The tao of you

[Salvor-Hardon]

Late one winter night, in a Ahens, GA coffee shop, some friends and I were discussing philosophy, religion, psychology and why none of us were getting laid. And then one of the group put forth an idea "We all follow our way, our own personal Tao, so to speak. Be it following Christ as a Christian or seeking enlightenment as a buddhist or just trying to be a good person as an atheist or being the biggest damn asshole if you are an asshole."

There was a silence as the words sank in and a few more sips of coffee were needed to process that thought. Ever since then, this time of year I kind of sit back and look back over the path I have traveled and look forward to where I believe I am headed. I draw my map a bit more in detail and wonder if there really be dragons in the big empty spots.

The next entry is what I have scribbled so far. Feel free to have a cup of whatever you drink and post your own as well.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

The tao of me

The path I have choosen is not easy but I do think it is worth traveling. I seek as I walk to make the world a better place, to brighten the darkness by a pleasant word, a friendly smile, or a kind gesture when so many others around me walk by in cold darkness. I give my life to others, serving as a mentor, a teacher, a confidante and a fellow knight. Not that I will sometime be rewarded, as I know I will not, but that one day, many years from now, people will say "my life was touched by his deeds."

I want for the future to use my wit more to heal than to hurt, to take a moment to think before I speak, and to choose beauty in more ways than I have, even when beauty will require hardship. My darkness will come out more, as false light will fade, but what will remain will be truth, true light, true darkness, and teh contrast between them will be drastic but those who see me, I hope, will be powerfully moved.

I want to be thought provoking, with a word or phrase coming back to ring over and over, haunting a mind like a cherished memory. I want to cause laughter and tears, give out hugs freely and whether they are needed or not, the simple act of embrace will be memorable. I want to challenge others to be better themselves. Though they may be uncomfortable and perhaps even at first resent my challenge, should they overcome it they will be grateful later, muchlater, that I stood before them and made them wince.

I want to learn more, not just facts but to carve deeper crevices in my mind of thoughts and ideas and impossible dreams, interacting and feeding one another. Music, art, theater and literature, each allowed to move me more than before and as they coalesce form a culture and a philosophy within me that I may share with others.

Let me learn from the old, from the new and the undiscovered that I may be a spark to light the way for others to see what treasures are waiting for those who will choose a difficult path.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

bump.

 

[sincerely_helene]

bump.

Ditto.

 

[impressive]

Can I just copy Salvor's tao? It's a damned fine one, after all.

 

[Guest]

this time of year I kind of sit back and look back over the path I have traveled and look forward to where I believe I am headed. I draw my map a bit more in detail and wonder if there really be dragons in the big empty spots.

I enjoyed reading what you wrote... honorable goals.

I'm always trying to become a better person and this type of thing is therefore always in the back of my mind... but I tend to look at things more formally, as you have here, in February, when I have a personal anniversary of sorts.

 

[English Lady]

I'll have to think on this, Salvor, but I will post here

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Can I just copy Salvor's tao? It's a damned fine one, after all.

You can, but you have to then pay it forward and do nice things for three other people.

 

[impressive]

You can, but you have to then pay it forward and do nice things for three other people.

Hell, that's my life! I never STOP doing nice things for other people.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Hell, that's my life! I never STOP doing nice things for other people.

Cool, then in that case.... ummmmmmmm send me $5 and seal the envelope with a kiss in bright red lipstick?

 

[impressive]

Cool, then in that case.... ummmmmmmm send me $5 and seal the envelope with a kiss in bright red lipstick?

How 'bouts I deliver instead?

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

How 'bouts I deliver instead?

Deal, that way you can have the option of wearing the lip stick or boots with heels, or both

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Addendums and contemplations

I showed my "map" to a friend and fellow writer here in meat space, who then challenged me with "ok nice goals, but what are the actions to go with those goals?"

I hadn't really thought about that, but it made sense. I need to put into motion the lofty ideals. Not too many days earlier I had been looking at pocketmod.com (great place for the organizer junky) and read about Ben Franklin's 13 virtues. 13 "goals" with a day for each as a check list to serve as a reminder to live each day for those 13 virtues.

So....... I started re-thinking and going over my path statement again. And wanted to put down achievable, markable actions to them as best I could.

and they are

1) Beauty Following Goethe's "Every day listen to one piece of beautiful music, see one beautiful image and think one beauitufl thought" but there should be more beauty in my life I think.

2) Kindness Doing something, being pay some a compliment or leave a little token of esteem, but an act of kindness to 3 people a day.

3) Nobility There was a movie a few years back "Kate and Leopold" with Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan. One of the interviews around it Jackman said he studied protocol to more properly act the part. One of the motivations behind all those things was to make people feel respected and honored.

4) Honesty I admit I am sometimes too closed off about what I think and feel, or internalize things when they should come out. Not cruelly or unjustly but honestly.

I'll have to come up with more later.

But I think I've got a good start so far.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You are truly beautiful.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

You are truly beautiful.

*big blush*

Thank you.


*tight hugs*