My phone rang, muffled, from within my pack. I scrambled awake, warm sand falling from my bare skin, the hot tingle of sunlight glowing warm from all over my body. It was my daughter Emily calling, “Dad, there’s a bonfire tonight at the beach. Can you give my friends and me a ride to lifeguard tower 13?” I was disoriented from my deep slumber on the soft sand—not realizing the time—the afternoon had grown very late. “Sure” I said “I’m at the beach now. Let me clean up and I’ll meet you at home.” Emily asked “How’s the beach, dad?” “Perfect” I said. “It’s Indian Summer. Best weather ever!” And it was. You could come to the beach here every day for a year and there would only be one day as fine as today.
I jumped up. Literally, I jumped up. All sixty years of me jumped to a stand and ran headlong down into the perfect surf—cool, not cold, waves big, but not too big, water clear as a clean fishbowl. I dove headlong below a breaking wave, eyes wide open, an enormous breath of air fueling my underwater swim. I told myself while gliding down there under the clear sea, to remember forever this moment, my long and deep sleep upon the warm sand, page after page of languorous good reading, the sound of my grown daughter needing me, and asking “How’s the beach, dad?” And me telling her, “It’s perfect! A perfect evening for a bonfire with your friends.”
Walking back to the car I thought over the last ten years. A sound and solid decade of adventure in the new land where I was born. An experience of homecoming someplace that was never home, but was nevertheless a very good place to be. This day was a last full day of sorts. A final, perfect day of punctuation upon a quite deliberate and soon ending season of life.
☀️ THE GOOD LIFE CREED ☀️
The Good Life Meditation serves as a daily compass, orienting me towards personal objectives and principles essential for a purposeful existence within an indifferent universe. Further your understanding of The Good Life by visiting my website, GoingAlone.org, or delve into my book Going Alone—hardcover recommended. Get a signed copy here. 📚✍️
🎯 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 🐢🧘♂️
8. Maintain Balance ⚖️
📜 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 0️⃣ 34. The Principle of Fun 🎉
35. Being Ready 🚀
🌄📚🚶♂️ Kurt Bell is a passionate explorer, dedicated family man, and author of books such as "Going Alone" and "No More Looking Out For Number One." Born in America in 1964, he integrates Stoic philosophy into his physical and philosophical journeys. Today's venture on The Path of Wildness embodies this harmonious blend of exploration and mindful living. While Kurt savors these moments and looks forward to future adventures, he remains ever prepared for life's end, ready to depart without a single backwards glance.
🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/softypapa
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
👍 Support my endeavors on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/softypapa
My name is Kurt Bell
Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone
Be safe... But not too safe.
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