The Good Life - 06/20/2023 - Down from the highest peak
For a time yesterday I was standing on one of life’s several summits, looking back across the landscape already crossed. I was the oldest person at lunch with a small group of friends, each of them climbing over their own landscapes a decade back or more. I remember crossing similar terrain, though by a different path: caring for a small child, or a newly minted teen, being midway upon a career, or struggling a bit in a land where I sometimes didn’t feel like I belonged. It’s so much easier now. Like coming through wind and clouds to arrive at some unexpected very high peak. The route ahead looks to go downward now, away from these mountains of adulthood and parenthood and career, and the deep responsibilities these important roles entail. Downward and away from the wind and the snow, towards what looks like green valleys and winding streams. I do see some dark places up ahead, bends where the shadows grow deep and long. And there’s what seems like nighttime in the further distance, no stars, no moon, no light. Maybe now I get to begin walking down. Maybe now the big climb is finally done. And there’s Yumiko on the trail ahead, waiting with the dogs for our evening stroll. Down we go now into the warmer air. The quieter valley. The peaceful walk together to the end.
#GoingAlone #PrincipleOfPurpose
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. Principle of Family 13. Public Speaking 14. Temperance 15. Life Will Not Go Well 16. The Horror Show 17. That Which Must Be Borne 18. The Feast of Offal 19. Distraction 20. Agency and The Great Indifference 21. The Best Seat in the House 22. The Restless Man 23. The Path of Wildness 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 26. Sin and Damnation 27. Complete Oblivion 28. The Season of Philosophy
29. Scriptwriting 30. Bullseye Aim 31. The Uphill Climb 32. Arena and Utility 33. Nothing IS enough 34. The Principle of Fun
#Stoic #Stoicism #StoicPhilosophy
My name is Kurt Bell.
You can learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.
Be safe... But not too safe.