I don’t always know what’s best, I am human.
However, in observing and experiencing life and people, I do know how I do not want to be.
I do not want to be a miserable old crank, making other people’s lives a chore every time they see me.
I do not want to be a cold hearted bastard whose only motivation is what is good for me.
I do not want do be a drunk stumbling my way to death’s door.
I do not want to be a man my children are ashamed of
What I did in my past, good or bad, helped make me what I am today. It is me how I am that is important to me. Not for selfish reasons, for reasons beyond self.
In determining what I don’t want to be, it helps me find the person I want to be.
Follow the Noble Eightfold Path.
Hi Ben;
I’d love to, but have never heard of it. Aside from that I am notorious for not following anything for too long in my life, which is good and not so good at times.
It’s the teachings of the Buddha.
Hi Ben;
Years ago I read Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and read other works associated with Buddhism. I forgot.
I read the Bhagvad Gita and forgot most of that as well. I think my brain’s storage capacity overloaded and is just expunging stuff I haven’t used in a while. Thanks
Ben has a good idea. it doesn’t even matter if you want to believe in the 8-fold path or not.
I wonder if your readers understand what it takes to look at themselves as an event in the future, or even as a present person that is imperfect, but would like to be better. This process of change
takes time and energy. Each of us gets to decide what we would like our lives to represent. all we have to do is live how we want to live. i suppose that means we should not pretend to be self-righteous, or something we are not, but it does require self awareness, not that I am aware, I just drift from thought to thought, singing songs from albums you have never heard, but don’t think twice, its alright. I think I am stealing, but, if you can’t laugh at ourself, who can ou laugh at?
Hi bouzouki;
One person who I never take too seriously is me. If I ever started to really listen to myself and follow my own reasoning, I would be crazy, as it is, I am half way there.