Perspective

I was reading Blog's of note and clicking through and was suprised by the diversity. It's amazing how many different kinds their are and the variety of readership. I decided that mine is definitely not of interest to a wider audience...thank god I only planned on an audience of one. Indiauncut.blogspot.com was refreshing in Amit's candor as he talks about his experiences as an Indian journalist. If you read between the lines you can extrapolate...you need to examine your actions and beliefs and those around you to get the true picture. Are emotions and attitudes superficial or real? This caused me to look at some of my own relationships and attitudes towards those around me. Why do I treat those around me as I do, espeacially my partner. I need to treat them as I feel they should be treated....not as reward or punishment for their behaviour. We'll experiment with that for the next few days and see how it goes.

keeping the brain active

Time. How do you balance all the constraints of modern living with keeping your brain active and growing?

Release yourself from expectation...

I have been pondering the same thought on my other Blog. Release yourself from expectation but not necesarily Desire. I desire a certain outcome but don't "expect" it in the sense that it is "due me" I decided one of the largest barriers to happiness is unrealistic expectations. I go to work and when I come home feel I have arrived at the end of a journey and should therefore be able to relax. Life intrudes and I become angry. In reality, home is just a phase of my day so I should release myself from the shackles of these expectations and relax where I can. If I can read a book over lunch then that is my "relax" time. When I get home their are things I need to do, just like at work. I should enjoy the environment, family etc free from expectation. The trick is to avoid disapointment yet not lose the "striving". I think that's the problem with Buddhism, its really a philosophy of "stopping and accepting" versus Growth.

What's 500 years or so..?

I was reading Montaigne's essays and it surprised me yet again how little things change. He approaches his topic's in a refreshing and practical manner (albeit from the viewpoint of privledge). It is always interesting to have someone point out the logical inconsistencies in behavior of those around him at a time when their were real consequences to doing so. I have especially enjoyed his discourse on the raising of children, since he looks at it realistically in terms of desired outcome versus fanciful. He suggests a teacher who employs the Socratic method rather than rote learning since you want your child to build on what they have learned rather than regurgitate knowledge...All of which fits in well with my own thinking. The trick will be to implement a course of learning for my children that accomplishes that in an age of distraction's....http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/montaigne/1xxv.htm

He has a great quote concerning Aristotle and Alexander the Great: I am of Plutarkes mind, which is, that Aristotle did not so much ammuse his great Disciple about the arts how to frame Syllogismes, or the principles of Geometric, as he endevoured to instruct him with good precepts concerning valour, prowesse, magnanimitie, and temperance, and an undanted assurance not to feare any thing; and with such munition he sent him, being yet verie young, to subdue the Empire of the world, only with 30000. footmen, 4000. horsemen, and 42000. Crownes in monie.

a very tiring day....

After a night of mediocre sleep the dramatic temperature shift today has left me with a pounding headache. I had a fairly productive day at work so far but haven't got much accomplished for "me" so far. I will have to work on that this weelend after ZAmin's family goes (they are coming tonight for dinner). Their are always so many competing priorities (although I set up a couple of lunches next week that I feel good about). We'll have to see what transpires.

progress so far

Keeping in mind the importance of balance I have discussed things with Zamin and seem to have made some progress so far. I have been making sure that I go to lunch with someone at least 3 days a week to keep in touch. I had dinner with an old friend last night and had some good, lively conversation. I talked to another friend Tuesday at lunch about a possible business venture and have followed up with another meeting suggestion. Now the key will be to do something for my health and get the house ready for sale. Having a plan of action takes a fair amount of stress out of the unknown. So let's see how the weekend goes....