Who doesn't want that?! But I believe that many of the problems of the Western World are due to the desire for instant gratification. Crime is often spurred simply by an uncontrolled urge to possess something that you don't have, up to and including power. The uncontrolled urge for power is an inherent weakness--even evil knows that gratification cannot always be instant!
Patience is a virtue; I need some NOW!
Here is the deal: children really need to be taught to delay their gratification. Seriously. Because I hate it when I see adults that never learned. Respecting others requires a delay of gratification as well at times. This will benefit you as well, in the long run. For example, you probably should not walk up to a complete stranger, grab them by the hand, serenade them with a love song, then ask for their hand in marriage. Um, bizzare! (although oddly entertaining as a possibility)
Remember "Good things come to those who wait" (Unknown author, English origin)
Well, it is true, but having a positive mindset definitely pays off too! You have to believe that those good things are coming, and work toward removing obstacles to their arrival! Maybe there should be a class in schools on how to plan/manage one's life. It should be required! Learn how to make goals, then set up practical steps to their achievement. Yeah, that's the ticket! Most teenagers today don't know what they want to do, where they want to be in life, much less how to get there.
Here is an interesting related thread with a thought-provoking psychological bent:
http://www.bordeglobal.com/foruminv/index.php?showtopic=16703
Well, enough specific randomosity for one day...
Sleep Viewpoints
I keep thinking of ideas to write about, but I am swamped by work and half the time I think of the ideas after I am already in bed. It is not restful. Randomosity regarding sleep follows.
Sleep. Most of us know we need to get more of it, but assume that we can sleep when we retire, someday, on vacation, whatever. Sleep is vital. Yet, when your body screams out for it, you drag yourself from bed to "be productive." Yeah, right, the body says. I'll show you! So your day of productivity turns into an endless slog of mind-numbing effort to little avail. Exactly. Like when I stay up late to finish a project, yet could have gone to bed (assuming I could sleep, but that is another story) and worked much more productively after a few blissful hours of rest.
Sometimes sleep is not blissful. Due to habits (caffeine for example), late night stimulation (computer and TV are prime culprits), or physical issues (lots of different things, like ulcers or sleep apnea can interfere with sleep, for example) we struggle to drift off to sleep, wake frequently, or just wake up still tired, despite having slept "enough" hours. But who says how much is enough for the individual? Eight hours is an estimate or average, and some will need more, some less. I also tend to need considerably more sleep when I am recuperating from any illness or less than needed sleep for several successive nights!
I like sleep, when it works out. In the mornings, I invariably feel that staying in bed would be excellent. However, I typically have to get up, both due to physical demands and the requirements of responsible living (i.e. working). Sleeping in is the very best sleep I get, when I can get away with it.
On the other hand, getting to sleep at night is rather more of a challenge. I always have a million things to do, and I don't feel relaxed going to bed with a bunch of stuff still undone. My comfort level seems to spread out to a physical level, and the stress and tension of the day bunch up in various parts of my body, leading to an awkward session filled with tossing and turning, plus the ever-present fight with sinus and allergy issues (always exacerbated by the prone position...)
Seriously, I don't want to complain. Well, maybe, but only a little. The main point here is that lack of sleep leads to more physical and mental issues, and then we end up even more unable to function (or sleep!)...
One thing I have been trying to do recently is sleep a certain number of cycles. Lots of good information, including information about the 90 minute sleep cycles, is available at http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm. According to the research we get a better quality of sleep if we complete sleep cycles. The following summary is quoted from the page.
I don't get the chance to do this every night either. And sometimes when I plan for it, I can't fall asleep soon enough, and it throws the whole thing off. But its a goal to work toward, I suppose. Other factors that are important to getting good rest is to sleep in a dark room (Don't sleep in front of the TV!) and keep sound to a minimum. I guess white noise is okay, but I am personally fond of a quiet sleeping environment. I have become a relatively light sleeper over the years, and frequently find myself awakened by toilets flushing, lawn mowing two houses down, or the warning beep of the trash truck backing up!
Well, that was quite the ramble. Now I think I better go to sleep. Or at least try!
Sleep. Most of us know we need to get more of it, but assume that we can sleep when we retire, someday, on vacation, whatever. Sleep is vital. Yet, when your body screams out for it, you drag yourself from bed to "be productive." Yeah, right, the body says. I'll show you! So your day of productivity turns into an endless slog of mind-numbing effort to little avail. Exactly. Like when I stay up late to finish a project, yet could have gone to bed (assuming I could sleep, but that is another story) and worked much more productively after a few blissful hours of rest.
Sometimes sleep is not blissful. Due to habits (caffeine for example), late night stimulation (computer and TV are prime culprits), or physical issues (lots of different things, like ulcers or sleep apnea can interfere with sleep, for example) we struggle to drift off to sleep, wake frequently, or just wake up still tired, despite having slept "enough" hours. But who says how much is enough for the individual? Eight hours is an estimate or average, and some will need more, some less. I also tend to need considerably more sleep when I am recuperating from any illness or less than needed sleep for several successive nights!
I like sleep, when it works out. In the mornings, I invariably feel that staying in bed would be excellent. However, I typically have to get up, both due to physical demands and the requirements of responsible living (i.e. working). Sleeping in is the very best sleep I get, when I can get away with it.
On the other hand, getting to sleep at night is rather more of a challenge. I always have a million things to do, and I don't feel relaxed going to bed with a bunch of stuff still undone. My comfort level seems to spread out to a physical level, and the stress and tension of the day bunch up in various parts of my body, leading to an awkward session filled with tossing and turning, plus the ever-present fight with sinus and allergy issues (always exacerbated by the prone position...)
Seriously, I don't want to complain. Well, maybe, but only a little. The main point here is that lack of sleep leads to more physical and mental issues, and then we end up even more unable to function (or sleep!)...
One thing I have been trying to do recently is sleep a certain number of cycles. Lots of good information, including information about the 90 minute sleep cycles, is available at http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm. According to the research we get a better quality of sleep if we complete sleep cycles. The following summary is quoted from the page.
Having a hard time getting up? Take advantage of the 90-minute sleep cycle.
Even if you’ve enjoyed a full night’s sleep, getting out of bed isn’t easy if your alarm goes off when you’re in the middle of the deeper stages of sleep (especially stages 3 and 4). If you want to make mornings less painful, set a wake-up time that’s a multiple of 90 minutes, the length of the average sleep cycle. For example, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., set your alarm for 5:30 (a total of 7 ½ hours of sleep) instead of 6:00 or 6:30. You’ll feel more refreshed at 5:30 than you will with another 30 to 60 minutes of sleep, because you’re getting up when your body and brain are already close to wakefulness.
I don't get the chance to do this every night either. And sometimes when I plan for it, I can't fall asleep soon enough, and it throws the whole thing off. But its a goal to work toward, I suppose. Other factors that are important to getting good rest is to sleep in a dark room (Don't sleep in front of the TV!) and keep sound to a minimum. I guess white noise is okay, but I am personally fond of a quiet sleeping environment. I have become a relatively light sleeper over the years, and frequently find myself awakened by toilets flushing, lawn mowing two houses down, or the warning beep of the trash truck backing up!
Well, that was quite the ramble. Now I think I better go to sleep. Or at least try!
Qwiki: Cool New Website, or Exciting New Technology? Both!
I have discovered a new site that has great potential, as far as I am concerned. Qwiki went live only about a couple of weeks ago, but it is amazing in concept and has a very attractive presentation. I am already addicted to it! Any time I want to learn about something, I first navigate to Qwiki. Not every single topic known to man is available on Qwiki as yet, but I can see application both in the classroom and as a general reference guide for everyone! I also just think it is fascinating, but that is definitely a reflection of my delight in information and learning in general.
The only issue with Qwiki that I really have currently is the that the computerized voice reading the Qwikis sometimes makes awkward mispronunciations. Actually though, this can be amusing, as when it pronounced, "spacetime" as "spaa-see-time." No really, there is a button to push right on the page which allows you to mention anything you think will improve the Qwiki you just watched (*they are all one minute or less long*), with a place to let the Qwiki team know about pronunciation errors.
The truly exciting part about these very brief Qwikis is that related Qwikis appear at the end of the one you watched, and then more at the end of the next one, which means that if you wish, you can be learning in one minute bites for quite some time. It is like web surfing all in one place. One thing leads to another, and you can watch one in a minute or less, so you still have plenty of time to explore other aspects of the topic, or start over very quickly. Another aspect that I find appealing is that pictures are appearing and moving around that you may click on to expand at anytime.
I think that students and teachers alike should look into this resource! Children can be exposed to a variety of topics or study one in depth. Further developments are in the works, and many more topics will be added in the future.
On a side note, too bad many people think that Wikipedia is a poor source of information. It is not, generally. I for one use it frequently to find information (although I am forbidden by most professors to use the information in writing papers...sadly). The only issue I have with Wikipedia is that there is a great deal of text to wade through, and often it is somewhat repetitive. However, I have done many, many checks for accuracy on information I first found through Wikipedia, and never found wrong information... In fact, the most common way I look things up for papers is by finding it in Wikipedia or another "unacceptable" source, and then using the information that I find to conduct a more precise search for what I want, or using the bibliography from the Wikipedia article, go to the original source of the information. Quite silly that Wikipedia does not have the reputation it deserves!
I can see Qwiki becoming a side-by-side resource for Wikipedia as well. Doug Imbruce, the CEO of Qwiki says, "Information becomes an experience that I can watch." If you go to the Qwiki About Us webpage you can watch the introduction of the concept by the creators of Qwiki, as well as read more about the artificial intelligence that is being developed there. This is a thought-provoking concept, and I am excited about it!
The only issue with Qwiki that I really have currently is the that the computerized voice reading the Qwikis sometimes makes awkward mispronunciations. Actually though, this can be amusing, as when it pronounced, "spacetime" as "spaa-see-time." No really, there is a button to push right on the page which allows you to mention anything you think will improve the Qwiki you just watched (*they are all one minute or less long*), with a place to let the Qwiki team know about pronunciation errors.
The truly exciting part about these very brief Qwikis is that related Qwikis appear at the end of the one you watched, and then more at the end of the next one, which means that if you wish, you can be learning in one minute bites for quite some time. It is like web surfing all in one place. One thing leads to another, and you can watch one in a minute or less, so you still have plenty of time to explore other aspects of the topic, or start over very quickly. Another aspect that I find appealing is that pictures are appearing and moving around that you may click on to expand at anytime.
I think that students and teachers alike should look into this resource! Children can be exposed to a variety of topics or study one in depth. Further developments are in the works, and many more topics will be added in the future.
On a side note, too bad many people think that Wikipedia is a poor source of information. It is not, generally. I for one use it frequently to find information (although I am forbidden by most professors to use the information in writing papers...sadly). The only issue I have with Wikipedia is that there is a great deal of text to wade through, and often it is somewhat repetitive. However, I have done many, many checks for accuracy on information I first found through Wikipedia, and never found wrong information... In fact, the most common way I look things up for papers is by finding it in Wikipedia or another "unacceptable" source, and then using the information that I find to conduct a more precise search for what I want, or using the bibliography from the Wikipedia article, go to the original source of the information. Quite silly that Wikipedia does not have the reputation it deserves!
I can see Qwiki becoming a side-by-side resource for Wikipedia as well. Doug Imbruce, the CEO of Qwiki says, "Information becomes an experience that I can watch." If you go to the Qwiki About Us webpage you can watch the introduction of the concept by the creators of Qwiki, as well as read more about the artificial intelligence that is being developed there. This is a thought-provoking concept, and I am excited about it!
Bucket List
I've been thinking lately of writing a sort of "Bucket List." You know the premise, right? For anyone who doesn't, the name is comes from a movie of that name, where two guys who have cancer have a list of things to do before they "kick the bucket."
I figured I would start early. I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but I think it may take me a good bit of time to complete my list. Also, some of the things will be easier to accomplish earlier in my life, rather than later. I am not one of those women who won't tell my age. I suffer from no illusions about it--I am not yet old, but I am old enough to have felt the touch of mortality. In a little over two years, I will see forty. I neither look nor act like a woman almost forty years old, generally. Most people say they don't believe my age. Physically, I can believe I am getting older. For example, it is considerably more difficult now for me to get into shape (something I started working on again lately!) than when I was in my twenties.
Okay, that was a bit of an aside, but on with my list. I am sure it is not complete, but here is a good start:
1. Hike the entire Appalachian Trail. This is a big one, not easily accomplished. However, I have been imagining myself doing so since I was maybe 14 years old, so it definitely belongs at the top of the list. I don't think about it all the time, but I have definitely had it on the back burner of my mind for years.
2. See the Pacific Ocean. I was born about 50 miles inland from the Atlantic, and thus, I saw its shores many times. While I have made my way since then to Colorado, I have yet to go much further west. I actually did make it to Arizona for the first time last month. Which brings me to the next one....
3. Visit every one of the United States. Territories too. Why not? I probably have already visited 30 or more states. I will have to sit down and figure out which ones I have left to visit one of these days. I want to get an RV and hit the road!
4. Build my own home. Strawbale, on my own land. And a large greenhouse to go with it.
5. Travel to destinations on every continent. I suppose that Antarctica could be excepted, since I don't think there is much in the way of destinations there. For example, a good itinerary might include the Great Barrier Reef (snorkeling) in Australia, riding the Euro Rail on a one-month pass, to see everything I can, the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru, and so on.
Well, I am exhausted just writing these down! I better get to work on getting in shape, because I am going to need it. Seriously though, I hope that I am able to do all this and more. No, I don't hope, I plan to. And I will, because positivity is the best force for forward momentum in our lives--and besides, it's exciting to plan and work toward these kind of goals, right??
I figured I would start early. I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but I think it may take me a good bit of time to complete my list. Also, some of the things will be easier to accomplish earlier in my life, rather than later. I am not one of those women who won't tell my age. I suffer from no illusions about it--I am not yet old, but I am old enough to have felt the touch of mortality. In a little over two years, I will see forty. I neither look nor act like a woman almost forty years old, generally. Most people say they don't believe my age. Physically, I can believe I am getting older. For example, it is considerably more difficult now for me to get into shape (something I started working on again lately!) than when I was in my twenties.
Okay, that was a bit of an aside, but on with my list. I am sure it is not complete, but here is a good start:
1. Hike the entire Appalachian Trail. This is a big one, not easily accomplished. However, I have been imagining myself doing so since I was maybe 14 years old, so it definitely belongs at the top of the list. I don't think about it all the time, but I have definitely had it on the back burner of my mind for years.
2. See the Pacific Ocean. I was born about 50 miles inland from the Atlantic, and thus, I saw its shores many times. While I have made my way since then to Colorado, I have yet to go much further west. I actually did make it to Arizona for the first time last month. Which brings me to the next one....
3. Visit every one of the United States. Territories too. Why not? I probably have already visited 30 or more states. I will have to sit down and figure out which ones I have left to visit one of these days. I want to get an RV and hit the road!
4. Build my own home. Strawbale, on my own land. And a large greenhouse to go with it.
5. Travel to destinations on every continent. I suppose that Antarctica could be excepted, since I don't think there is much in the way of destinations there. For example, a good itinerary might include the Great Barrier Reef (snorkeling) in Australia, riding the Euro Rail on a one-month pass, to see everything I can, the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru, and so on.
Well, I am exhausted just writing these down! I better get to work on getting in shape, because I am going to need it. Seriously though, I hope that I am able to do all this and more. No, I don't hope, I plan to. And I will, because positivity is the best force for forward momentum in our lives--and besides, it's exciting to plan and work toward these kind of goals, right??
Who Am I?
Who you are is determined in part by your name and physical description, but that is only a small portion of you--other parts contribution to the whole being, which consists of mind, body, soul, maybe more.
We are all created by the sum of our experiences as well, beyond genetics. The nature versus nurture conventional argument is put to the test and comes out time and again to show that both play a role, without doubt. Who we are is the experiences that the world and its inhabitants have placed in our paths, either directly or indirectly. Therefore we are a part of the world, and it is a part of us.We are connected.
John Donne wrote these words in 1624, as a part of a larger work entitled Devotions upon Emergent Occasions:
No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee. I think it is amazing that John Donne created two essentiallyeverlasting quotations with those words ("No man is an island,entire of itself" and " never send to know for whom the belltolls it tolls for thee"). I feel the truth in his words, despite thefact that my mind as easily finds arguments against as for theconcept. Evocative of the essence of life, the words haveretained their fame through almost 400 years! Beyond randomosity,there lies a land of truths, many of which can be grasped bytraveling through the realm of randomosity. When I was a child, my grandmother had a set of 1958 WorldBook Encyclopedias with which I spent many long hours. Iloved the idea of all that knowledge! In the introduction to the 1958 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia, there wasa scenario described that was something like this: "Imagine a screen with all the knowledge that exists on it, in a darkened theater. The screen can only be illuminated with yourflashlight, which shows only a little of that knowledge at a time."That was approximately how it began, but I really would loveto find that quotation, or another set of 1958 World BookEncyclopedias! I can't remember the whole thing, or the exact wording of that first part, really. I just remember how entirely enlightening I found that introductory passage. It made me wantto know, well, everything! Now, I don't just want to know everything. I desire to understandthe inner workings and the outward connections that run from every concept and object in existence to all others. It is not aboutwhether the items or ideas are a part of each other, but how andwhere they both fit into the giant screen of life.
Balance and Opposites
Balance of power. Balance between good and evil. A balanced life. Being out of balance. In some ways, the search for balance in life is like the conflict regarding moderation that I posted about last week. From the time we are small children, balance is sought. Remember when you were a child, and whenever you saw a ledge, you felt the need to walk along it, practicing your balance skills? Your parent might have walked beside you, if you were very small, holding your hand.
Another learning experience related to balance that children have is opposites. Hot and cold. Sweet and sour. Dark and light. Up and down. Day and night. Soft and hard. Big and little. And so on. Opposites generally reflect two ends of a spectrum, or more appropriately, two different directions in a continuum. It is good that balance exists in the world, but isn't the opposite of balance (imbalance) essential to support the existence of a balance continuum. Does it therefore follow that, if balance is good, imbalance is bad, or are they both simply necessary?
Another learning experience related to balance that children have is opposites. Hot and cold. Sweet and sour. Dark and light. Up and down. Day and night. Soft and hard. Big and little. And so on. Opposites generally reflect two ends of a spectrum, or more appropriately, two different directions in a continuum. It is good that balance exists in the world, but isn't the opposite of balance (imbalance) essential to support the existence of a balance continuum. Does it therefore follow that, if balance is good, imbalance is bad, or are they both simply necessary?
Enchanted by Intuition
Creativity happens. It has a tendency to happen more to those who are open, whose minds stretch to accomodate the unusual, the different, and the antithesis of your usual thinking. That is not to say that creativity is always a random event, showing up only in certain instances for certain people. Although creative processes can be learned, many people do not realize that creativity is not just a product of artistic endeavors. The reverse is more how I perceive the matter: The artistic endeavors are actually the product of creativity. In actuality, the basis of creativity is thought.
It is not just thinking about new styles or methods for creating something tangible, like a sculpture or a poem. Great scientists in history always have encountered new ideas through creative thought. Whether thinking about a solution to some major world issue, or theorizing about the natural order of things, thinkers who use a creative process may feel the synaptic connections forming. So, although it may be a physical creation (new pathways in the brain), it is not entirely tangible.
Okay, before this post gets any more confusing (even I am starting to lose my sense of direction), I will get to the point! Intuition is the result of creative, almost subconscious thought processes. When my subconscious mind takes over, so to speak, I often find myself enchanted by intuition. And when the processes overflow, I am ebullient and feel the need to write. I think that this may be my most random posting yet. Not so much random as rambling... Ah, well. That is true stream-of-consciousness, I suppose!
It is not just thinking about new styles or methods for creating something tangible, like a sculpture or a poem. Great scientists in history always have encountered new ideas through creative thought. Whether thinking about a solution to some major world issue, or theorizing about the natural order of things, thinkers who use a creative process may feel the synaptic connections forming. So, although it may be a physical creation (new pathways in the brain), it is not entirely tangible.
Okay, before this post gets any more confusing (even I am starting to lose my sense of direction), I will get to the point! Intuition is the result of creative, almost subconscious thought processes. When my subconscious mind takes over, so to speak, I often find myself enchanted by intuition. And when the processes overflow, I am ebullient and feel the need to write. I think that this may be my most random posting yet. Not so much random as rambling... Ah, well. That is true stream-of-consciousness, I suppose!
Success and Serenity
When I was a child, I read avidly, every book I could. I consumed so many volumes of every possible type that I was teased as being a know-it-all. I was, in fact, a genius by strict definition (IQ tests). Sadly, this is not an instant path to serenity or success. Knowledge may be power, but uncertainty does not cultivate success with any frequency.Nor does it necessarily foster a peaceful soul.
Solitude may provide answers that are heretofore unknown. It is a type of thinking that cannot be done while in company of others. At least I cannot! I think that is why reading, gardening, drawing, cooking, writing, and other mostly solitary activities are the most relaxing to me. These days, life moves at a fast pace, and I find myself pulled anxiously along, away from my thoughts. Success is sought, but serenity is lost, which perhaps in the long run is the reason why success is elusive.
I read a blog a while back that explained how and why some people are afraid of succeeding. I hope that I am not one. I looked for the original blog that I read (probably over a year ago). While I did not find the one I read before, I found that it is a common theme for blogs!(Examples: http://www.yeartosuccess.com/members/y2s/blog/VIEW/00000015/00000150/Fear-of-Success.html , http://monetizeblog.info/monetize-your-life/fear-of-success/ , http://shayoni-mind-mirror.blogspot.com/2011/02/fear-of-success.html )There seems to be a great number of people who suffer from fear of success. Defining success for one's self is like planting the seeds, and then the process of cultivation begins. I am growing braver in the face of my potential, but I think that this time around I will slow down and cultivate success, through a bit more time spent focusing on my own inner tranquility.
Solitude may provide answers that are heretofore unknown. It is a type of thinking that cannot be done while in company of others. At least I cannot! I think that is why reading, gardening, drawing, cooking, writing, and other mostly solitary activities are the most relaxing to me. These days, life moves at a fast pace, and I find myself pulled anxiously along, away from my thoughts. Success is sought, but serenity is lost, which perhaps in the long run is the reason why success is elusive.
I read a blog a while back that explained how and why some people are afraid of succeeding. I hope that I am not one. I looked for the original blog that I read (probably over a year ago). While I did not find the one I read before, I found that it is a common theme for blogs!(Examples: http://www.yeartosuccess.com/members/y2s/blog/VIEW/00000015/00000150/Fear-of-Success.html , http://monetizeblog.info/monetize-your-life/fear-of-success/ , http://shayoni-mind-mirror.blogspot.com/2011/02/fear-of-success.html )There seems to be a great number of people who suffer from fear of success. Defining success for one's self is like planting the seeds, and then the process of cultivation begins. I am growing braver in the face of my potential, but I think that this time around I will slow down and cultivate success, through a bit more time spent focusing on my own inner tranquility.
Moderation is the Key...or Is It?
Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.
--Marcus Tullius Cicero
I think that this quote from Cicero is particularly amusing, considering the decadence for which Romans were known, overall. On my iGoogle page this morning, I found an article entitled "How to Cook Like a Roman: 8 Steps (with video)," and of course, I had to click it (the how-to article of the day). It was certainly entertaining, and I also found the idea of creating a dinner party or banquet in authentic Roman style to be stimulating.
I agree with moderation in principle. In essence, I try to avoid extremes of consumption, and usually, extremes of opinion. However, I think there are times and places to take a stand (possibly inciting an extreme of opinion). Not that said stand would ever necessarily reflect any sociocultural norms, but if it did, then so be it.
Then there are the fluctuations from moderation in consumption, whether it be food, alcohol, computer games, reading, television, or any other type of substance/experience. Most of these fluctuations are related to our hedonistic natures, and thus, logical thought is often circumvented in order to accept our personal levels of consumption. Most people eventually learn to moderate, simply for their own physical or mental health. When we no longer have parents controlling us, that moderation has to come from ourselves (and in some cases legal considerations are pressure factors), but typically, people learn to moderate by their late twenties, if not before.
Okay, I think I got lost in the description of the issue. Randomosity and all that. My point is that moderation is my modus operandi--most of the time. Because, it makes sense and works for me. As ancient Greek philosopher Democritus put it, "Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains." And who truly wants "the greatest pains?"
--Marcus Tullius Cicero
I think that this quote from Cicero is particularly amusing, considering the decadence for which Romans were known, overall. On my iGoogle page this morning, I found an article entitled "How to Cook Like a Roman: 8 Steps (with video)," and of course, I had to click it (the how-to article of the day). It was certainly entertaining, and I also found the idea of creating a dinner party or banquet in authentic Roman style to be stimulating.
I agree with moderation in principle. In essence, I try to avoid extremes of consumption, and usually, extremes of opinion. However, I think there are times and places to take a stand (possibly inciting an extreme of opinion). Not that said stand would ever necessarily reflect any sociocultural norms, but if it did, then so be it.
Then there are the fluctuations from moderation in consumption, whether it be food, alcohol, computer games, reading, television, or any other type of substance/experience. Most of these fluctuations are related to our hedonistic natures, and thus, logical thought is often circumvented in order to accept our personal levels of consumption. Most people eventually learn to moderate, simply for their own physical or mental health. When we no longer have parents controlling us, that moderation has to come from ourselves (and in some cases legal considerations are pressure factors), but typically, people learn to moderate by their late twenties, if not before.
Okay, I think I got lost in the description of the issue. Randomosity and all that. My point is that moderation is my modus operandi--most of the time. Because, it makes sense and works for me. As ancient Greek philosopher Democritus put it, "Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains." And who truly wants "the greatest pains?"
The Surprise Factor
Common advice for dealing with life usually goes something like, "Be positive, expect good things, and good things will happen."
For some inexplicable reason, I have long rejected this dogma. I am not entirely negative, no, but I find that if I expect the worst, then I am better prepared to deal with it should it happen. Then, if something better should happen, I can be quite pleased indeed. I guess it is an exaggeration to say that I expect the worst. Generally, I do not actually expect the worst, but I do think about the negative possibilities of occurrence that might happen. It is a sort of "What If?" game.
Life is not entirely predictable, either on the positive or negative side. Sure, your actions are a factor in the outcome. But variables exist that we have little or no control over. So, doesn't it make sense to "estimate" the possible answers, like filling possible values for a variable to see the range of potential results? If only I could know the entire formula in advance, and all the possible factors to consider! A mathematical solution to life...the idea is a little creepy, yet entirely intriguing, all the same.
For some inexplicable reason, I have long rejected this dogma. I am not entirely negative, no, but I find that if I expect the worst, then I am better prepared to deal with it should it happen. Then, if something better should happen, I can be quite pleased indeed. I guess it is an exaggeration to say that I expect the worst. Generally, I do not actually expect the worst, but I do think about the negative possibilities of occurrence that might happen. It is a sort of "What If?" game.
Life is not entirely predictable, either on the positive or negative side. Sure, your actions are a factor in the outcome. But variables exist that we have little or no control over. So, doesn't it make sense to "estimate" the possible answers, like filling possible values for a variable to see the range of potential results? If only I could know the entire formula in advance, and all the possible factors to consider! A mathematical solution to life...the idea is a little creepy, yet entirely intriguing, all the same.
Stuck in My Head
It's after midnight, so I think my run of daily blog posts just skipped a beat. But anyway....
Why can't I remember to do important, current items of business, yet I remember my childhood best friend's phone number (from twenty years ago) without even trying? It may be partially because our minds are clearer as children, and thus the information is more firmly attached to the synaptic pathways. However, I feel there is something more at work here. Perhaps a bit of randomosity?
Certainly I wonder why I woke up this morning with Pink's Raise Your Glass resounding through my brain...and it STILL IS! All day. Seriously, I think this is the longest period of time I have had a song stuck in my head, non-stop, ever. Ignoring it did not help. Cleaning the house did not help. Driving to the grocery store in the snow storm to buy food did not help. Singing it did not help. Playing it on Youtube did not help, at all. I am beginning to believe that I am intended to think about the song more deeply. So, I am going to go find the lyrics now. Sheesh. The things I do for my random brain.
Why can't I remember to do important, current items of business, yet I remember my childhood best friend's phone number (from twenty years ago) without even trying? It may be partially because our minds are clearer as children, and thus the information is more firmly attached to the synaptic pathways. However, I feel there is something more at work here. Perhaps a bit of randomosity?
Certainly I wonder why I woke up this morning with Pink's Raise Your Glass resounding through my brain...and it STILL IS! All day. Seriously, I think this is the longest period of time I have had a song stuck in my head, non-stop, ever. Ignoring it did not help. Cleaning the house did not help. Driving to the grocery store in the snow storm to buy food did not help. Singing it did not help. Playing it on Youtube did not help, at all. I am beginning to believe that I am intended to think about the song more deeply. So, I am going to go find the lyrics now. Sheesh. The things I do for my random brain.
Out of Focus and On a Tangent
I am wondering if lack of focus is a failing or a gift. It does create problems, including the inability to get things done on schedule at times. But hey, the tangents tend to lead to creativity and greater depths of understanding when I allow myself the freedom to indulge them.
There are a number of educational philosophers whose works hinge on this principle. Among others, John Holt (How Children Learn, Why Johnny Can't Read) believed that children learned quite naturally until they were forced to do so. I would love to be able to educate myself, and in fact I do, but I often don't have time to work on my self-education due to the demands of my schooling.
The schooling is a necessary evil, so to speak, since that piece of paper is required by many jobs. Also, financial assistance for schooling is generally only available to those who attend colleges and universities. So, since I am not independently wealthy, nor possessed of a sufficient job to provide all I need while I pursue my personal learning experience...well then, that is the reason I must go the official route to "education." Meanwhile, I am plagued by tangents and lack of focus--highly symptomatic of randomosity.
There are a number of educational philosophers whose works hinge on this principle. Among others, John Holt (How Children Learn, Why Johnny Can't Read) believed that children learned quite naturally until they were forced to do so. I would love to be able to educate myself, and in fact I do, but I often don't have time to work on my self-education due to the demands of my schooling.
The schooling is a necessary evil, so to speak, since that piece of paper is required by many jobs. Also, financial assistance for schooling is generally only available to those who attend colleges and universities. So, since I am not independently wealthy, nor possessed of a sufficient job to provide all I need while I pursue my personal learning experience...well then, that is the reason I must go the official route to "education." Meanwhile, I am plagued by tangents and lack of focus--highly symptomatic of randomosity.
Time and its Convolutions
Life is the course of events that occur over a certain, though likely unforeseeable period of time. One thing I have always noticed about time is that our perception of time varies. In general, it seems that time speeds by when we are very busy or enjoying ourselves immensely, but drags by interminably whenever we must sit idle (as in a dentist's office--partial remedy is to bring a book), or when we are bored. It is especially slow to our perception when we are eager/anxious for something to occur that will be happening sometime in the future.
Another aspect of this amalgam of time and consciousness exists in the tendency for our awareness of time's passage to speed up as we get older. My uncle explained his theory regarding this phenomenon to me a few years ago, and it made perfect sense to me. When one is four years old, a year is 25% of one's life, while when one is twenty, a year is only 5% of one's life, and so on. So for those of us who are over thirty, when we are surprised at how fast a year has gone by, we should remember that a year is less, percentage-wise, of our life, so it makes sense that it seems shorter than it did in our childhood.
I am sure that there is more to our changing time consciousness than this, but I like this simple paradigm. In general a simple paradigm almost always hides a complicated structure underneath, with myriads of different possibilities and sidetracking ideas. This is especially true in the pursuit of randomosity--you knew that was coming, though, didn't you?!
Another aspect of this amalgam of time and consciousness exists in the tendency for our awareness of time's passage to speed up as we get older. My uncle explained his theory regarding this phenomenon to me a few years ago, and it made perfect sense to me. When one is four years old, a year is 25% of one's life, while when one is twenty, a year is only 5% of one's life, and so on. So for those of us who are over thirty, when we are surprised at how fast a year has gone by, we should remember that a year is less, percentage-wise, of our life, so it makes sense that it seems shorter than it did in our childhood.
I am sure that there is more to our changing time consciousness than this, but I like this simple paradigm. In general a simple paradigm almost always hides a complicated structure underneath, with myriads of different possibilities and sidetracking ideas. This is especially true in the pursuit of randomosity--you knew that was coming, though, didn't you?!
Gray Area and Thinking "Too Much"
Does your mind keep questioning long after you reach a decision? Do you spend hours thinking and re-thinking your stand on issues? If you ever find yourself standing with a foot on either side of the line between choices or beliefs, then you are dealing with the gray area. Some people, (i.e., me) find the world to be full of questions, for which, upon finding answers, more questions than ever are created. Perhaps this is more common than I previously thought. I know I am not alone in this labyrinth of endless thinking. However, there are certainly those who cannot accept this behavior, which appears irresolute and wishy-washy to their eyes.
"You think too much!" "There is only one best answer/way/belief/choice!" ...and so on. Well, I am here to say, "I cannot agree, at least not entirely..."
So how do I proceed from this gray area to action? The main problem with a sea of gray area, as I see it, is accepting the gray area, yet having a basic thesis of your own ideology to provide foundation for one's day-to-day life. Randomosity, for example, builds on my foundation of keeping an open mind and heart.
"You think too much!" "There is only one best answer/way/belief/choice!" ...and so on. Well, I am here to say, "I cannot agree, at least not entirely..."
So how do I proceed from this gray area to action? The main problem with a sea of gray area, as I see it, is accepting the gray area, yet having a basic thesis of your own ideology to provide foundation for one's day-to-day life. Randomosity, for example, builds on my foundation of keeping an open mind and heart.
Rationalization and Validity
To be irrational is to be human. Well, technically, rationality is human as well. It is all a matter of thinking. Thought processes range from imagination to logical analysis--but all are human activities. So what is the point of all this?
Well, to illustrate, a friend of mine who tends toward very creative thought processes once explained to me why he thought that a drinking binge helped him think more clearly afterward. "The weak brain cells are the ones that are killed off by the excess alcohol..." An excellent example of rationalization.
What makes validity, though? Rational thought can definitely be flawed. I once took a Metaphysics class. In one class session, the professor used logic to prove both the existence, and the non-existence, of God. Another source of weak validity lies in faulty scientific experiments. There are many different ways that an experiment can be flawed in design or conduction. More information about experimental error can be found at http://www2.volstate.edu/tfarris/PHYS2110-2120/experimental_error.htm. The point is that validity is not inherent in either logic or science. Another way that we can be fooled by rationality is found in statistics. There are actually a variety of ways to interpret the results of statistical analysis, and even the way that the analysis is done affects the outcome. It is very important to remember--don't believe everything you read, hear, or even see. Hey, I forgot, there are also visual illusions...the list goes on beyond this I am sure. Randomosity lives on!
Well, to illustrate, a friend of mine who tends toward very creative thought processes once explained to me why he thought that a drinking binge helped him think more clearly afterward. "The weak brain cells are the ones that are killed off by the excess alcohol..." An excellent example of rationalization.
What makes validity, though? Rational thought can definitely be flawed. I once took a Metaphysics class. In one class session, the professor used logic to prove both the existence, and the non-existence, of God. Another source of weak validity lies in faulty scientific experiments. There are many different ways that an experiment can be flawed in design or conduction. More information about experimental error can be found at http://www2.volstate.edu/tfarris/PHYS2110-2120/experimental_error.htm. The point is that validity is not inherent in either logic or science. Another way that we can be fooled by rationality is found in statistics. There are actually a variety of ways to interpret the results of statistical analysis, and even the way that the analysis is done affects the outcome. It is very important to remember--don't believe everything you read, hear, or even see. Hey, I forgot, there are also visual illusions...the list goes on beyond this I am sure. Randomosity lives on!
What is Randomosity?
If you have ever felt weird, different, or completely certain that you were crazy, you probably already know about randomosity. Randomosity is stream-of-consciousness in thought, words, and actions. Most of us are quite capable of controlling our actions and words, if we so choose. The question is, why do we choose? To avoid conflict with the law or other authorities? Okay, that is relatively valid, in my book. Yes, I will control my actions and words in these circumstances, unless there is extreme duress. However, where do we draw the line? Why do we so often hold back our words and actions, simply because we are afraid of being thought weird, different, or crazy? Sociocultural norms and fear of rejection are powerful motivators, I regret to say.
I feel the urge to promote more randomosity...maybe we need a special day or week to raise awareness! Well, why not? Perhaps, randomosity is not just actions and words produced at random. Maybe they are really cues produced by the subconscious mind, which are leading ultimately to our destiny. Harmony with destiny or harmony with sociocultural norms? You choose.
I feel the urge to promote more randomosity...maybe we need a special day or week to raise awareness! Well, why not? Perhaps, randomosity is not just actions and words produced at random. Maybe they are really cues produced by the subconscious mind, which are leading ultimately to our destiny. Harmony with destiny or harmony with sociocultural norms? You choose.
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