Ritual...Ascetic..Abstinent...Solitary.......non-sensualist?

Some definitions....
1. Ascetic - someone who lives with strict self discipline and abstinence, training for spiritual reasons; living in contemplation.
2. Sensualist - A person devoted to pleasure and luxury.

One more word...quackery. It's often touted as quackery if you live a life of asceticism as opposed to frivolous intemperance. Never mind that the average American diet is expensive, wasteful, and increasingly rushing us to the grave. That is the least of our problems.......where we are excessive with food, we are short on exercise...we spend/shop impulsively, and rarely plan finances(no savings)...we desperately crave love, yet make no real time for others.

I have been extremely guilty of these simple statements and more! Again, what about an extreme, to somehow find a balance in the middle. Will it work? That is what I plan to find out.

So, now, I am trying to develop an ASCETIC lifestyle and abandon YEARS OF SENSUALISM.....can this be changed?

SSDD?

Same shit, different day? Simple question.......

What you see.......is what YOU GET?

Sure. The eyes don't lie. Whereas, the mind can be a devious thing. Most of us don't realize that the mind is involuntarily/subconsciously making corrections for our vision--blind spots, discolorations, lighting, etc.

How nice it would be if the brain could correct our stereotyping, superficial views of the world, and visual judgments that we pass ALMOST thoughtlessly every day. However, it cannot, and this is another AREA OF IGNORANCE that plagues my decision making process daily.

So, can we develop our correction? A correction factor for the superficial? Where would one start? How about an exercise in the change of mind? In many philosophies, a Lamborghini, a mansion, or a rare diamond are all objects which are merely considered PHENOMENA. A little definition....

n. pl. phe·nom·e·na (-n)

1. An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses.

So, what value do these items really have? What has made a diamond so valuable? Why does a Lamborghini turn more heads than a Honda Accord?

Something to think about...... And now it's time for an exercise!!

For now on, those things which classically make heads turn, costs lots of money, etc, etc(don't act like it's not this way!!) will now be looked at for a short while in extreme terms without value, ugly, undesirable, and completely unappealing to the senses. An extreme view.....to end up in a balance of sense and sensibility.

Insecurity...a phenomena of ignorance

Today I read a poll from Best Life magazine, and it reminded of me how much time and energy we spend fighting our fruitless insecurities.

This month's poll: What body part makes you most self-conscious in bed....
1. My belly(too big-59%) 2. My Penis(too small-20%) 3. My butt(too soft-9%) 4. armpits and 5. Hairy back.

Now, this may be a magazine geared towards men, but both sexes can identify with these in a parallel way. Again, insecurity, anxiety, and this cyclic self destruction is based on a simple cycle of IGNORANCE. We must educate ourselves on those parallels of being human that never change...where this a lean gut, there must always be a large gut, where there are small breasts, there must always be large breasts, and where there are small minds there must always be great minds. These are dependent existences that we must all learn to accept and see in ourselves as well as others.

I could wake up everyday and conclude that my back is too hairy...but for what purpose. I know several men and women who love hairy backs. If I shave my back, what then? Now, I will disappoint the hairy back lovers. YOU ARE PERFECT THE WAY YOU ARE. Nothing in life is permanent. We will never please everyone. So, take pride in what you are...the one simple fact here is...you are ONE OF A KIND. What more could you ask for?

I will say this...I know for a fact where I may be short, one man or woman may be longer...where I am found right, other men and women will find me wrong. Enough said....?

Take pride in being ONE OF A KIND and love yourself.

Hypocrite...or made to fit?

Tonight after an exam I sat outside and discussed answers with students. Why? Well, they genuinely seemed concerned about whether they had answers right or wrong. Most of em.... There are always those few(and me included) who GLOW with the confidence that they had the right answers and are more than happy to let you know, with no concern for your situation.

But here's the thing.....I felt like a hypocrite the whole time!! In my attempt to help others, there is always that air of "I know more, you know less" that is conveyed. I believe my actions to be RIGHT ACTIONS, yet, it did make me stop and think......
....next time I see such actions I will stop and hold my quick to judge attitude and really listen to what is being said or conveyed.

I really think it was one of those situations I call "made to fit". A situation that represents that ONE THING that you have contemplating so hard for so long. And for now on, MADE TO FIT situations will be a topic for label.