Our daughter is over the Aleutian islands now. She just purchased the Airplane WIFI, as I saw the credit card charge flash by on my phone. She’s sitting alone in a darkened airplane cabin, folks around her asleep; uncomfortable in her seat, staring at some distraction on her phone, mind and body utterly tired and spent. She’ll be home soon in just four hours, landing at LAX. Yumiko and I will be there to meet her, take her to a big American breakfast, and catch up. Emily will be tired from her trip, ready for home and a long mid-day nap with her dogs. The cool ocean air of Huntington Beach will be a soothing relief after the sweltering heat and humidity of a full, long summer in Japan.
Her trip to Japan is sunk in—irrevocable, like schooling. When she wakes in the late afternoon, dizzy and confused, as from a dream, she’ll then have the rest of her life just ahead like a near bend in a road, or a bending curve in a gentle stream—somewhere going forward, slow-moving, around and away, advancing lost, into a mist—like a forest in Robin Hood—can’t see too far, just a little ahead as we go. It’s a bit scary. How far is it to the other side? And what’ll be there when we arrive? And what’s making those strange and unfamiliar sounds from further on, just ‘round that gentle-seeming bend? Good questions... Why not keep moving forward to go and see? There’s no sense staying here after all—as such consequences are no longer for you—you’ve already discovered that. Because there’s no undoing adventure once adventure is gone and done, and especially when it’s gone and done alone. It’s better then to just to keep moving until you know you’ve arrived—until you finally know that you have truly reached the other side.
☀️ 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.