Self Improvement

As well as more reason for me not to sell candy any more ...

What a fitting set of ideas to contemplate now—well, for those who are attached to the Gregorian calendar, anyway. Be warned: this isn’t a typical “bucket list” or similar set of externally–driven “achievements”—the short essay Joshua Zader posted may have most individuals squirming uncomfortably a few times. But it brims with the stuff that is most important in living a conscious life.

Books are marvelous wonders. They can take one places one never even knew one wanted to explore, subtly or boldly challenge one’s thinking, or offer fresh perspectives on any number of subjects or ideas. The Power of Premonitions unexpectedly did all these things, and more, for me. And I thought I knew what I was in for when I accepted an offer of a review copy ...

It’s been too long since I’ve contributed anything here—primarily because I wanted the long-awaited book review to be next (and it’s still incubating), and partly because I’ve been very busy and a little reluctant to share part of that here. But I’ll explain—a little bit—once we’re in the gazebo.

Way back (well, it feels way back to me) on the “Locallectually” Challenged thread, our foamy thinker Mr. Pint of Stout offered an observation that is well worth exploring. Now that things are starting to settle down in my physical world [I got to enjoy a bath yesterday! O rapture!], I’d like to focus on his comment for a bit.

Music. Music. Music. We are blessed, it seems, with the ability to hear and create music. Most of my life has been filled with the stuff. My parents loved it and so I grew up in a house filled with music and the love of it. I was taken to concerts on occasion and educated further in the magic rhythms. I have an extensive music collection, on vinyl, 1/4 inch reel to reel, cassette, CD and now on my computer's hard drives. My mother even has some of hers on lacquer 78 R.P.M. disks, wherein resides one of my favorite recordings of all, "Love Me or Leave Me," by a very young Sammi Davis, Jr.

But lately I've found that I don't listen to music as I used to. I don't have it on all the time, selecting the mood I want to be in and then programing myself through the disks or tracks that I inject into my consciousness stream modulation channels.

This is gonna be a very personal ramble (but with many links, some of which may be stimulating or helpful to some of you eleven), providing some closure regarding some recent turmoil, so it’s all going to be tucked behind the velvet drapery. One further note: if you think I’m speaking of you in what follows, you may or may not be right; but please, for our privacy’s sake, take such lines of conversation to email.

Some time ago I explored the workings of brains, and therein as well as in the discussion that followed, I hinted that I would take up related matters at some point. That day has arrived for one of them. It seems to me we each operate under a tyranny that is inescapable—at least permanently and meaningfully inescapable. But then, I am probably showing my ignorance with that statement.

Today Strike the Root published an essay by NonEntity, titled Ego/Rights/Resentment/Entitlement, which I found very thought-provoking. But I’m also a little bummed.

I ask because I have lost count of the number of individuals who’ve independently brought up the subject with me recently ... and without knowing that I was thinking about it too. As a conversation seems to want to happen, I’m happy to begin it—but between truffle-making and other work to be done before undertaking some travel, I may not be able to give it the attention I’d like.

It's really easy to make a fool of myself. Really. I do it on a regular basis. (I'm sure this is not news to any who have been paying attention!)

But I must say, it's fun and enriching to do so, and that is why I continue this pursuit.

I don’t recall how I came upon it, but I have spent far too much time mulling the various messages offered by the essay You Weren’t Meant to Have a Boss. In an effort to move on and get something productive done today, I hereby announce my intention to fob off at least a few of them on to you readers.

TONIGHT, January twoth, 2008, and each night hereafter for about eight nights, there is a free series of interactive discussions on something called "The Journey." I cannot vouch for this one way or the other, and some parts of me say that it's mega "woo woo" while other parts of me say, Cool stuff! It's a form of personal inquiry and cleansing on an emotional and cellular level, maybe, if I get it right. I have a friend who has been studying it now for quite some time and is a certified practitioner in the method and it has done wonders for her.

Happy New Year, everyone! We’ve been having a lot of fun the past several days, which culminated—after a very full day of baking for me yesterday—in a raucous, chaotic, fun New Year’s celebration. Lobo’s cell phone started pinging regularly in the late afternoon our time, with texted New Year’s wishes from friends in Belarus; it continued somewhat as the transition swept this continent, and also bled over into some phone calls. That was a pleasant, fairly sustained addition to the celebratory mood. The snolfs once again had a piñata, filled not with candy but with other treats—coupons from Lobo and me for various goods or services (like taking their turn at dishes), money, and real money (junk-silver quarters)—it resisted the onslaught longer than any of its predecessors, then provided some enormous ersatz party hats once it did succumb to the stick.

So, we had a very nice holiday celebration. Underneath much of it, however, and beginning around Thanksgiving, I’ve felt a current of change beginning within me. Those of you who’ve been around a good while know that I am not in the habit of making new year’s resolutions—my position has always been if change is needed or desired, it should be undertaken then, not left to wait for a “special” turn of some arbitrary time-marker. On the other snakey coil, if one comes up from the bottom of the pool near one of those special dates, delaying changes simply for the sake of avoidance of the date would be just as silly. Thus it is that I’m starting to shed some old, now unhelpful ways today ... consider yourself forewarned: self-indulgent rambling ahead.

Wendy has long been into frugality and voluntary simplicity, a way of living which is becoming more and more popular as the economy tanks. We see reflected in the blogs. Many people, who do not normally talk about frugality are now doing so. Two examples are Karen de Coster and J. D. Tuccille (Wendy has linked to them as well) I have also seen it in some tech blogs I read. In short, this is becoming a very popular topic.

However, as good as all the advice may be, there is something missing. Planning. It is fine to cut coupons, but we cannot since they are not offered in Costa Rica. It is also fine to turn your thermostat way down, but I do not have a thermostat. In fact, my heating and air conditioning costs are exactly zero, so this is not an area I can save in. Likewise, I can give good advice on cutting back your food costs, but it would involve living in a year-round temperate climate and growing 80% of your own food. Not applicable to many people.