Waking Life

"Things have been tough lately for dreamers. They say dreaming is dead, no one does it anymore. It's not dead it's just that it's been forgotten, removed from our language. Nobody teaches it so nobody knows it exists. The dreamer is banished to obscurity. Well, I'm trying to change all that, and I hope you are too. By dreaming, every day. Dreaming with our hands and dreaming with our minds. Our planet is facing the greatest problems it's ever faced, ever. So whatever you do, don't be bored, this is absolutely the most exciting time we could have possibly hoped to be alive. And things are just starting."

Conrad

"They were two perfectly insignificant and incapable individuals, whose existence is only rendered possible through the high organization of civilized crowds. Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief in the safety of their surroundings. The courage, the composure, the confidence; the emotions and principles; every great and every insignificant thought belongs not to the individual but to the crowd: to the crowd that believes blindly in the irresistible force of its institutions and of its morals, in the power of its police and of its opinion. But the contact with pure unmitigated savagery, with primitive nature and primitive man, brings sudden and profound trouble into the heart. To the sentiment of being alone of one's kind, to the clear perception of the loneliness of one's thoughts, of one's sensations--to the negation of the habitual, which is safe, there is added the affirmation of the unusual, which is dangerous; a suggestion of things vague, uncontrollable, and repulsive, whose discomposing intrusion excites the imagination and tries the civilized nerves of the foolish and the wise alike."

--"An Outpost of Progress", Joseph Conrad

"You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life, I swear."

There are few songs one can say that about. However, Fleet Foxes, my "Best New Band of 2008", has one song I cannot get out of my head. They are kind of Simon Garfunkel meets Jesus.

The video isn't groundbreaking, but the song is beauteous.

Listen to "He Doesn't Know Why" and appreciate.

New Years Musings

I don't make New Years resolutions. Not my type of thing. But I do, however, want to share a few tidbits that I've come to appreciate over the course of a year.

We are masters of our own destiny.
You can call it existentialism, you can call it "God helps those who help themselves," or you can call it common sense. The fact is, I don't believe in sitting around waiting for change. Change what you can and gain perspective on the things that can't be changed. "Yes We Can," is so much more constructive than, "It's everyone else's fault."

People aren't perfect, but they're also not disposable.
Nothing like the holidays and family to remind you of that.

Personal preference and universal truth are NOT the same thing.
I believe the older we get, the more we realize this (hopefully.) Few things are universally true. A foray into ethics or law makes that glaringly apparent. For example, there are the Hillary Clintons of the world. Then there are also the Joan Brandwyns of the world (in Mona Lisa Smile):

Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?
Katherine Watson: Yes, I'm afraid that you will.
Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I'm doing and it doesn't make me any less smart.
Joan Brandwyn: This must seem terrible to you.
Katherine Watson: I didn't say that.
Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don't. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.

Lastly, I've really come to appreciate the importance of balance in life. Work-play, boyfriend-friends, conservative-liberal, self-others, sympathy-objectivity, etc. Life is like a Hegelian dialectic, isn't it? :o)

What I've Gotten For Christmas (So Far)

Note to Self #1

"Reserve judgment until further information is received."

I'm a social extrovert but an internal processor. I usually don't publicize my reflections, but I have become a bit attached to my dear Spielog (you're a good Spielog, yes you are :o)

The above quote is a principle that I'd like to incorporate into my life, gradually (because that's how principles are incorporated.) For the sake of goodness, the Golden Rule, and for my sanity, I'd like to become more thoughtful in my reactions to things. I don't know if it's because of nature or nurture, but I find myself springing to immediate judgments quite often. Emotional reactions 1) Are far easier than rational ones, 2) Feed the delicious sense of self-vindication 3) Are a human curiosity.

I plan on tackling #1 by continuing to develop intellectually and, of course, trying my best to hold myself to the same standard by which I judge "the other." #2 is more difficult, but I will try to realize that being right or wrong is relevant to a situation, but not to my ability to become better (more logical, more tolerant, more understanding.) In other words, proving myself right doesn't accomplish anything in the long run unless I see the big picture. Also, being wrong just makes me a human being. Which brings me to point 3. Emotional reactions will always be a part of the human race. It's not changing, so we might as well make the best of it. Use our powers for good.

I understand I haven't outlined a complete and cohesive worldview here, but it's all I got right now.

Please, if you see me slide on these principles, let me know. That's what friends do, right?

Thoughts?

Jester

Greetings, bloglings!

After a lengthy hiatus, I have decided to once again traverse into the underworld of internet bloggage. Knowing well that a three year old could exceed my attention span, I wisely abstain from making any sort of promises regarding the length of my stay.

But enough of the formalities. I have returned from the physical world so that I can share some of my newfound treasures. Yes, we bloggers are known to venture outside of our basements, leave our laptops in their spiffy cases, and even travel beyond the borders of wi-fi coverage!

One of my hobbies is city-exploring. I love downtown. I love Paseo. I love Hefner Lake. Yes, even within the confines of our endearingly-mediocre metropolis, one can find a haven. OKC.gov has a website promoting a few of such places.


http://www.okc.gov/to_do/index.html



A few weeks ago, Josh and I boarded an OKC River Cruise (not to be confused with the Bricktown Canal Cruises.) It was one of their themed-cruises--"Taste of Italy"--and we had the privilege of feasting upon Italian hors d'oeuvres while crusing down the Oklahoma River. During the one and a half hour cruise, we laughed, sang and mingled with 28 other passengers, including a group of singers from a Methodist choir. The boat was warm and cozy inside, and outside was delightfully brisky. The coolest part was when our boat was locked into a little chamber that filled with water to elevate us across the dam. All in all, a splendid time.


I will periodically update my "Spielog" with new discoveries, rants, and other random musings.


Stay tuned mes amis,


JC