I see no one wants to answer. Chris, bless him, cannot leave his lawyerly wordiness that still did not answer the questions. So here goes:
Would you like to be a happier person? Yes, I work on it each day trying to focus on others and not self. It doesn’t always work.
Would you like to be a healthier person? Yes. In a wellness program currently to improve my health through eating well, avoiding pharmaceuticals, increasing exercise.
Would you like to be a more financially successful person? Yes, still working and 70 is looming. Love spending on the grands, I’ll never be rich in $ but always in love for family.
Would you like to have better relationships? Yes, I try to see both sides of any relationship. Sometimes I over analyze.
Would you like to feel more fulfilled? I feel fulfilled already.
Would you like to better manage your time? That’s a stumper. I’d like to increase my motivation to use all of my time well. I’d that the same thing? Sometimes I just like being lazy.
Would you like to have more satisfying employment? I’m in my dream job. Nursing which provides a great deal of the fulfillment I feel.
Would you like to increase your chances of saving your soul? My soul is safe with Jesus. I try to serve Him well at every opportunity. I thank Him for his mercy and grace, often!
Dixie: Thank you for giving your answers! I thought I was asking some rather universal questions that EVERYONE would have an answer for. I'm interested in what your comments are regarding my suggested positive improvement for ALL of these things — in Part 2...
I penned an indirect response in my first comment, but here is my direct answer from the witness stand: I am happy in what I do and how I approach life. I enjoy sufficiency without excess. I apply critical thinking to resolve problems. However in problems which effect others I endeavor to temper my reason with compassion. For me, injury is simply a characterization of change that we don't like. I hold to the thought espoused by Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher: 'Let go of your sense of injury and the injury will disappear.' Or words to that effect.
Perhaps as a culture we have devalued and therefore have ceased (culturally) the habit of incorporating what we read, hear, etc into our daily thoughts and actions (which of course would require thought and mental discipline). Perhaps that is why priests, pastors, and rabbis require attendance at religious services weekly, perhaps to advance the habit of incorporating into our daily actions what we hear and see in the services. Now few people attend religious services. Employees prefer to work at home, away from the influence of work ethic culture. It seems to me that our current culture lacks sufficient hardship and consequence for laziness in thought and actions.
As for me, I cannot stop thinking. I live by the following:
"In all things observe, adapt, innovate and teach.
Quietly honor excellence in all that ones does.
Give without expectation of reward, for the best success is that which can be repeated often without the burden of expectation.
Remember that all life is trial and error, and therefore forgive often and quickly both others and oneself, so that we may progress.
Be honest to oneself.
Remember the sacred words to treat others as we would ourselves want to be treated."
These words are not entirely my own. I carry them on a card in my wallet. I believe in adopting for oneself the valuable ideas and habits of wisemen who have preceded us.
I really don't know any more than anyone else about this topic, but these are the thoughts which immediately come to my mind from witnessing my own community in upstate New York and as a country lawyer.
The grass will always be greener...and I expect we've all thought about these major life questions, especially when things aren't going well. I just finished reading a book about Siberia...and its native people. In the simple and humble words of an elder who lived on the land, and by our terms would be classified as living in severe poverty; "Love your family. Earn money when you can. Find some way to eat when you have no money. Keep your machinery running, even if you don't have any spare parts. Be patient. Listen to the land. Don't get excited when things go wrong. Don't kick your dog." Seems to sum life up quite well.
A good cup of coffee in the morning, watching the sun rise, working in the garden, getting the winter's firewood into the wood shed, tending to the animals, watching the sun set...it's always the simplest things that bring beauty to my days. I can't complain. God has graced me with his love.
My number One Priority...doing my best to serve the Creator. I ask for guidance in everything I do...I go to sleep happy and wake up happy, because I know that I am never alone. When I look back over my life, I have no regrets, because I did accomplish more than i ever would have thought possible...and I learned a lot. Even now in my nineties, I am still learning and sharing information on a daily basis, which is satisfying to feel that I am still contributing.
Barbara: TY for sharing that. Good that you ask for guidance from God. My belief in that regard is somewhat different: "Pray as if everything depended on God, but work as if everything depended on you."
I see no one wants to answer. Chris, bless him, cannot leave his lawyerly wordiness that still did not answer the questions. So here goes:
Would you like to be a happier person? Yes, I work on it each day trying to focus on others and not self. It doesn’t always work.
Would you like to be a healthier person? Yes. In a wellness program currently to improve my health through eating well, avoiding pharmaceuticals, increasing exercise.
Would you like to be a more financially successful person? Yes, still working and 70 is looming. Love spending on the grands, I’ll never be rich in $ but always in love for family.
Would you like to have better relationships? Yes, I try to see both sides of any relationship. Sometimes I over analyze.
Would you like to feel more fulfilled? I feel fulfilled already.
Would you like to better manage your time? That’s a stumper. I’d like to increase my motivation to use all of my time well. I’d that the same thing? Sometimes I just like being lazy.
Would you like to have more satisfying employment? I’m in my dream job. Nursing which provides a great deal of the fulfillment I feel.
Would you like to increase your chances of saving your soul? My soul is safe with Jesus. I try to serve Him well at every opportunity. I thank Him for his mercy and grace, often!
Dixie: Thank you for giving your answers! I thought I was asking some rather universal questions that EVERYONE would have an answer for. I'm interested in what your comments are regarding my suggested positive improvement for ALL of these things — in Part 2...
I penned an indirect response in my first comment, but here is my direct answer from the witness stand: I am happy in what I do and how I approach life. I enjoy sufficiency without excess. I apply critical thinking to resolve problems. However in problems which effect others I endeavor to temper my reason with compassion. For me, injury is simply a characterization of change that we don't like. I hold to the thought espoused by Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher: 'Let go of your sense of injury and the injury will disappear.' Or words to that effect.
Perhaps as a culture we have devalued and therefore have ceased (culturally) the habit of incorporating what we read, hear, etc into our daily thoughts and actions (which of course would require thought and mental discipline). Perhaps that is why priests, pastors, and rabbis require attendance at religious services weekly, perhaps to advance the habit of incorporating into our daily actions what we hear and see in the services. Now few people attend religious services. Employees prefer to work at home, away from the influence of work ethic culture. It seems to me that our current culture lacks sufficient hardship and consequence for laziness in thought and actions.
As for me, I cannot stop thinking. I live by the following:
"In all things observe, adapt, innovate and teach.
Quietly honor excellence in all that ones does.
Give without expectation of reward, for the best success is that which can be repeated often without the burden of expectation.
Remember that all life is trial and error, and therefore forgive often and quickly both others and oneself, so that we may progress.
Be honest to oneself.
Remember the sacred words to treat others as we would ourselves want to be treated."
These words are not entirely my own. I carry them on a card in my wallet. I believe in adopting for oneself the valuable ideas and habits of wisemen who have preceded us.
I really don't know any more than anyone else about this topic, but these are the thoughts which immediately come to my mind from witnessing my own community in upstate New York and as a country lawyer.
Chris: Kudos to you for having good standards.
That said, you did not answer my questions — e.g., would you like to be happier? Would you like to be healthier? etc.
The grass will always be greener...and I expect we've all thought about these major life questions, especially when things aren't going well. I just finished reading a book about Siberia...and its native people. In the simple and humble words of an elder who lived on the land, and by our terms would be classified as living in severe poverty; "Love your family. Earn money when you can. Find some way to eat when you have no money. Keep your machinery running, even if you don't have any spare parts. Be patient. Listen to the land. Don't get excited when things go wrong. Don't kick your dog." Seems to sum life up quite well.
SM: Yes, but so far no one has answered my question!
How much effort would I be willing to expend? I think it's too late for me.
SM: It's too late for you to be happier? to be healthier? etc, etc?
A good cup of coffee in the morning, watching the sun rise, working in the garden, getting the winter's firewood into the wood shed, tending to the animals, watching the sun set...it's always the simplest things that bring beauty to my days. I can't complain. God has graced me with his love.
My number One Priority...doing my best to serve the Creator. I ask for guidance in everything I do...I go to sleep happy and wake up happy, because I know that I am never alone. When I look back over my life, I have no regrets, because I did accomplish more than i ever would have thought possible...and I learned a lot. Even now in my nineties, I am still learning and sharing information on a daily basis, which is satisfying to feel that I am still contributing.
Barbara: TY for sharing that. Good that you ask for guidance from God. My belief in that regard is somewhat different: "Pray as if everything depended on God, but work as if everything depended on you."