Systems versus nature

“Capitalism cannot reform itself; it is doomed to self-destruction. No universal selfishness can bring social good to all.”
~ W. E. B. Du Bois

Selfishness and selflessness anchor the opposite ends of our individual and collective human nature. Despite our most noble intentions, selfishness will always rear its ugly head to some degree, through every conceivable system and type of organization, from the most greed oriented company to the most Utopian vision of society. There is no escaping this reality.

Recognizing and managing the inherently selfish aspects of our human nature, is the key to minimizing their toxic effects. However, scapegoating the economic and political systems we’ve created as irreparably flawed, is often just another excuse for keeping the egocentric aspects of human nature in the shadows, where they inflict the most insidious forms of damage.

Ironically, it seems that our human behavior is more inflexible than the systems we’ve created to tame it. To reform anything for the betterment of humankind, we need to first reform ourselves.

What kind of person?

Is life so infinitely complex as to defy explanation, or a meaningless collection of random happenings that requires no explanation, other than, “Shit happens?”

What kind of person are you?

A) A person who seeks meaning within the complexities of life. You believe there is an overall progression towards something better or higher; with every thought, feeling, action, inaction, and event being an indispensable contribution towards this upward spiral.

B) A person who believes there is no rhyme or reason to anything that happens. You respond only to the here and now, exploiting whatever feels good and discarding the remainder; relegating the past to nothing more than a comic routine of random events that no longer have any relevance; and avoiding any consideration of the far-off future, leaving it to sentimental Hallmark cards and science fiction fanatics.

C) A person who just goes with the flow for now, having decided that you have no clue as to what is going on or not going on, and waiting for more information or clarification before deciding whether to contribute more to life, or continue being directed by fate, random events, or the loudest voice in the crowd.

There is no right or wrong answer, but most assuredly you fit into one of the three categories, maybe alternating between them, depending upon current circumstances or your changing frame of mind. And sometimes, you may find yourself somewhere between the three alternative mindsets, feeling confused as to whether you are or should be A, B, or C.

Goodbyes

“You’ve just been erased.”
~ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eraser

I could write a memoir of past goodbyes – not all of them spoken or written.

Often, friends and loves slowly faded away, as if walking towards the sunset, maybe turning around a few times to wave hello or goodbye, but continuing their journey to somewhere else. An almost imperceptible withering of connection, incrementally turning down the volume day by day, until there was absolute silence – a switching off – leaving very little behind of themselves, other than my already eroding memories.

There were unanticipated exits as well. Sudden departures due to a change in circumstances. No warning, other than the terminal, loud bang to my heart, as if the door were slammed from behind, shutting me out in an instant, the weight of our previous years mounting no defense against change.

Continue reading “Goodbyes” →

No guarantees

“It’s the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee.”
~ Nicholas Sparks

We live in a universe of possibilities with no guarantees. The combined effect of imagination, attitude, behavior, and fate determines what transforms from the possible to the probable, and less often the actual. “Close, but no cigar,” may be your most reasonable expectation in life. You are a player, not a guarantor, within the universe of possibilities; the co-creator of your experiences, without having a say in the final outcomes. That is the house rule, whether you accept it or otherwise.

Moving minds

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
~ Robert Frost

Does life move along, or does your continuous, non-stop decision making process give the appearance of movement and change? Your life may be like a blank canvas of an interminable form, remaining essentially the same from cradle to grave, but animated by a lifetime of choices and irrevocable decisions.

“Mix up a little more shadow color here, then we can put us a little shadow right in there. See how you can move things around? You have unlimited power on this canvas — can literally, literally move mountains”
~ Bob Ross

Some physicists view reality as a hologram of infinite possibilities: Your current experience being the latest possibility that you’ve chosen to manifest within your mental canvas of physical space or imagination. The illusion of movement and change being like a mental video of your chosen experiences, displayed frame by frame, sequentially or otherwise – you being at the controls, doing the cutting, splicing, layering, timing, animating, etc.