Damn it. Today is the last day of the last big project of my career. Well, we do have a closure meeting next week, and a celebration party a few weeks after that, but today is our last day with the vendor. We wrap things up today. Itâs time to say goodbye. Normally, at this stage in a multi-year project, my mind begins switching gears as I prepare to turn my attention to my next big assignment. I lose no momentum, and just glide from the project ending to the project starting without missing a single beat. But damn it. Someone told my inner man that Iâll never have a giant project like this again, and thatâs changed something inside me, and instead of focusing on the new projectâwhich I do haveâmy heart is a little bit somewhere else. Itâs not like I wonât work hard. I will work very hard. I am incapable of being lazy. But something has changed that ainât coming back. Itâs my professional vision of a journey of three-thousand miles. The sense that thereâs still a thousand miles to go, and the need to move forward without relent. That sense out on the trail that my family are counting on me. That I canât slow down or give up or even rest for very long. But with this big project ending I can now sense the last horizon ahead, and itâs only a fifty miles or so awayâjust over that last range of low, coastal mountains. I can even smell the ocean now. Weâre getting close to the end.
If this career were a journey across America, then Iâve just now got faint whiff of the sea. Iâll be at the Pacific Ocean soon, with no professional place further to go. And damn it, my body and inner man knows this, and something about me has changed as a result. I think itâs time for the man sitting beside me on this wagon crossing America to take the reigns and drive. After all, heâs going back across the country without me when the wagons turn around to return east. Heâll then need to drive this wagon alone. Itâs not me being lazy that wants him to drive. Itâs me being practical, I think. As this younger man needs and deserves the practice navigating and steering before I go, leading the wagons in our little train. Iâll give him the reigns now and watch him drive. And then I think Iâll get off and walk behind for a spell, let the new guy drive for a bit all alone and on his own. Iâll walk back here behind the wagons, keeping up, ready to come forward if Iâm called. Iâll just walk here alone in the quiet and the peace, and savor that freshening smell of an approaching sea.
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.