Have you ever wondered where you left Life's manual?
I know mine is around here somewhere...
That would be an interesting concept. A forever changing personal manual on how to live in today's complex world. It would be accessible for light reading when a small issue needs some attention and you are wondering the appropriate means as to approach the topic without causing more problems for yourself and to others. It would also be accessible for heavy reading during the most difficult times in order to explain what would be best and how to handle things without going crazy.
A manual for life that would be personal for each individuals needs and desires without compromising on anyone else and their own needs, desires and lifestyle. Yet, with that, the rules to maneuver through this complex world of various religions, love, relationships, politics, greed, and corruption you could follow and be able to get what you want out of your life without hurting or inhibiting anyone else and their own needs and desires.
The manual would be continually updated and current and in relation to every other living entity in order to comply with the inherent, self evident, universal truths that exist underneath the ego based confusion. Those universal truths that get so misconstrued and misguided through the mishmash of conflicting ideas and ideals that exist in our world today. Something that we each could access at any given moment in order to guide us all through the maze of life.
If you have ever purchased anything from IKEA you might know that it is fairly easy to assemble their items by following their pictorial directions. Those directions that work despite any language necessary to be read. Although, if there are parts left over due to the assembly or packaging oversight, by the inclusion of extra screws or plastic hole plugs, the confusion begins and self doubt of what may have been overlooked takes hold.
But Life's manual would have no missing or extra parts. You have all you need in order to do for yourself and what it is you desire for your individual life. Sometimes it may be necessary to turn the page of the manual and move on to the next section, even though you may feel that there are things missing or incomplete. You might be thinking there are missing parts, but there are not. The parts are there. It all continues on. Sometimes there are moments when you might think that a problem is overwhelming and is out of control and you can't seem to find the page in the manual on what to do, but it might be on the next page and you just need to turn the page.
There are times when others try to tell you how to live your life, but their own directions and instructions are coming from a different manual, with a different set of desires and outcomes which make it irrelevant to your own manual and your own life. Our own manual is an individual set of rules and directions for each of us in order for us all to have what we all want and need and cannot be run using someone else's manual.
This manual would never be lost or stolen It could never be left under the sofa, or accidentally sold at a garage sale. It would be easy to pack or carry for a vacation or business trip. It could be seen clearly either in the daylight or the darkest of night. The manual would be visible even through the heaviest of tears to help you through some of life's hardest moments.
The manual would have all of the answers you would ever need, even if you quickly changed your mind. It would be instantly updated and transfer the appropriate information necessary so as you would always have the relevant instructions as you "do" your life.
The manual would give each of us those necessary instructions for our lives without creating discord for others. It would allow us all to live a harmonious existence regardless of each others paths we choose. It would matter not in a belief or dogmatic structure for any sort of solution.
I know it is around here somewhere. I had it once, I know I'll find it again.
(c)Copyright 2008 Doug Boggs
Showing posts with label life essence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life essence. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Curiosity Quotient
I've been thinking of the concept of boredom. How could we let ourselves reach a state of boredom? Is there not enough with life to intrigue us? Perhaps we need to let ourselves go. As I have stated previously that there is a saying I have, “Delete the need to understand.” You see, when one allows this, there is so much of life that can be lived in a moment. I also feel that if we allow ourselves to act as children throughout our lives, (to a certain level anyway) we would all benefit much from this. What I mean by this is that in having the need to understand means that there is much of the ego involved. If we can delete the need and replace this with a want to understand, I feel, we would be in a more open, educated and enlightened society.
A child goes to the market with their parent. While watching them pull vegetables from a bin and place them in a basket their knowledge is that this is where vegetable come from. Answered questions from the child will eventually release the appropriate information for this child. A parent is continually asked by their children questions. The child is much like a sponge simply soaking up information. So many of us have stopped asking, Why? There is a point in our lives as children, somewhere in the terrible two range, to which the repetitive word is, Why. There is no reason that this must stop. Why can we not reach for a doorknob, stop, and feel it in our hands, as if for the first time, as we turn it. As we take our steps in the crowded sidewalks of America could we slow and notice the sounds, sights, and smells of our surroundings? Are these simply now taken for granted? Where do we begin to slow this process? Is our world and all it has to offer not enough for us to which we reach a point of not asking questions anymore? Do we no longer notice the nuances of our senses as we live our lives in automatic? Has the automated system we have come to be a participant in taken our need for curiosity?
My wife is someone who continually asks questions. Sometimes I reach a point that I feel frustrated in her desire to know the answer to everything. But, I watch an learn. This comes from a place of curiosity, rather than ego. I also am the type of person who is wanting to learn. I consume information on nearly any topic. My father always used to say that I was a cespool of knowledge...hmmm...Thanks Pop! It is not that I want to be a know it all, however, I feel that what keeps us young and interested in life is the curiosity quotient.
When I look into the night sky I am humbled and amused at the same time. My curiosity of the vastness of space hits me. What else is out there? I know we are not alone. Where are those others from? And what have they seen or know that we don't? There is so much we don't know.
I recently reflected in through the eyes of a child as she walked, repeatedly by me while I waited for a flight in the airport. She would jump up and down as she moved forward trying to miss the cracks in the flooring. The look on her face was of curiosity and pure enjoyment. She seemed as though she was trying to figure out gravity. As most of adults don't truly know the nuances of gravity and its basic principles why can't we do individual study like this child? Oh, right, a straight jacket.
So many of us, as we become adults, get into our lives and patterns and forget that we don't know everything. We have no idea of so much, yet we fail to continue on the quest for information like we did as children. I ask you all to take time each day, five minutes at least, and reflect on your thoughts and feelings as if you were an innocent child. See what questions arise. See what new innocent ideas come from these new thoughts and questions. This is where the meat of life is.
A child goes to the market with their parent. While watching them pull vegetables from a bin and place them in a basket their knowledge is that this is where vegetable come from. Answered questions from the child will eventually release the appropriate information for this child. A parent is continually asked by their children questions. The child is much like a sponge simply soaking up information. So many of us have stopped asking, Why? There is a point in our lives as children, somewhere in the terrible two range, to which the repetitive word is, Why. There is no reason that this must stop. Why can we not reach for a doorknob, stop, and feel it in our hands, as if for the first time, as we turn it. As we take our steps in the crowded sidewalks of America could we slow and notice the sounds, sights, and smells of our surroundings? Are these simply now taken for granted? Where do we begin to slow this process? Is our world and all it has to offer not enough for us to which we reach a point of not asking questions anymore? Do we no longer notice the nuances of our senses as we live our lives in automatic? Has the automated system we have come to be a participant in taken our need for curiosity?
My wife is someone who continually asks questions. Sometimes I reach a point that I feel frustrated in her desire to know the answer to everything. But, I watch an learn. This comes from a place of curiosity, rather than ego. I also am the type of person who is wanting to learn. I consume information on nearly any topic. My father always used to say that I was a cespool of knowledge...hmmm...Thanks Pop! It is not that I want to be a know it all, however, I feel that what keeps us young and interested in life is the curiosity quotient.
When I look into the night sky I am humbled and amused at the same time. My curiosity of the vastness of space hits me. What else is out there? I know we are not alone. Where are those others from? And what have they seen or know that we don't? There is so much we don't know.
I recently reflected in through the eyes of a child as she walked, repeatedly by me while I waited for a flight in the airport. She would jump up and down as she moved forward trying to miss the cracks in the flooring. The look on her face was of curiosity and pure enjoyment. She seemed as though she was trying to figure out gravity. As most of adults don't truly know the nuances of gravity and its basic principles why can't we do individual study like this child? Oh, right, a straight jacket.
So many of us, as we become adults, get into our lives and patterns and forget that we don't know everything. We have no idea of so much, yet we fail to continue on the quest for information like we did as children. I ask you all to take time each day, five minutes at least, and reflect on your thoughts and feelings as if you were an innocent child. See what questions arise. See what new innocent ideas come from these new thoughts and questions. This is where the meat of life is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
