Aside: People aren't "terrible." People aren't "wonderful." People are people. We are all fallible. The same person that risks life and limb to save a child from a burning building will cheat at cards. It's no use painting people with such broad strokes. I have not lost faith in humanity. This is not to say that there are not lots of reasons to be upset or disillusioned with humanity, but I chose to surround myself with people and circumstances that help me maintain a healthy outlook on #thehumancondition. So much of our experience is contingent upon who and what we surround ourselves with. My father-in-law is pretty sure that we are all going to hell in a hand basket. He's a devout FOX news consumer. He, and most humans are very outwardly focused. I would suggest that the majority of our problems could be solved by mindfulness. -It's a hard state to get to but when it's had, there's really not much you can fret over. I don't watch television, but I am aware of the awful things happening in the world. I have been poor in my life and somewhat affluent. I have experienced extreme trauma's and extreme joys, but even in the poorest of times I was able to tap in to the joy that is life. I have had a hell of a time these past few months. The other day my wife looked at me and said, "breathe." -I almost lost it, I was so grateful to her. One time in a podcast we did on running, cW said, "When I run, I run to change the world. Granted, I don’t change much of it, at least not all at once. But in another sense, I change every bit of it, in an instant. I change the world by changing myself." -Somehow, I think this advice is applicable here. Also, to answer the tag of the post: Nothing happened to good people. They're everywhere. If you can't find them, then it's time to change where you are looking.I'm not saying that loving someone should be hard, but the understanding and dedication it takes to be on that level with someone else is incredibly impressive and valuable. These are the people that are worth your time. These are the people that REALLY, LOVE you.
-Actually, I think loving someone should be easy. Living with someone, dedicating your life to them, this is hard. This takes time, patience and lots of effort. You get what you put in. But loving someone should be pretty easy. That love will evolve, no doubt about it, but it should be a prerequisite to the hard work to follow.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
This was my point, loving someone should be easy, not hard. But keeping the person/relationship you love will not always be, sorry if that wasn't clear. This was the point that love comes easy>maintaining that bond/relationship is less easy. This is also my path of action, but I'm talking about outside of that. Like.... I want more people to be better. I want everyone to be good. I get that it's unreasonable though. Just think about it sometimes.Actually, I think loving someone should be easy. Living with someone, dedicating your life to them, this is hard. This takes time, patience and lots of effort. You get what you put in. But loving someone should be pretty easy. That love will evolve, no doubt about it, but it should be a prerequisite to the hard work to follow.
the understanding and dedication it takes to be on that level with someone else is incredibly impressive and valuable
but I chose to surround myself with people and circumstances that help me maintain a healthy outlook on #thehumancondition. So much of our experience is contingent upon who and what we surround ourselves with.