In his novel, Two Years Before The Mast, Richard Henry Dana Jr. writes about his 1836, mid-winter experience of rounding Cape Horn in the sailing ship Alert, during the crew’s long voyage home to Boston after a year and a half working the coastal trade in California. Dana describes the feeling of exhilaration among the cold and weary crew as they sight the snowy Falkland Islands, meaning they are beyond the dangers of the cape and are entering the Atlantic Ocean, and of the captain then ordering the laying on of extra sail for the voyage north towards the equator and then home. It’s a wonderful five pages in the book, which I read and read again in order to enjoy the vivid and exhilarating experience which Dana relates, which was, in fact, an important part of his own life journey and adventure. In a way, I’m feeling that same way now with Yumiko as we round our own Cape Horn and begin to lay on extra sail towards the end of our careers, the conclusion of our child-raising years, and the start of our new lives of retirement in Japan. But there’s still some good, hard work ahead before our new lives can begin…
Before we’re done with this life, Yumiko and I must still cross the equator, and both the southern and northern horse latitudes, and then get past Bermuda during hurricane season, and across the windy chop of the Gulf Stream, to then perform our careful soundings off Cape Cod and among the islands to know our decreasing depth and read the story of the mud, sand, and pebbles drawn up from the deep; before we can then round the lighthouse at Provincetown and enter the great bight of the cape and then fire our guns to summon a pilot to guide us safely through the roads and to the wharf at Boston Harbor, and the end of our long journey, and the start of something new.
☀️ THE GOOD LIFE CREED ☀️
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 Alone—hardcover recommended. Get a signed copy here. 📚✍️
🎯 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 🐢🧘♂️
8. Maintain Balance ⚖️
📜 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 0️⃣ 34. The Principle of Fun 🎉
35. Being Ready 🚀
🌄📚🚶♂️ 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.
🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/softypapa
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
👍 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.