There are some statements, epiphanies put into words, which are so profound as to be staggering. Rene Descartes, after a search for an irrefutable statement and proof of existence, said, "I think, therefore I am". I had heard the words many times in my life but never examined them, the first time I did so, I was astounded. The very act of thought is proof of existence; brilliant.
Okay, so why do we need to prove our existence; isn't it obvious? Yes and no. If one says that the act of breathing proves you exist, that can be argued. Perhaps we learn to perceive breathing where it never actually existed, perhaps we are imagining our own breath. The parade of maybes is long.
So Descartes proved existence, who cares? I do! It isn't actually knowing that we exist which is the goal, it is the examination itself. Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living" and yet, many people seem content to seldom hold their lives or reality up for scrutiny.
Socrates chose death over life in prison because it would mean being cut off from the one thing which makes anything else in life satisfying; thinking and discussing life. Even as a believer in God I examine His creation, His purpose for me, His intentions in all things. If cut off from this most engaging of pursuits life would become dull.
It is curiosity and awareness of how mysterious life can be which gives all aspects of life their color. Knowing how fragile life is gives the love for and from my children it's sweetness. Knowing how fickle fortune can be gives the blessings I have the luster of richness.
How does anyone live without questioning, searching and pondering?
Children mature by the second but our perception of that growth comes in spurts and moments. I have heard some people say that it happens without noticing but it isn't true.
Tonight I sat and listened to my 11 year old son discuss strategy, weakness, strengths and other fine points of video games with a teen member of the family. As I listened to his animated discourse and deft use of vocabulary I was hit with one of those moments. The moment when you realize your child is not as young as you thought he was and you wonder when it happened.
I experience these "fast forward" moments periodically and they always take my by surprise. The little boy who struggled to find anything to say to a teenager can suddenly chat with ease and confidence.
I guess the thing that makes these moments so jolting is that you realize something has passed and you can never go back. A part of his childhood is behind him and whatever made him who he was is past. A parent is forced to rejoice over yet another step towards independence but grieve quietly for the little boy who is gone.
- Log :: fallen tree
Plaything :: a favorite toy
Broom :: sweeping the floor
Heels :: the back of my feet, made for kicking up
Smoke in :: something people may not do to my house
Guests :: friends visiting
Attraction :: there's something about that person
Shiny:: pretty, I wanna see
Risked :: sometimes ya gotta take yer chances
Velvet :: aahhh, soft and lustrous
Try muttering for yourself!
- Road trip :: Route 66
- Pool hall :: Trouble, right here in River City
- Extraordinary :: Amazing
- Jackson :: Michael
- Heartfelt :: Sincere
- Wet :: Dripping
- Strangle :: Choke
- .com :: Internet
- Touched :: Crazy, "teched"
- Insipid :: Shallow
Try muttering yourself, it's fun!
I discovered muttering on a friend's blog, I think it's interesting and fun.- Studio ::
Art, a place of my own where I create and no one will bother my "works in progress"
- Meetup ::
Huh? Never seen this word, assuming it's another new creation.
- Ostrich ::
Comical bird with insanely big eyes.
- Jokes ::
Comedic stories whose retelling can be an art form.
- Estranged ::
Sad result of a relationship failure.
- Random ::
Unexpected and unpredictable.
- Slap ::
An awful thing to do to anyone.
- Hotel room ::
Luxury, someone else will make the bed and clean the bathroom. Ahhhh!
- Inscribe ::
To adorn a loving gift with a note of intimate sentiment.
- Polar ::
Cold!
Try muttering yourself! http://subliminal.lunanina.com
"I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn." - Albert Einstein
"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." - Thomas H. Huxley"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it." - Pablo Picasso"Personally, I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." - Winston Churchill
I just saw a new report about two people spotted, in differing areas of Portland, standing at busy intersections and holding signs. They weren't asking for money, they were asking for jobs. At least one of them was handing out resumes to passing motorists.
The man was interviewed and stated that it was a "little humiliating" but he was gonna do whatever it took. Why should he be humiliated? Here is the picture of a person who really wants to work and is taking the responsibility and initiative to to get a job.
If I were an employer these people would be first on my prospect list; they've already shown they know how to work. They have every reason to be proud, not embarrassed. I just wish I had a job to give them.
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