Poetry of a sort has joined me at the guitar. Nearly every evening, while Yumiko prepares dinner, I sit in the garden with a glass of red wine and my dog and I strum the guitar. I know six chords, and a number of picking progressions, and my fingers have gained enough memory to use these without the need of much thoughtful control. So, while the red wine sinks in and Helios descends towards night, and the sweet sea breeze softens the remaining daylight into dark, I sit alone and strumming; playing out my few simple sounds to accompany the gentle passing of time. And with my mind free of the guitar, Iâve found the old words have joined me again. The old muse is back. She who once met me under that desert bridge, the same who walked with me in Japan, and who lived alone with me on that beach up there in the North, and who first spoke to me when I was ten, and I gazed then alone at the lighted expanse of Metropolis, twinkling at evening below our backyard overlooking the great and grinding expanse of LA. The muse is back. Perhaps she was never gone. Her voice is so welcome and familiar to me, Iâve known her all my life, only now I am no longer compelled to write down what I hear, and instead I just sing the words into life that I hear, to the tune of my guitar; I sing alone to my dog, and into my garden, and at that dearest gentle night which does comeâwords now here and then gone each evening before dinner, when my wife calls me in, and I halt my voice and the sound of the guitar, and bid goodnight to the darkening evening sky and that most blessed soft wind from the sea. I then call my little dog to my side, go in and gently shut and latch the door. Another good day done. Another day finished with music and my Muse. Another good day of life lived and complete once again.
âď¸ THE GOOD LIFE CREED âď¸
The Good Life Meditation serves as a daily compass, orienting me towards personal objectives and principles essential for a purposeful existence within an indifferent universe. Further your understanding of The Good Life by visiting my website, GoingAlone.org, or delve into my book Going Aloneâhardcover recommended. Get a signed copy here. đâď¸
đŻ OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die â ď¸ 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources âłđ ď¸ 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles đđŚ 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions đđĄ 5. Perform Good Actions đ¤â 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity đŞđ 7. One Thing Slowly đ˘đ§ââď¸
8. Maintain Balance âď¸
đ PRINCIPLES: 1. Principle of War âď¸ 2. Principle of Reason đ§ 3. Homunculus đ¤ 4. Anchorhold â 5. Home of Good and Evil đđ 6. Principle of Purpose đŻ 7. Atomic Principle âď¸ 8. Principle of Nature đł 9. The Pirate Ride đ´ââ ď¸ 10. Principle of Maturity đąâĄď¸đł 11. Social Principle đ¤
12. Principle of Family đ¨âđŠâđ§ 13. Public Speaking đŁď¸ 14. Temperance đˇâĄď¸đ§ 15. Life Will Not Go Well âď¸ 16. The Horror Show đđą 17. That Which Must Be Borne đ 18. The Feast of Offal đď¸đ˝ď¸ 19. Distraction đľ 20. Agency and The Great Indifference âď¸đ 21. The Best Seat in the House đď¸ 22. The Restless Man đŁ 23. The Path of Wildness đ˛đ¤ď¸ 24. The Great Life Adventure đşď¸ 25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk đ˛ 26. Sin and Damnation đđĽ 27. Complete Oblivion đłď¸ 28. The Season of Philosophy đ
29. Scriptwriting đď¸đ 30. Bullseye Aim đŻ 31. The Uphill Climb â°ď¸ 32. Arena and Utility đď¸đ§ 33. Nothing IS enough 0ď¸âŁ 34. The Principle of Fun đ
35. Being Ready đ
đđđśââď¸ Kurt Bell is a passionate explorer, dedicated family man, and author of books such as "Going Alone" and "No More Looking Out For Number One." Born in America in 1964, he integrates Stoic philosophy into his physical and philosophical journeys. Today's venture on The Path of Wildness embodies this harmonious blend of exploration and mindful living. While Kurt savors these moments and looks forward to future adventures, he remains ever prepared for life's end, ready to depart without a single backwards glance.
đ Website: https://goingalone.org
âśď¸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/softypapa
đ§ Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
đ Support my endeavors on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/softypapa
My name is Kurt Bell
Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone
Be safe... But not too safe.