As many of the ones that aren’t war-torn or underwater as I possibly can.
PROMPT: Cities
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Category Archives: Philosophy of Life
PROMPT: Less of
Contemplating the unknowable.
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PROMPT: Positive Events
Daily writing prompt
What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
Positive? Negative? Who’s to say? Like the Taoist farmer, I’ll withhold judgement.
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PROMPT: Favorite Place
Every place that I visit, while I am visiting it, is my favorite place.
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PROMPT: Change
I think about this in yogic terms. In the niyama of yoga there are two guiding ideas that – at first – seem contradictory. Santosha is contentment. Tapas is discipline. So, on one hand, Patanjali was suggesting one needs to accept what one is (santosha,) but, on the other hand, he was suggesting that one needs to keep the fire of self-development burning (tapas.) [Note: I realize there are different readings of these two concepts, these are the versions that have resonated with me.]
These two ideas did seem at odds until I realized that they answer different questions. Contentment is the answer to “Am I enough?” Tapas is the answer to “Can I be better?”
Long story short, I see wishes such as the desire to be six inches taller or to be a celebrity as a waste of time and mental energy. However, I see the need to be a healthier and more equanimous version of myself as an ever-present driver.
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PROMPT: Eating Meat
I have no strong feelings. Everything that lives becomes food, so I don’t see a sound moral argument against meat. There is certainly a nutritional argument against eating excessive quantities of meat (which I would grant many meat-eaters do) but this is not an argument for dropping meat altogether. I accept that there is a reasonable environmental argument, but — counterpoint — it’s delicious.
I see no argument at all against choosing to eat vegetarian or vegan, so I certainly wouldn’t try to talk anyone out of their decision to do so. (i.e. The “you can’t get enough protein” argument is bullshit.)
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PROMPT: Wear
A Jetpack and Rollerblades.
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PROMPT: Hardest Decision
Whether or not to watch Sophie’s Choice. Because it might diminish the difficulty of all future choices.
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PROMPT: Didn’t Need Sleep
Daily writing prompt
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
I assume just a little more of all the things I already do, with a substantial amount of that time being spent in rest.
The thought, “If I didn’t have to rest I could do so much more” is one of modern life’s most cancerous modes of thinking.
Didn’t we all learn during the pandemic that when commutes and other travel / in-person time obligations go away, life fluidly swells to fill the void. Like having to learn Zoom, etc.
Life gives no free lunches, learn to live with it.
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PROMPT: Favorite Animals
Never elevate your opinion of a particular animal above the rest. I used to think quite highly of monkeys, and then one — of the kleptomaniac variety — stole my sunglasses and mocked me from a high tree like a cowardly school bully.
Isn’t it enough to know that all animals are better than people.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 