Motion Sensors

We are all glorified motion sensors.

Some things only become visible to us when they undergo change.

We take for granted all the constant, fixed things, and eventually stop paying any attention to them. At the same time we observe and obsess over small, fast-moving, ephemeral things of little value.

The trick to rediscovering constants is to stop and focus on the greater panorama around us. While everything else flits abut, the important things remain in place.

Their stillness appears as reverse motion to our perspective, as relativity resets our motion sensors. It reboots us, allowing us once again to perceive.

And now that we do see, suddenly we realize that those still things are not so motionless after all. They are simply gliding with slow individualistic grace against the backdrop of the immense universe.

And it takes a more sensitive motion instrument to track this.

Lure of the Maze

The difficulty in dealing with a maze or labyrinth lies not so much in navigating the convolutions to find the exit but in not entering the damn thing in the first place.

Or, at least not yet again.

As a creature of free will, do not be tempted into futility.

Natural Resource

Camels and dromedaries store water in their bodies. They are naturally suited to life in the desert.

Human beings store memories and dreams in the vast caverns of their minds. They are naturally suited to life in prison cells.

Don't allow the limitations of your surroundings influence your life will, limit your joy, and curb your drive.

You already carry the universe inside you.

Tap into it.

True to Yourself

Sometimes, being true to yourself means changing your mind.

Self changes, and you follow.

Mountains

Why is it that so many proverbs, aphorisms, and utterances of wisdom are made about mountains?

Mountains are symbolic of struggles, high or insurmountable goals, head-spinning freedom, rising above the crowd, conquering the self, aiming high, reaching the pinnacle, achieving greatness, breathing the air of success, gaining a sense of superiority, being high above the clouds, feeling ecstasy.

Mountains are said to be divine, natural, eternal, sacred. Mountains can even be euphemisms for female breasts.

Indeed, mountains in all their purple majesty are nothing short of metaphoric heaven.

And yet, here is another simple thing.

If you sit on a mountain top too long, eventually you will have to come down.

Selfish Altruism

Selfishness is a simple knee-jerk choice of the moment.

It is based on self-preservation, greed, fear, or simple hungry need -- for the most part, id-based impulse.

Whatever its basis, it is a short-term approach to things. Acting selfishly might benefit you now, but not so much in the long term.

Take an extra moment before making your self-based choice to visualize ahead to the greater chain of events that will ultimately affect you and those that matter to you. Look days, months, years into the future.

Then, be truly selfish and choose altruism.

Over the Moon

The cow jumped over the moon because it could.

What's stopping you?

Your Voice

A choir is made up of many voices, including yours and mine. If one by one all go silent then all that will be left are the soloists.

Don’t let a loud few determine the nature of the sound. It makes for poor harmony and diminishes the song.

Register.

Vote.

Beauty on the Surface

So often, in seeming injustice, beauty on the surface is the compensation for an empty heart, while the kind and deserving show a plain outward demeanor.

Only, there is nothing inequitable about it.

The universe is fair -- if the barren souls were not granted something to make them sweet to others, then they would be forsaken.

Experience and Fear

The more experience, the less fear.

At some midpoint, with the rising awareness of all possibilities the fear grows, but then again tapers off as the knowledge of how to cope exceeds it.

Once you scale the fear mountain, from there on begins a marvelous steady trend...

The less fear the more experience.

Serenity

Serenity is a blissful healthy state of being and the result of inner balance.

It requires for so many things in our lives to be going "right" at the same time -- aspirations, finances, relationships, health, basic stability of daily routine. Even a clean attractive home environment and a comfortable bed may make a difference.

When something is out of whack -- and for almost all of us it is usually the case -- serenity is very difficult to achieve. You need to make a concerted effort to ignore that problematic thing before any kind of balance returns to you.

And when too many things are going wrong, attaining balance is almost a joke. Most of us are just holding on for dear life. Sounds familiar?

Now, it may be useful to tackle each problem one at a time -- and so we do. But when too many new problems pop up, we still find ourselves sinking in a quagmire. Our lives amount to a mess and we feel like failures, since we cannot seem to get anywhere.

What to do? Is serenity such an unreachable thing?

Not at all, my friend.

It is all a matter of priorities.

Here is something to keep in mind. Our life goals are not set in stone. They can be changed at will. And herein lies the key.

Try setting serenity as your life's goal.

Then, do whatever it takes to work to achieve it alone and nothing else.

Once you're there -- and you will be -- then switch your set of goals back to your original, real track.

It is never too late.

Without Relevance

Wisdom is profound only when understood.

Otherwise it is but the crashing sound of the distant ocean surf -- eternal and undeniable, but without relevance to you.

The Most Beautiful Light

The most beautiful light in the darkness of night is one that shines to illuminate your way home.

Revolution

Revolutions happen on any scale.

Revolution of a nation is traumatic and bloody, like the amputation of a limb. As such, it should come as a last resort.

Revolution of a single cell is minute and delicate and wrought with uncertainty as to the end result.

Revolution of one human being is cause for celebration.

Be Not Alone and Afraid

What is fear? What is being alone?

Either a lack of trust or a lack of compromise.

The world is filled with so many wonderful others that none of us has the excuse to blame the lack of opportunity. If you cannot find what you need in your immediate vicinity, then move! Take the extra steps to expand your perspective and your panorama of choices.

And then…

Find the courage to trust someone and curb the pride that prevents you from flexibility.

Infectious Thing

Yawns are not the only infectious things out there besides germs.

Giggles can spread from person to person.

So can blushing.

But maybe the most powerful infectious thing is the act of speaking the truth.

Heart of Autumn

Autumn is the season of introspection. A cool exterior and a warm orange middle, falling leaves and evenings before the glowing exposed heart of fire.

Nature slows down to think.

Receive its burning heart as offering, be receptive, and allow the warmth inside.

Don't Tell

Philosophy is a religion.

Religion is a philosophy.

Everyone subscribes to at least one or the other, and hence, unwittingly, to both.

Don't tell them, or they might be upset.

Heroes

There are so many things that make a hero.

Heroes sacrifice themselves for others and for the greater good. Heroes quietly do what is right and perform their duty against all odds. Heroes fight for truth and uphold justice. Heroes are larger than life.

Heroes give themselves up as tools unto the benefit of others, surrender their life, their fate, their being completely.

Heroes are all that's good and right with the world.

Heroes are also invisible until someone realizes who they are -- which sometimes never happens at all.

Good thing it completely doesn't matter.