When I dove into the sea just now I banged into something fishy. Not a shark of course, but a fish, maybe a stingray. I was startled, especially at the thought of a stingray, which really hurt and cause us to bleed like crazy when they puncture and slice us with their barb. Stingray are a good reason to be cautious in the sea around here—but not sufficient reason to stay out. Likewise with everything else in life—or, nearly everything. There’s good reason for caution going out and taking chances, but rarely danger enough not to try. That’s why I say “be safe… but not too safe” to avoid missing out.
So, I shuffled out of the sea tonight after my literal brush with something fishy, being careful not to step on a stingray, but to instead brush them away with my shuffling feet, giving the fish cause to move but not reason to strike. That’s what I did tonight…
But I won’t be so safe tomorrow—no, I’ll run again into the sea and throw myself headlong down and under a wave, down into the swirling sand by the bottom where the stingray are. And if I get jabbed tomorrow then good. Very good! And I’ll smile through my tears as the pulsing pain shatters my nerves and the blood spills and pours as I race home to plunge my wound into a hot bath, knowing hot water will relieve the pain at once. Yeah. That’s my plan. No sitting on the beach for me while I can yet run. And no staying out of the deep-end of life while I’ve yet got a will to live, and live well. I’ll be safe… But not too safe.
The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://lnkd.in/gFgfGmY6
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
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. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. Life Will Not Go Well 15. The Horror Show 16. That Which Must Be Borne 17. The Feast of Offal 18. Distraction 19. Agency and The Great Indifference 20. The Best Seat in the House 21. The Restless Man 22. The Path of Wildness 23. The Great Life Adventure 24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 25. Sin and Damnation 26. Complete Oblivion 27. The Season of Philosophy 28. Bullseye Aim 29. The Uphill Climb 30. Arena and Utility 31. Nothing IS enough 32. The Principle of Fun
My name is Kurt Bell.
You can learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.
Be safe... But not too safe.