. And sometimes that 'break' is needed to remove the veil and open ourselves to something even better. So little in life is black and white.