I’m reading a book now which I already plan to read again. It’s because I know that I am missing so much. Reading this good book now—while influenced by Covid—is like examining a quality object with the hands while a blindfold covers the eyes. With enough feeling I can ascertain what the object might be, though important and interesting details like color, patina, wear and a sense of age all largely escape my understanding, depriving me of the more satisfying big picture. So it is with this book—which, being read while sick with Covid, reveals texture, weight and heft; all good and interesting, though I detect nothing of the flavor and tone and character of the book which are visible only to one with clear sight and clear attention and clear consideration. So, I’ll finish the book today, and then place it back up on my bookshelf to read again after I am well.
But, that makes me wonder… What if my better mind doesn’t fully return? What if my brain has become stuck like this—all muddled and cloudy and weak? And if who I was does indeed come back…for how long will he remain? And is this experience but a preview of things to come as I go on growing old? Will being aged be always so befuddled and cloudy and confused?
I don’t mind. I really don’t mind. Clarity may come back, or stay gone, or return and then soon go away—I’ll take whatever comes. I’ve had already enough good thinking to fill a life—drank long and deep at the well of the mind. I’ve had my share and portion and fill.
So, I’ll take what I can get from this point on. I guess that’s part of what it means to be always ready to die, being also ready to start losing what we cherish of life before life is done. Being ready to fade slowly away—ready perhaps to become a ghost even before we are dead.
#GoingAlone#BeingAlwaysReadyToDie
The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://lnkd.in/gFgfGmY6
OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly
PRINCIPLES: 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle
12. Principle of Family 13. Public Speaking 14. Temperance 15. Life Will Not Go Well 16. The Horror Show 17. That Which Must Be Borne 18. The Feast of Offal 19. Distraction 20. Agency and The Great Indifference 21. The Best Seat in the House 22. The Restless Man 23. The Path of Wildness 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 26. Sin and Damnation 27. Complete Oblivion 28. The Season of Philosophy
29. Scriptwriting 30. Bullseye Aim 31. The Uphill Climb 32. Arena and Utility 33. Nothing IS enough 34. The Principle of Fun
My name is Kurt Bell.
You can learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.
Be safe... But not too safe.
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