While I doubt the new year will see me lose any of my outrage over the political machinations of our elected 'representatives', this is the season for reflection and hope. In that vein, I offer you the following. It reflects my own perspective, one that was not always easily achievable in my younger days of work stress and providing for a family.
In the years since my retirement, I think I have come to understand the meaning and purpose of life: to be as kind and helpful as possible to others. Indeed, we can never know the ripple effect of even a bit of kindness, gentleness, a small gesture, or simply the affirmation we give when we listen openly to another.
Beware of your ‘destined mood,’ Dec. 17
Cathrin Bradbury’s article is storytelling at its best because its characters teach us by their lived experience; instead of letting the human failings of your neighbours make you mean and nasty, you should assert independent thinking to be kind and tolerant.
Character is not fate. Destiny is determined by choice.
This choice of “personality to be” is wonderfully illustrated in the Indigenous American tale told by a grandfather to his grandson about two wolves living within each of us. According to the grandfather, they fight because each one values different qualities of being human. The angry, mean, cynical, and predatory wolf wants to dominate the happy, kind, hopeful, and peaceful one.
Provoked by suspense, the grandson asks who is the winner of this clash between human traits.
The grandfather replies that it depends which wolf you feed.
The story illustrates that our behaviour is a direct result of the choices we will make along the way.
During this fractious time of gaslighting by populist leaders imposing their phony sovereignty over others’ democratic rights, it’s good to be reminded about peace on Earth to persons of good will.
The root word of both good will and beautiful mind is the Greek “eunoia.”
There is a beauty in choosing to do good. Peace on Earth to those who choose to do good this Christmas!
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
.. Great thought to start my Christmas Day off ! Thanks !
ReplyDeleteI notice in the last number of years how I relish such simple truths & at the same time many people claim I ask a lot of questions !
It’s true.. I do. What I’ve more & more tried to do is keep them truly simple.. my lifelong ‘CURIOSITY’ whittled to a ‘fine point’ & more & more I’m simply seeking a Yes or No response
I recall The Mound of Sound thanking me for my tip..
The ‘Upside of Down’ by Canadian Thomas Homer-Dixon has been a breakthrough book for me.. especially in the very recent past. Again, such a ‘simple phrase’ but of such great & guiding ‘import’. So much of - not just decision making, but critical thinking or appraisal.. analysis, consideration etc are ‘answered’ within that Context
There are other simple ‘rules’, old sayings even soothsayings, nursery rhymes even ! ‘Measure twice - Cut once’
Can I adapt that to ‘my measure of a man’ ?
To a ‘political animal’ ?
Haha.. Lorne.. I found out long ago what I certainly am not..
a ‘turn the other cheek’ kinda guy. More a ‘may forgive, but never forget’
So here we are ‘fair late in life’ it’s said..
and find ourselves in The Covid Era.. & no rosy glow to it.
Is there an ‘Upside’ or is it ‘all Downside’ ?
What can we do collectively, if possible.. about what appears to be a ‘new parasitic breed of Disaster Opportunists’
.. pretending to be ‘Elected Public Servants’ ?
I hope to answer many of my own questions in this New Year !
If I can identify The Upside.. can I reverse engineer the current disastrous Downside to assist me ? To assist a generation following.. that is already here ? And/Or the generation they are parenting ?
Will get back to you.. and the rest of the ‘likely suspects’..
who keep me refreshed.. & ‘keep me grinnin’ 🦎
Good to read your thoughts on this, Sal. I have not read the Homer-Dixon book, but will seek it out. I sometimes think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the last being self-actualization, a state never actually achieved, at least in my understanding, but instead a process. Since I am retired and have all of my physical needs met (food, shelter, etc.) the final step in the hierarchy is one that makes eminent sense to me. The efforts at kindness and helpfulness I mentioned in my post are not claims to any special virtue by any means, but rather the logical outcome of no longer being in any state of want. Since I am not (nor really ever have been) interested in 'getting and spending", I have time for what I consider more worthwhile pursuits.
DeleteAll the best to you and your family for Christmas, Sal!