Cicero

 Cicero, Marcus Tullius Cicero to be exact, wrote the book How to Grow Old, in Latin of course, in about the year 40 BC.  Through the work of others, it has been preserved and has been available for lo these many years.  It was a favorite of Ben Franklin.  

It is a good example of the difference between other life forms and us.  He wrote his thoughts over 2000 years ago, I read them yesterday.

Many of my contemporaries are involved in the arts.  I write and act.  Some paint; others write poetry.  Some sing, others act or are involved in theater or video.  All of us are busily expressing our particular talent.  As a group we are piling up a vast number of examples of our work.

Then multiply that by the many others in the world today who are doing the same thing.  Then multiply that by years that this has been going on, from cave paintings until now, and you have a landfill volume that rivals discarded trash.

Every one of us, from before Cicero to now, and even beyond today, does this to express ourselves.  I doubt if any one of us cares if another sees and/or appreciates our talent.  It is simply important for us to express it.

This need for expression is not unique to humans.  Birds sing, lions roar, elephants trumpet and shove each other.  Almost all animals perform for one reason or another.  Often it is to demonstrate superiority for the privilege of mating.

The difference is that ours can be preserved.  We may do it because it demonstrates our talent to ourselves and anyone unfortunate enough to listen.  For us it could be a notch in the belt of immortality, just as is Cicero's book.

Food for the Soul

It's obvious to the casual observer that there are interesting differences between humans and the rest of the organisms in the life sphere.  To name just a few: language and historical records using it, clothes that do more than cover and insulate, but provide status and rank, and landfills.  There are many others not listed here.  No other species has these.  There are also many myths surrounding these differences, one of which is that of the Garden of Eden.

The central idea of that is a willingness to become spiritually aware, making a choice to become enlightened.  It is called "Original Sin," but was it a sin?  Sin is defined as "...an offense against religious or moral law." That base is covered by the "Don't eat the fruit..." admonition, how convenient.

The story is a fable that attempts to explain this condition of difference.  The real reason is unknown.  But one cannot escape the fact that we are not the same as the rest.

I have my theory, but it won't be written here.  Perhaps in my journal, but just like all the rest, it is theory and would not survive the scrutiny of scholars.  Yet, I don't care about that.  My theory suits me just fine, and I think it explains why things are the way they are.

I would urge the reader to think about this and not accept the pap of myth, but come to an understanding of his/her own.  Thoughts are the food, the nourishment, of the soul.  And, like food, some is more nutritious than another, but most of it is somewhat nourishing. 

It is better to produce ideas than to accept those of others.  Feed your soul and it will grow and develop in a healthy and vigorous way as a result of the particularly favorable environment of your thinking.

The Essence of Evil

 Seven deadly sins have been identified: Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.  Knowing them does not prevent committing them.  

The sins have virtuous counterparts.  Virtuous Pride, Industry, Love, Respect, Discipline, Forbearance, and Initiative.  There is a personal satisfaction experienced when the are practiced.  There are also societal benefits attained when individuals collectively, and reasonably, practice them.  

What makes them sinful is going to extremes in the same, or in polar opposite, behaviors.  The virtues morph into the sins.   They can be collectively summarized with a single word, excess.

It can reasonably be said that an excess of anything is evil.  And that can be extrapolated to say, excess is evil and evil is excess.

When evil/excess becomes de rigeuer, society, even on a national basis, takes steps to purge it.  Some extreme examples are the American and French Revolutions, the Civil War, WWII,  and Korea.  The excesses of colonial rule, the aristocracy, slavery, German and Japanese Imperialism, and the attempt by North Korea to take over South Korea, all  had to be confronted and, thankfully, checked.  Even now in the Ukraine, the excess of power being displayed by the Russian dictator is being resisted by an international coalition. Many of our laws, regulations, and ordinances are an attempt to curb excess.

On a personal basis, excess can be avoided by making behavioral changes to avoid it as soon  as the first signs are recognized.  If excess takes hold and becomes the raison d'être, it takes heroic individual effort to get rid of it.  It is an addiction and analogous to war on the international scale.

All of this does not propose prevention on a grand scale, but admonishes us to is be mindful that small excesses on a personal level can lead to perdition if they take hold. Excess is the result of gratifying personae who are primarily of the Emotional source.  We see that this is the battleground of good v. evil, the struggle to keep appetites under control.  

When a being succumbs to excess, it denies Core-being the ability to achieve his aim.  Denied, Core-being patiently waits for moderation to be restored so he can get on with his work.  If he determines that that won't happen, he may exit the being and allow it to be destroyed by those same excesses.

The Four Ingredients of Achievement (In three fourths Haiku)

 

One, information

Two, the imagination

Three, intelligence

Four, Discipline to stay the course through thick and thin.

Information is ubiquitous with the internet, and our access to it is unlimited.  About anything is accessible.  Once the seed of desire is planted, information is at one's fingertips.

Imagination allows one to envision aim, to project success in the mind before it is achieved.

Intelligence refines information and recognizes imagination to devise the steps necessary for achieving aim, finding the way, solving the issues, working out the details.

Discipline to tend to the task.  Neutralizing negativity, recognizing distractions and stopping them.'

There are two more important precursors to achievement: Inspiration, the idea from whatever source, and Initiative, to take the first steps at each juncture, and Will Power to stay the course.  These could well have been included above but came to light later.

Dementia

It has names, and the one that seems to describe what is going on with us is dementia.  It was discovered to have already started in June 2010.  It is reaching the advanced stages now.

There's an analogy that helps me understand what's going on.  Our mind, i.e. the thinking of our brain, has a capacity for it that is like the water that fills a very large tub. The situation is such that no water can be added to the tub.  

Dementia is like when the plug in the bottom of that tub is removed.  The water flows out at a fairly constant rate but it is hardly noticeable at first because there is so much water in the tub.  

Then as it continues to flow out, it becomes more and more noticeable until, as it nears the bottom of the tub, it seems to run rapidly out.  It drains until all the water is gone.  And when the brain can no longer think, it's over.

Ying and Yang

 

The Hyatt-Regency, downtown, has a public face and a working face.  The public face is well decorated and ornate, comfortable, subdued, peaceful.  The working face is well used, bruised walls, worn flooring, glaring lights, echoing sounds, somewhat disarranged.  One would never mistake one for the other.  The public face is there to please the customers, the working face is there to get the job done. 

Two twenty-something year olds at the pool table, playing in the league week after week.  Two tougher "bitches" you will never meet, their language will blister paint, and they're good at the game of pool.  Same two were encountered where they work, as waitstaff in a restaurant.  One would never encounter sweeter, more pleasant and innocent sounding individuals anywhere; "Yes ma'am."  "No ma'am."  "Was everything OK sir?"  If I couldn't see their faces, I'd never know it was the same two people.

The management level of an apartment complex couldn't be more solicitous of the residents.  Yet they can't keep staff because they are somewhat abusive to those who work for them.  

The drama professor who is a congenial, "hail fellow well met," outside the class or rehearsal, but becomes a bully and tyrant leading a class or directing a rehearsal.

And there are many of these examples.  I'm sure the reader has likewise encountered them.  It behooves us to realize this and do a little introspection.  

The successful one is he/she who homogenizes the two internally.  They may not be all sweetness and light but at the same time they are not all thorns and venom.  An honest embrace of the Human Relation Principles, internalizing them for actions/reactions to all, is the aim to which we aspire.

If we don't see us for what we are/do, we can't change.  This message is for all.  Be good, sincerely, to everyone, always.

Oh, what are the Human Relations Principles?  Find the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and read the timeless truth.

Ground Hog Day Updated--Again

 It has now been about 10 years since publishing Ground Hog Day the first time.  Since it is Ground Hog Day, I thought it would be appropriate to do it again as I did a few years ago.

The update is short, a short sentence.  The situation remains the same except we rarely go out.  There's been drama in the form of a fall that resulted in major hip surgery, relocation to an apartment that has a care provider on site, deeper descent into dementia, and overcoming a high mortality rate from this sort of event.  So proud of us and especially her.

"About two and a half years ago I published a post entitled, Ground Hog Day.  It was actually on September 6, 2014.  This is a sort of update to that post.  Time has passed and the situation hasn't changed all that much.  It is still Ground Hog Day around here but with a new realization and that is living in the present.

"Most people don't give recollection and remembering a second thought; it is natural, expected, and is something upon which to rely.  Our memories of childhood fuel the stories that we tell our grandchildren.  Our recollection of dates and events allow us to go through the present without concern.  Sworn testimony often contains recollection of facts surrounding an act. When we forget a birthday or anniversary, the other is offended because remembering is expected; not only that of others but ourselves as well.

"Take that away and there is a totally different perspective evident.  A trip down a familiar roadway and all the sights are brand new. This road is in terrible condition; can't you write your friend a letter about it?  Where is all this traffic coming from; shouldn't these people all be at work?  Seeing a familiar house, one is heard to ask the same question about those living there,  such as, I wonder why they have so many little cars parked in their driveway?

"When you've been over the same traffic jammed and bumpy roads so many times, they no longer seems worthy of comment but when one doesn't recall the terrible conditions from the last 100 times over it, it is worthy of comment.  What one with normal memory expects is the same lack of comment that anyone would have after so many repetitions; one hears the comment as a complaint when in fact, it is an observation, again

"The person with impaired memory lives totally in the present; enjoys programs while they watch but can't tell you a thing about them later.  Enjoys a conversation but has no recollection of the call.  The most common statement is, 'I can't remember now because I am so tired," and having said that, all of the concern about the situation goes away.

"'This set of keys would be better put over here,' then can't find them when the need arises. Pills are put out to take during the day and they are still there the next day and the next.   Clothes are strewn about to be put away later but then later never happens, it is always now. When the mess is recognized one hears, "I must get to that, tomorrow." This scenario is repeated continuously.

"The idea of living in the present was mentioned in passing by my son in a phone conversation when it became evident that he'd called and had conversation with his mother but she didn't mention it and couldn't recall it when I asked about it.  He simply said, 'She's living in the present.'  I must give him credit for making such an astute observation because after he said it, my understanding of the situation improved.

Thankfully, I'm here to remind her."