First of all I want to say that I really enjoyed reading your post! I am impressed with your clear view of this world, and believe people like you can make this world a better place. Keep up the good work!:)
What my life is about? I have absolutely no idea. The reason I don't know the answer is not because no one asked me this before. In fact, people have asked me this question many times.
The problem is that every time I decide to take some time to answer this question, the thought process in my head gets way to complicated, and after just a few minutes I end up with more questions than I started with. I end up with the feeling you described perfectly('What the #!@*!')
'There are only two tragedies in life: One is not getting what you want, the other one is getting it.' Just like you said, in the end, the American dream does not make people happy. People always want more and more. Enough of us know that the american dream is not the answer, but sticking with our current ideals feels much safer for most people because we have been 'trained' to live life by the ideals of The American dream ever since we were born.
Indeed it would be wonderful if we would be taught about inner peace, respect and your 3-point ideal at school, it would make life much better. But the problem is, our teachers are as lost as we are.
I like your 3-point ideal (Can't think of any other name for it yet), and I strongly believe that if people set an example, people like you, this ideal will spread. It probably won't spread as fast and widely as we would like, but every human being is one.
They version you quote is based on a composition originally written by Dr Kent Keith, but some of the second half has been re-written in a more spiritual way and attributed to Mother Teresa
The modified verses reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India. And the "poem" then ends like this:
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Here talks a reflective man and proud father, when I read your blog.
Most thoughts come at night you write. All the great mystics speak of the ´dark night, where all happens.´ At night we meet with our greatest dreams and fears I think.
Amidst all the noise ... This reminds me of the Desiderata, a very old scripture, author unknowd.
Here, for you, the lyrics
Bye for now, take care
Marianne The Netherlands
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
I read your blog text several times to let it sink in. The American Dream... I´m not an American, so this dream is to narrow for me.
Your three main importancies are a general human dream. A human hope. Because, how else gain more harmony in the world I wonder.
Compassion, that´s a beautiful word including myself and others, emotion and action for me. Passion as a drive, the ´com´ component like in together.
I think the old systems are collapsing, new will arise. It´s up to us all how the new building will look like, if it´s including and how strong it will be.
I never walked in your shoes but I followed the path you took! I wasn't in your boat when the storm struck but I was on the same ocean. Thank you for showing me that people (you) can and do change. We not only need people to remind us how far we've come, but sometimes we all need a reminder of where we're going! Regarding your mother, let me say this. Death is just as important in life as living. It's not our lives that live on but what we created with our life. You were created with that life and as long as you are alive, your mother will live on within you. No more restless nights, OK! NMW, Lord Dennis Fountain
. = Time line of life, avg. 70 years in this fallen world ruled by Satan. And Joe does it ever show! It's getting worse out here by the day.
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hello craig this is brandon from corona, ring a bell? wow how life has changed for both peter and yourself. well im sure you have your own side to the story but i sure miss the good ole corona days!
You asked about Toolshed.com in a previous blog: Toolshed.com is the web address for Toolshed Technologies, the brainchild of Andy Hunt. He is a programmer turned consultant, author and publisher. He has authored award-winning and best-selling books, including The Pragmatic Programmer and six others, including the latest, the popular Pragmatic Thinking and Learning. Andy was one of the 17 founders of the Agile Alliance and authors of the Agile Manfesto; and co-founded the Pragmatic Bookshelf, publishing award-winning and critically acclaimed books for software developers.
RSS
First of all I want to say that I really enjoyed reading your post! I am impressed with your clear view of this world, and believe people like you can make this world a better place. Keep up the good work!:)
What my life is about? I have absolutely no idea. The reason I don't know the answer is not because no one asked me this before. In fact, people have asked me this question many times.
The problem is that every time I decide to take some time to answer this question, the thought process in my head gets way to complicated, and after just a few minutes I end up with more questions than I started with. I end up with the feeling you described perfectly('What the #!@*!')
'There are only two tragedies in life: One is not getting what you want, the other one is getting it.'
Just like you said, in the end, the American dream does not make people happy. People always want more and more.
Enough of us know that the american dream is not the answer, but sticking with our current ideals feels much safer for most people because we have been 'trained' to live life by the ideals of The American dream ever since we were born.
Indeed it would be wonderful if we would be taught about inner peace, respect and your 3-point ideal at school, it would make life much better.
But the problem is, our teachers are as lost as we are.
I like your 3-point ideal (Can't think of any other name for it yet), and I strongly believe that if people set an example, people like you, this ideal will spread. It probably won't spread as fast and widely as we would like, but every human being is one.
Much respect!
Mike
The Netherlands
The modified verses reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India. And the "poem" then ends like this:
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Here talks a reflective man and proud father, when I read your blog.
Most thoughts come at night you write. All the great mystics speak of the ´dark night, where all happens.´ At night we meet with our greatest dreams and fears I think.
Amidst all the noise ... This reminds me of the Desiderata, a very old scripture, author unknowd.
Here, for you, the lyrics
Bye for now,
take care
Marianne
The Netherlands
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
I read your blog text several times to let it sink in. The American Dream... I´m not an American, so this dream is to narrow for me.
Your three main importancies are a general human dream. A human hope. Because, how else gain more harmony in the world I wonder.
Compassion, that´s a beautiful word including myself and others, emotion and action for me. Passion as a drive, the ´com´ component like in together.
I think the old systems are collapsing, new will arise. It´s up to us all how the new building will look like, if it´s including and how strong it will be.
for now, kind regards
Marianne
The Netherlands
It was nice to read your story and the poem you choose. I wish you all the luck to succeed and enjoy life (again).
Greetings Monique
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†††††††††††††††††††† = Only your first 180,000 (70 x 2571) years of Joy and Peace in Holy Heaven with Jesus. I couldn't fit eternity on here, with a 3000 character limit, but you get the idea. Your best years are ahead you my brother. Now that is hope! With Love, Mike Samples