I want to live a good life. I want to dream, to fail, to succeed, to experience the world, and to know what it means to be alive. I want to be present in my life, working to the best of my ability, and glorifying God—if not with my achievement—with my dedication.
I value my religion, and as such, it is the central force of my Good Life. I believe that it is our purpose to glorify God and achieve as best we can with what He has given us. God has blessed us all with the gift of life on this earth, individual talents, and the treasure we all possess. I want to treat others as I want to be treated, if not better. As proclaimed by Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” With all that He has given us, we must, in turn, give as well, dedicating ourselves to the improvement of the lives of others.
An exemplary figure of this ideal is Jackie Robinson, a man who, as a baseball player, put himself in danger for the advancement of racial equality. His life was threatened wherever he went, yet continued to remain a public figure. He is a true hero who stood up for the better treatment of others, and he said: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” It is right and just to do for your fellow human as you would wish to be done unto you.
While sports may contain heroics within the context of the games themselves, they also house many people who have used their talent and subsequent monetary gain to help others. Another legendary baseball player, Roberto Clemente, earned his reputation on and off the field. Besides being one of the most exceptionally talented players in the history of baseball, Roberto constantly reached out to assist those in need. At 38 years old and still a successful player, he died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972. His flight was destined for Nicaragua, whereupon he and others were to deliver goods to victims of a recent earthquake that struck the country. As great a baseball player Roberto Clemente was, he was an even better person. He knew what our life’s importance is, exemplified when he said: “Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't do it, you are wasting your time on this earth.” The Good Life is having enough to be able to give to others. Since we surely have more than enough, this is easy. All that we’re missing is actually giving it.
To have safety, security, and the peace of mind that comes with them is what I would have once said to be a crucial aspect of the Good Life. While I still want to feel these, the focus has shifted from living as long as I can to living the best that I can. It is more important to live a life that I can be actively proud of than to rest on the hope that I’ll “have the time later” and not do anything presently about it. We must actively do the best we can, with a constant mindful purpose that allows us to find our passion and follow our dreams. Within this framework, there is no “next time,” in the respect that we cannot limit ourselves with the thought that we’ll try harder at a future opportunity. That isn’t to say that we can never rest, but as in baseball, the most effective change-ups are thrown after an especially strong fastball. Thus, the harder we work, the more satisfying our rest will be. Even when we have reached success, we must not let achievement limit us either. As Jack Kerouac wrote in his novel Dharma Bums, to the character that represented himself: “When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing, Smith.” We may never finish contributing to each other, to society, or to our own growth. To live a life that we can look back on and be proud of, we must never avoid dedicating ourselves.
For one to truly know what happiness is, it may be necessary to know the stark opposite: depression, and even its deepest depths, suicidal ideation. In the same semester that I focused on the ideas of Getting a Life, I also explored self-inflicted death in my psychology topic course, entitled Suicide and Depression. Throughout the semester, I learned about how an individual may want to end his or her life, being overcome with feelings of helplessness, haplessness, and hopelessness. Studies have shown, however, that the vast majority of suicides are committed by people who do not truly want to die. They have just come to the conclusion that their lives cannot be turned around, and they exhibit their poor coping skills in a horrible way. At the class’ conclusion, we were all given certificates that named us as “suicidal interventionists,” with the purpose of—if ever given the chance—saving a human life. If we ever come into contact with a suicidal individual, we are to help them as best we can; I pray that I will be able to get that person to understand that while life can certainly be bad, it can also be good.
To live a Good Life, I want to appreciate what is around me, understanding that my life can always be worse than it is. With sports occasionally providing a microcosm of life, I will point to this year’s football season, wherein the Tennessee Titans won their first four games decisively, and immediately received media speculation about being the best team in the NFL. When star linebacker Keith Bullock was asked about the team’s prospects, he said, “We still have a chance to go 4-12.” This is the type of attitude that I like. I don’t mean this because I’m a fan of a rival team, but rather, because it exemplifies that in life, you just can’t afford to become complacent. You must seize control, and understand that, however you perceive your life to be, your situation can change in an instant. I have often envied those that were injured, or were in some kind of physical rehabilitation, for I felt that they truly know what it is to appreciate what is to have life and limb. I remember reading of a cancer patient when I was younger, who had said that when he knew that he only had a short time to live, the final years that followed were truly “gravy.” He was able to see the importance of living your life and enjoying it, all by feeling a sense of finality by recognizing its end. We may never know when our heart will cease to beat, but we can understand that it will, and use that knowledge to empower us.
To know wabi-sabi is an essential part of the Good Life. It is the appreciation not of what is pristine and “perfect,” but what is used, and has shown signs of life. Most appropriately, this can be applied to ourselves, and an unloved aspect of getting older in this society, that seems to be just as cringe-worthy as aging itself: wrinkles. It’s fair to say that most people that have them want to get rid of them, and they will try any new drug or procedure to smooth their face to a degree that defies physiology. When you realize where how these unwanted “blemishes” form, however, it gets you to think: why would you not want to show the world that you’ve laughed? Why would you hide that you’ve smiled, that you’ve squinted to see the world, or that you’ve shown concern for those that you care about? If Botox induced memory-loss, you wouldn’t trade the experiences that have defined your life for what you think is a superficial enhancement, would you?
The Good Life is to keep present the idea that we have a life to begin with. Our lives contain endless possibilities, so why would we not embrace it for what it is? Often we hear that people view their existence as a glass that is either half-full or half-empty, denoting whether they approach the world with an optimistic or pessimistic disposition. Regardless of whether you ascribe to either side, why not just be happy that you have a glass?
All of these ideas have a shared message: with one life, why waste time? Why limit yourself, or keep yourself from succeeding, or caring for others? "I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give," said Roberto Clemente. May we all aspire to be people who gave all we had to truly live.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
To Be Wise
Wisdom is not exclusive to any individual, culture, or time-period. I have heard wisdom spoken by various people in my life, with some instances hitting me deeply enough to remain in my mind. I may never forget them, and I hope I never do, as they all tell of what it means to be wise.
Socrates journeyed to discover the wisest person in Athens, for he was told that it was he by the Oracle at Delphi. The success of his expedition was realized when he found that while others betray their knowledge by speaking on that which they know little, he did not venture to explain that which he did not know. Socrates said: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” One might interpret this as being self-deprecating, but it is far beyond that; it is truth. Acknowledging our limitations is freeing, for it inspires us to overcome them.
Found within the pages of Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums is a message on both hiking and life, directed toward the character that Kerouac based on himself: "When you get to the top of a mountain keep climbing, Smith." This is sage advice for all who feel that they can rest on previous successes in their lives. We are human, and as mortal beings, we should never rob ourselves the opportunity to contribute to the world while we are fully capable of doing so. To never willfully end our pursuit of knowledge or our journey for contentment is to be wise.
A famous man boarded a train, and during the ride, was asked for his ticket by an attendant. Though aging, the man knew he had it, and searched his coat pockets, his wallet, and even under his seat, but he still did not see it. The ticket-taker then recognized the man, and decided to give him a break. “You don’t need to show me your ticket, I know who you are!” he said. “So do I,” answered the man, “but I don’t know where I’m going!” Perhaps it is most wise of us to know our place in the world. We must know that we have to prepare for our destination. We must have an idea of what we hope to accomplish in our lives, and we must understand that the application of our mental and physical effort must be goal-oriented.
Even in sculpture, one of the smallest carvings embodies one of the greatest messages of wisdom. Known to most as figures representing “See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil,” they are the “Three Wise Monkeys.” In some iterations, there is even a fourth, the lesser known “Do no evil,” which crosses its arms, or in some recreations, holds its crotch. They are wise, for there is wisdom in living one’s life without vice and in gaining pleasure though appreciation of the world around us, instead of relying on our sinful desires for what we perceive as positive results. These figures come both large and small, and are found in many forms, from jewelry to table stands. Traditionally, they were crafted to a palm-sized set, as was the one famously carried by Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi was himself a man of great wisdom. He is remembered around the world for accomplishing a great deal with what little he had. He was wise, for he created change by changing how to create it: through peace. To be wise is to do the extraordinary, but to realize the ordinary means by which it may be accomplished. The first step is to escape the chains of lust, extravagance and possession that our society values so much. If we release the bonds, we may escape the tunnel-vision that keeps us focused on such meaninglessness.
It is wise to make do with what you have, and to be happy with what simple pleasures we are capable of enjoying on earth. As humans, we are all capable of being wise. The only restraint to living a life of wisdom is our perception of our past and what we already know. A simple shift in thinking would allow us to realize that nothing in life is to be taken for granted, for we do not know when our abilities may weaken or our time may end. We expect so much from our world, including (but not limited to): our neighbors, our country, our God, and our own bodies. We have been telling ourselves that nothing is good enough for us, but when we understand that it is we who are not good enough for what is around us, we may be content. As Claude Bernard said, “It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.” We must forget some of our education and replace it by gaining true knowledge. We are not all-powerful, but we may all be empowered by our lack of power.
Wisdom appears when we are not awaiting it, and often exposes itself after its performance has ended, when it has had time to grow in our minds. Throughout time, people have remembered those that are wise, for we are eager to learn by the examples they set, and wish to follow in the paths they have made. While we may never achieve what Socrates and others have, it is important to think of them, so that we can improve our own qualities and become wiser. To question life is to seek wisdom, and to be wise is to understand that we may never know the answers.
Socrates journeyed to discover the wisest person in Athens, for he was told that it was he by the Oracle at Delphi. The success of his expedition was realized when he found that while others betray their knowledge by speaking on that which they know little, he did not venture to explain that which he did not know. Socrates said: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” One might interpret this as being self-deprecating, but it is far beyond that; it is truth. Acknowledging our limitations is freeing, for it inspires us to overcome them.
Found within the pages of Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums is a message on both hiking and life, directed toward the character that Kerouac based on himself: "When you get to the top of a mountain keep climbing, Smith." This is sage advice for all who feel that they can rest on previous successes in their lives. We are human, and as mortal beings, we should never rob ourselves the opportunity to contribute to the world while we are fully capable of doing so. To never willfully end our pursuit of knowledge or our journey for contentment is to be wise.
A famous man boarded a train, and during the ride, was asked for his ticket by an attendant. Though aging, the man knew he had it, and searched his coat pockets, his wallet, and even under his seat, but he still did not see it. The ticket-taker then recognized the man, and decided to give him a break. “You don’t need to show me your ticket, I know who you are!” he said. “So do I,” answered the man, “but I don’t know where I’m going!” Perhaps it is most wise of us to know our place in the world. We must know that we have to prepare for our destination. We must have an idea of what we hope to accomplish in our lives, and we must understand that the application of our mental and physical effort must be goal-oriented.
Even in sculpture, one of the smallest carvings embodies one of the greatest messages of wisdom. Known to most as figures representing “See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil,” they are the “Three Wise Monkeys.” In some iterations, there is even a fourth, the lesser known “Do no evil,” which crosses its arms, or in some recreations, holds its crotch. They are wise, for there is wisdom in living one’s life without vice and in gaining pleasure though appreciation of the world around us, instead of relying on our sinful desires for what we perceive as positive results. These figures come both large and small, and are found in many forms, from jewelry to table stands. Traditionally, they were crafted to a palm-sized set, as was the one famously carried by Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi was himself a man of great wisdom. He is remembered around the world for accomplishing a great deal with what little he had. He was wise, for he created change by changing how to create it: through peace. To be wise is to do the extraordinary, but to realize the ordinary means by which it may be accomplished. The first step is to escape the chains of lust, extravagance and possession that our society values so much. If we release the bonds, we may escape the tunnel-vision that keeps us focused on such meaninglessness.
It is wise to make do with what you have, and to be happy with what simple pleasures we are capable of enjoying on earth. As humans, we are all capable of being wise. The only restraint to living a life of wisdom is our perception of our past and what we already know. A simple shift in thinking would allow us to realize that nothing in life is to be taken for granted, for we do not know when our abilities may weaken or our time may end. We expect so much from our world, including (but not limited to): our neighbors, our country, our God, and our own bodies. We have been telling ourselves that nothing is good enough for us, but when we understand that it is we who are not good enough for what is around us, we may be content. As Claude Bernard said, “It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.” We must forget some of our education and replace it by gaining true knowledge. We are not all-powerful, but we may all be empowered by our lack of power.
Wisdom appears when we are not awaiting it, and often exposes itself after its performance has ended, when it has had time to grow in our minds. Throughout time, people have remembered those that are wise, for we are eager to learn by the examples they set, and wish to follow in the paths they have made. While we may never achieve what Socrates and others have, it is important to think of them, so that we can improve our own qualities and become wiser. To question life is to seek wisdom, and to be wise is to understand that we may never know the answers.
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