Whole systems

It seems there is an epidemic affecting the "intelligentsia" by which they increasingly neglect the systemic nature of Life. More and more often, our attention is directed to certain aspects of life - our minds, our bodies, our societies - with utter disregard for the big picture and the complete context in which events occur.

The knee bone's connected to the leg bone, but the whole skeleton is also connected to the musculature, and both are linked by the vascular network, which is integral to the respiratory and digestive system. The interconnectedness goes on - and that's just the body! The body is also intertwined with the mind, and both are influenced by the soul. Beyond one human individual, we are all participants in families, communities, societies, economies, cultures, and nations; our species shares interdependence with all the others; we all affect each other on this rock we cohabitate, and Earth is but one rock in a planetary system surrounding our Sun star, in an even greater arrangement of stellar bodies. Then, don't forget the other direction: those bones are made up of specialized cells which require communication with other cells, and which are all supported by molecular compounds made up of atoms, composed of quarks and whatnot.

When a "doctor" tells you to consume a chemical compound synthesized in a laboratory to "treat" a particular ailment, the chances are pretty high that the larger system in which your affliction is operating is being overlooked. There is good reason why happy people are healthy, and more resilient to infection. People who have strong human networks are also flourishing economically, and those who help others, want for nothing. There is more life in environments where symbiosis is made possible. Health begets health, and every aspect of our nature is networked to every other aspect. So, when you are ailing in one aspect, first see how other aspects can be better supported, before seeking "band-aid" style symptom treatment. Remember that Life is a system, comprised of interconnected systems, and that it is often a disservice to address issues head-on with side-blinders.

If you are feeling down, try getting more exercise. If your neck and shoulders are sore, practice confidence-building affirmation. If your finances are suffering, go volunteer. When we treat ourselves as systems within systems, we are more likely to discover positive results than when we treat symptoms as though they have but one direct cause. "When people go within and connect with themselves, they realize they are connected to the universe and they are connected to all living things." - Armand Dimele

Yay Spring!

Spring is back, and I'm renewing my life all over again!

This time last year, I was planting the seeds that grew into my very own business. Now, it is successful and thriving - as am I! In fact, I have decided that the time has come to go ahead and sell that business, and start a new venture. Next up: a hostel (with an ecotourism/commune/resort appeal) in Austin, Texas. I don't know how to get there, but I know that whatever unfolds along the way will only bring more growth and joy - because I SAY SO! ;)

I can feel the seeds a-germinating...

Saint Valentine

Legend has it that while the Roman Empire was seeking to develop a citizenry of soldiers whose duty was directed solely to the Empire, and not to some other god, nor to family, Saint Valentine continued to perform the then illegal marriage ceremony, and was killed for such treason, on February 14th.

Having been told this story since my youth, I have always considered St. Valentine's Day not just as a Hallmark holiday of lovey-dovey hearts and ooey-gooey romance, but as a day to commemorate the human dedication to interpersonal commitment.

It occurs to me this year, that I would like to celebrate this special day with gratitude for the nature of our present society in which we favor love. We are allowed to marry, or to not marry. We are not subject to arranged marriages for familial economic benefit, nor are we banned from marriage. We have the freedom to chose to whom we wish to commit, or to not commit. (And though the fine print still needs some ironing out, and a few localities remain with their heads in the ground, this is increasingly true for individuals of differing ethnicity, and for those of the same sex.)

I have recently rejoined the community of singles, and although it is a bittersweet position, I can smile on this holiday for the ability to exercise my right to pursue my very own happiness :)

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Winter doldrums

As the grayness lingers on, I find myself moping a bit. Yet, between the rain drops, I am inevitably performing the Winter duties of internal polishing. It's almost as if the sun-less depression acts as a scouring brush to help me clean up the abandoned pieces of myself. I am so grateful for my ability to do this! It may not feel so uplifting as the days drudge on, but I know that once the warm brightness returns to my world, I will be sparkling all throughout.

I've discovered that some of the discarded bits I've found are aspects which I have cast aside on the influence of others. As I regard these battered gems, I am incited to restore my Self and renounce instead those beings who moved me to such self mutilation. It is no easy task, though I am distinctly stronger as whole than fractured. Reclaiming all the pieces of my soul, and embracing my supposed weaknesses as strengths, is my Winder job, and I am fortified by the exercise every time.

Someday, I hope to live someplace with year-round warmth - I wonder what will spur my shadow work then... but I trust that I will always find a way to grow :)

Community

Another paradox that requires a delicate balance exists between individualism and communalism. Oftentimes, people overemphasize one over the other. Some cultures promote a sort of rugged individualism that denies the social nature of humans, while others who champion altruistic community, neglect the fact that if people fail to put themselves first, no member of the community will be strong enough to contribute to it.

Speaking of community, the modern vernacular of this term has morphed into a concept synonymous with a simple group of individuals. Yet, according to its roots (and another book by M. Scott Peck, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace), it is much more than what we think of it. It is actually a notion that revolves around sharing and involves openness, vulnerability, honesty, trust, acceptance, tolerance, and diversity, as well as - and potentially most importantly - respect. A true community will have respect for all that is shared in common - which is by far more than the ways in which participants differ - and respect for the fact that each participant has a right to their differences.

Communitas supports the individuals in it by respecting their similarities as well as their differences; it supports diversity, appreciates participants for who they are, and helps them be the best that they can be, while not seeking to conform them into some version of what we think they ought to be.

I have experienced this miracle in fleeting moments, and I hope to see more of it more often :)

Moral imperative

It is your moral imperative to always do what is in your rational long-term self-interest.

Being “selfish” should cease holding a negative connotation, for how can you be of benefit to anyone else if you neglect to take care of yourself? According to a philosophy called Objectivism, the greatest virtues to uphold are rationality, by employing your brain; honesty, by committing to truth; justice, by being equitable; independence, by remaining responsible for your own life and never living for the sake of another nor asking another to live for yours; integrity, by standing firm on your principles and applying them consistently to all that you do; productiveness, by being useful and fruitful and contributing to your life and to society; and pride, by valuing your self and your output.

If each person were to put their own self-interest first, we would live in a thriving world. Many say that selfishness leads to some gaining at the expense of others, but since when did anyone find health and happiness through lying, cheating, and stealing? No: unethical practices are spiritually toxic, and are in no one’s rational long-term self-interest, as are any other self-destructive behaviors, many of which tend to fall under the umbrella of instant gratification. It is in each person’s best interest to be cooperative with others, since we are social beings who flourish in healthy communities.

Be charitable, volunteer, rear children – if you like – but only support causes or people you value, and be sure that your support is aimed at their growth, and does not engender long-term reliance, for fostering dependence is a great injustice – to the individual, as well as society.

Perhaps a wider adoption of greater selfishness would produce a more thriving existence...

Paradox

Life is paradox.

Another Peck gem, he artfully illustrates that this truth is best met with embrace. We must not seek to obliterate one extreme in favor of its counterpart, but affirm both the light and the dark, and seek balance. The miracle of life is its persistence alongside entropy. I have always valued balance and made it a priority in my life, as I found it a crucial element to my inner peace and happiness. Therefore, I have deep appreciation for this broader view of it: that everywhere in existence we find paradox, and that it is not meant to be solved, but to be balanced.

We're all familiar with the dichotomies of good vs. evil, and emotion vs. rationality, and I've mentioned the dilemma of prioritizing current possessions vs. desired possessions. However, these opposing forces are not meant to fight out battles of elimination, rather we are meant to seek out ideal harmonies among them. It's not about banishing the darkness for the sake of the light, for those who live in the light will always cast shadows; it's not about listening to your head OR your heart, it's about informing each with the other; and it's not about appreciating your gifts at the expense of your dreams, it's about utilizing gratitude to manifest abundance.

Recognize dichotomies as paradox, and pursue equilibrium.