Tuesday, July 17, 2012

More Thoughts On Living


My last blog “To Survive Is Not Enough” didn't come out the way it was supposed to. It started out about doing something in our lives beyond the bare minimum. To take the one chance we have in life - excluding any Buddhist in the audience of course - to explore life's potential. By the time the blog was finished it was about our attitude as we go through this rough and tumble life. I think I made a good point because our attitudes are something to be mindful of. Not what I started out to say though. My writing process - as described in "The Beauty of the Rough Draft” - is to write stream of consciousness until I find the chunks I want to flesh out. Most of the time I end up where I thought I was going. Sometimes I find another idea along the way.

The point I started with is that we should do at least one thing that is more. Something more than just getting by. I think this is where my previous blog turned. I am tempted at this point to say you should write a novel, paint a watercolor, learn an instrument etc. etc. That's not true though. Those things are good but you don't have to do anything traditionally “creative” in order to live a good life. Something more could be raising a happy and healthy child. Reading books you're interested in instead of sitting in front of the television all the time. Being the best husband you can be.

My point is to live not just survive. Don't just go to work every day and do the least amount of work you can do to keep your job. Do your best. Don't just keep the kids happy. Engage with them and raise them. Show them how to be human. These two examples hit very close to home as I am guilty of both. I'm working on it though. 

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