Things that cannot be said.

“A picture’s worth a thousand words.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

Words are a wonderful thing but their very nature is limited.  We can really only say things that have, at some point, already been said.  Sure we can write a new book or blog entry or read about a new news event.  But the telling of things is never as fully descriptive and wholly enveloping as actual experience.

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Science, Religion, Faith and Happiness

A friend and I were discussing religions (as I had been reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins), and he, like Richard, sees religion as nothing more than superstition formed by lack of knowing the real truth, which is science.

Throughout history, our religions have changed and adapted as our awareness and understandings also changed.  We have gone from worshiping the sun and moon and seasons to worshiping beings that control the sun and moon and seasons.  We have had pantheons that oversee almost every detail in our lives to singular omniscient deities that are seen as eternal parental figures.

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Improvement

What does it take to improve one’s self?  Generally, the primary element is not only the most basic, but often the most elusive: desire.  Change begins with want.  Add to this: focus.  Desire alone provides motive, but the ability to remain focused on a goal requires a certain degree of discipline.  The third ingredient is: education.  Will and determination by themselves cannot insure improvement if one doesn’t have a viable plan to take them there.

With these three qualities, improvement of any type can be achieved: lose weight, quit smoking, learn a new language, start a new career…even change your perceptions about the world around you.  The limits are only defined by the limits of the required qualities.  How badly do you want it?  How devoted are you to making the change?  How completely do you understand the system within which the changes are to occur?

For example, if you desire to lose weight and you are dedicated to this end, how do you do so?  Learn about what you eat affects you.  Study the nutritional values of what you consume.  Research physical routines and develop a system of diet and exercise which will result in a steady and healthly path to your goal.

This applies to every aspect of personal improvement.  The observant will realize it to be a journey of body, mind and spirit all at the same time:  desire, spirit, discipline, body, education, mind.  To neglect one or more aspect is to suffer self imposed barriers.

Nobody Told Me

Technically this is a song, but songs are just poems set to music, and since you can’t hear the music in my head, let’s call it a poem.

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Defining Tao

The Daodejing classically begins by stating the Tao that can be named is not the true Tao.  Whatever you call it, is not what it is.  It is defined as being undefinable.  This leads many people who feel they understand it to also feel anyone who explains it does not understand it.

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The Other Side of Perfection

We often seek an ideal called perfection:  the perfect match, the perfect wine, the perfect evening, the perfect home.  We believe when certain predefined expectations we have set are met, then we have found that “perfect” something.  It seems natural to desire all the best in something or someone without any of the traits we see as falling short of our dreams.

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The Traditional Victim

A person I know was upset today because their supervisor at their job was disciplining them on their performance.  They were angry.  They felt they were being wronged.  They could not understand why they were being picked on.  They repeatedly shifted the blame for their misfortunes onto their supervisor.  I listened patiently, as one who really has no influence in such a situation can.

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Selling is Part of Life

Trying to live my life in balance, I encourage myself not to categorize my experiences.  This is a difficult choice, especially since my career has been sales for over a decade.  I have to keep in check the desire to press what I want others to buy from me and the impression that I can judge in advance what others want from me with being open and simply listening to them tell me what they want.

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A Letter To My Love

This poem was inspired by the instrumental piece by Enya called Watermark.

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October Rain

 

 

Cold droplets slap the red leaves of autumn
Like cleansing tears from a healing soul.
They are neither vibrant nor filled with hope.
Nobody sings or dances joyfully with them.
They just fall.
Without anyone to cherish them,
Without anyone who cares to notice,
They are forgotten.
Lost opportunities,
Fading memories,
Desperately clinging onto a hope
They can no longer even recognize.
I see you.
I smell the dampness you bring.
I sense your quiet emptiness.
Drench me in your mourning.
I do not care if the sun ever shines,
As long as we have each other.

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