Yumiko sent me to the beach today. It was after lunch, with some shopping yet to do, and she said ”Don’t you want to go for a swim?” So here I am: The water is cold, and the sky is a little overcast with just enough shady clouds to remind me it’s winter. But the water is bracing—like it is every day now—though my body doesn’t shake quite as much as before; and I usually go back into the sea again after the first dip, and after I can warm up a little, wrapped in my towel on the sand. After the hard body shakes stop.
Thank you for reminding me to go to the beach today, Yumiko. Because of this, I think I am almost ready to return to work tomorrow… No, that’s not true. I’d definitely rather come back to the beach again tomorrow instead of going to work. But everything in it’s proper season, right? Youth, marriage, children and responsibility; seeing the kids into adulthood, and then maybe—if our good health holds out, and our attitude and ambition aren’t too deeply crushed by the dear weight of the life we have lived—then maybe we’ll come to the beach again on a Monday, to sit at peace on the sand, and get wet, and remember our well spent youth, and strive in earnest another day. It’s something to dream and plan for, right? Though until then, I’ll always answer “yes!” when you suggest I go to the beach, as I know enough now to never refuse a clear invitation to be alive.
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.