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.