Kyle Woodruff's Blog: TheDevoutHumorist - Posts Tagged "taoism"
TDH #1
when you follow the Way be one with the Way
when you succeed be one with success
when you fail be one with failure
be one with success
for the Way succeeds too
be one with failure
for the Way fails too
Tao Te Ching - Verse 23
(translated by Red Pine)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I post this while I have zero readers, but I’ll post this as if I have a million readers, for those are two steps down the same path.
I begin this journey with Taoism because it was the first religion that spoke to me, with its puzzling word play that could mean everything and nothing at the same time.
Because I was raised without any religious background, I’ve been able to search for meaning and answers in all religions without bias. So far I’ve dabbled, but I’ve reached a point where I plan to take my studies more seriously.
This will be a collection of gems I come across as I strive to learn these ancient philosophies. Along with them, I’ll include my thoughts and personal applications. Hope you enjoy.
when you succeed be one with success
when you fail be one with failure
be one with success
for the Way succeeds too
be one with failure
for the Way fails too
Tao Te Ching - Verse 23
(translated by Red Pine)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I post this while I have zero readers, but I’ll post this as if I have a million readers, for those are two steps down the same path.
I begin this journey with Taoism because it was the first religion that spoke to me, with its puzzling word play that could mean everything and nothing at the same time.
Because I was raised without any religious background, I’ve been able to search for meaning and answers in all religions without bias. So far I’ve dabbled, but I’ve reached a point where I plan to take my studies more seriously.
This will be a collection of gems I come across as I strive to learn these ancient philosophies. Along with them, I’ll include my thoughts and personal applications. Hope you enjoy.
TDH #8
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 2
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This verse goes on to say things akin to:
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
High and low rest upon each other
Front and back follow one another.
In other words, it outlines examples of things that seemingly contrast, but cannot exist without one another.
What I like about Taoism, is that it outlines the nature of the world in which we live, so that we can move forth with a better understanding.
It doesn’t say this is right and that is wrong, because I said so. Rather, it encourages us to leave bias and opinions behind in order to view the world objectively, and not become ever swayed by feelings and emotions.
It doesn’t ask for money or material things, because that’s how you worship. Rather, it encourages you to abandon attachment to the material in order to better understand the immaterial.
It doesn’t tell you to do this or believe in that, or else. Rather, it shows the best course of action to live a virtuous life in tune with the natural flow of The Universe.
Or as Sung Ch’ang-Hsing says, “Those who practice the Way put an end to distinctions, get rid of name and form, and make of themselves a home for the Way and Virtue.”
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 2
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This verse goes on to say things akin to:
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
High and low rest upon each other
Front and back follow one another.
In other words, it outlines examples of things that seemingly contrast, but cannot exist without one another.
What I like about Taoism, is that it outlines the nature of the world in which we live, so that we can move forth with a better understanding.
It doesn’t say this is right and that is wrong, because I said so. Rather, it encourages us to leave bias and opinions behind in order to view the world objectively, and not become ever swayed by feelings and emotions.
It doesn’t ask for money or material things, because that’s how you worship. Rather, it encourages you to abandon attachment to the material in order to better understand the immaterial.
It doesn’t tell you to do this or believe in that, or else. Rather, it shows the best course of action to live a virtuous life in tune with the natural flow of The Universe.
Or as Sung Ch’ang-Hsing says, “Those who practice the Way put an end to distinctions, get rid of name and form, and make of themselves a home for the Way and Virtue.”
TDH #15
The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead.
He is detached, thus at one with all.
Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 7
(Translated by Gia-Fu Feng)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By putting others first, by detaching yourself from all things (or, to build on yesterday’s post, by seeing yourself in others and others in yourself), you can become one with all. That’s easier said than done, of course. Giving no thought to self is a biological obstacle ingrained in your DNA. The ego is an unconscious survival mechanism concerned with self-preservation. To consciously overcome that takes practice and effort.
One way I try to employ this is by listening. I’ve found most people I come across just want to talk about themselves. Very few are skilled in the art of dialogue. One of my pet peeves is when people plow over you in a conversation they’re already dominating in order to say more about themselves. I can’t help but wonder what’s going on in their head, and wonder if I were to replace myself with a garbage can with my face on it if they’d even notice. Unfortunately I rarely carry a lifesize photo of my face around, so instead I just end up listening. Because what is the alternative: Talking over them as they’re talking over me? I’d rather go with the natural flow of things.
I don’t need to talk anyway; I already know what I have to say. But by listening I might be able to learn something, or at least get a chance to observe human nature. And, as the beginning of this verse translates to, “Heaven and Earth are eternal. Why are they eternal? They don’t live for themselves, thus they are present for all beings.” So maybe these people need someone to be present for them, like Heaven and Earth are present for me.
(That said, my favorite is when at some point they ask something like, “You don’t really say much, do you?” At which point I’m tempted to blurt out, “That’s because you’re a fucking BULLDOZER!” But I don’t. I just shake my head in agreement because I know another wave of monologue will wash over me soon.)
He is detached, thus at one with all.
Through selfless action, he attains fulfillment.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 7
(Translated by Gia-Fu Feng)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By putting others first, by detaching yourself from all things (or, to build on yesterday’s post, by seeing yourself in others and others in yourself), you can become one with all. That’s easier said than done, of course. Giving no thought to self is a biological obstacle ingrained in your DNA. The ego is an unconscious survival mechanism concerned with self-preservation. To consciously overcome that takes practice and effort.
One way I try to employ this is by listening. I’ve found most people I come across just want to talk about themselves. Very few are skilled in the art of dialogue. One of my pet peeves is when people plow over you in a conversation they’re already dominating in order to say more about themselves. I can’t help but wonder what’s going on in their head, and wonder if I were to replace myself with a garbage can with my face on it if they’d even notice. Unfortunately I rarely carry a lifesize photo of my face around, so instead I just end up listening. Because what is the alternative: Talking over them as they’re talking over me? I’d rather go with the natural flow of things.
I don’t need to talk anyway; I already know what I have to say. But by listening I might be able to learn something, or at least get a chance to observe human nature. And, as the beginning of this verse translates to, “Heaven and Earth are eternal. Why are they eternal? They don’t live for themselves, thus they are present for all beings.” So maybe these people need someone to be present for them, like Heaven and Earth are present for me.
(That said, my favorite is when at some point they ask something like, “You don’t really say much, do you?” At which point I’m tempted to blurt out, “That’s because you’re a fucking BULLDOZER!” But I don’t. I just shake my head in agreement because I know another wave of monologue will wash over me soon.)
TDH #22
The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to ten thousand things and doesn’t strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 8
(Translated by Gia Fu-Feng)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“May I help you?”
This is how the short-tempered receptionist at the nearest dental office answered the phone when I called to set up an appointment. When I asked how she was doing today, there was a pause and a sigh before she said more impatiently, “MAY I HELP YOU?”
When I asked how soon I could get in, she told me she could pencil me in in about three months.
“Let me get back to you.” Click.
I called a second office, less conveniently located twenty minutes away. An angel was the receptionist there. They could even see me today.
During pleasant conversation amidst the hooks being jabbed into my gums, the hygienist told me she’d read the entire Bible on her own by the age of fourteen. Hashtag motivating (although I question how much rape and incest and murder a young gal should be exposed to at that age).
Upon final inspection the doctor said, “Boy you’re a boring patient. Nancy, can you write this guy a script to start abusing more candy so we can get some real work out of him?” He also had a killer mustache. I doubt the doctor at the first office had a killer mustache.
At first I questioned why the more convenient location couldn’t see me sooner. From this I learned the most convenient option may not always be the best option.
Note to self: Stop questioning The Universe and flow with life like water.
Water gives life to ten thousand things and doesn’t strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 8
(Translated by Gia Fu-Feng)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“May I help you?”
This is how the short-tempered receptionist at the nearest dental office answered the phone when I called to set up an appointment. When I asked how she was doing today, there was a pause and a sigh before she said more impatiently, “MAY I HELP YOU?”
When I asked how soon I could get in, she told me she could pencil me in in about three months.
“Let me get back to you.” Click.
I called a second office, less conveniently located twenty minutes away. An angel was the receptionist there. They could even see me today.
During pleasant conversation amidst the hooks being jabbed into my gums, the hygienist told me she’d read the entire Bible on her own by the age of fourteen. Hashtag motivating (although I question how much rape and incest and murder a young gal should be exposed to at that age).
Upon final inspection the doctor said, “Boy you’re a boring patient. Nancy, can you write this guy a script to start abusing more candy so we can get some real work out of him?” He also had a killer mustache. I doubt the doctor at the first office had a killer mustache.
At first I questioned why the more convenient location couldn’t see me sooner. From this I learned the most convenient option may not always be the best option.
Note to self: Stop questioning The Universe and flow with life like water.
TDH #29
The best are like water,
bringing help to all without competing.
Choosing what others avoid,
they thus approach the Tao.
The Tao Te Ching - Verse 8
(Translated by Red Pine)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I did a thing: I bought a surfboard.
I just bought one (used of course, I’m not a madman). But it didn’t even occur to me until afterward that maybe I should rent one first, or take a lesson to see if I might like it. Those thoughts didn’t sink in until after it was running the length of my SUV, partially blocking the view out my window on the way to the beach, without checking to see if it was even high tide.
It wasn’t. But I went in and floated around like a noob for a while anyway. That is, after the lifeguard blew his whistle at me saying I could only surf on the other side of the pier. (How embarrassing.)
It felt a bit like wrestling an alligator at first. (As far as I know, wrestling alligators isn’t a prerequisite for surfing, but as someone who’s never taken lessons, don’t take my word for it.)
I also felt like an idiot foundering around on a surfboard at low tide in front of a bunch of random people. I kept wondering, “What is everyone thinking about me right now?” Then I realized they’re not, that nobody cares. And if they were, it was probably something along the lines of, “Huh. There’s a guy with a surfboard.” Or even if they were thinking, “Look at that idiot floundering about on a surfboard at low tide,” who cares.
The timing in life for impulsively floundering around on a surfboard at low tide just felt right, ya know?
The timing didn’t feel so right when I was living in Colorado, ya know?
Then people would’ve been justified in thinking, “What is this idiot doing floundering about on a surfboard,” ya know?
After that thought popped into my head, I felt a little less foolish. I felt a little more like a random guy at the beach struggling on a surfboard, because that’s where us random guys with surfboards go:
To the beach.
To struggle.
To fight the good fight.
To commit ourselves to impulse buys that should’ve been rentals.
To choose failing in front of strangers like others might avoid.
To willingly drip down toward the lowest of places.
To approach the Tao with the yielding nature of water.
Ya know?
bringing help to all without competing.
Choosing what others avoid,
they thus approach the Tao.
The Tao Te Ching - Verse 8
(Translated by Red Pine)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I did a thing: I bought a surfboard.
I just bought one (used of course, I’m not a madman). But it didn’t even occur to me until afterward that maybe I should rent one first, or take a lesson to see if I might like it. Those thoughts didn’t sink in until after it was running the length of my SUV, partially blocking the view out my window on the way to the beach, without checking to see if it was even high tide.
It wasn’t. But I went in and floated around like a noob for a while anyway. That is, after the lifeguard blew his whistle at me saying I could only surf on the other side of the pier. (How embarrassing.)
It felt a bit like wrestling an alligator at first. (As far as I know, wrestling alligators isn’t a prerequisite for surfing, but as someone who’s never taken lessons, don’t take my word for it.)
I also felt like an idiot foundering around on a surfboard at low tide in front of a bunch of random people. I kept wondering, “What is everyone thinking about me right now?” Then I realized they’re not, that nobody cares. And if they were, it was probably something along the lines of, “Huh. There’s a guy with a surfboard.” Or even if they were thinking, “Look at that idiot floundering about on a surfboard at low tide,” who cares.
The timing in life for impulsively floundering around on a surfboard at low tide just felt right, ya know?
The timing didn’t feel so right when I was living in Colorado, ya know?
Then people would’ve been justified in thinking, “What is this idiot doing floundering about on a surfboard,” ya know?
After that thought popped into my head, I felt a little less foolish. I felt a little more like a random guy at the beach struggling on a surfboard, because that’s where us random guys with surfboards go:
To the beach.
To struggle.
To fight the good fight.
To commit ourselves to impulse buys that should’ve been rentals.
To choose failing in front of strangers like others might avoid.
To willingly drip down toward the lowest of places.
To approach the Tao with the yielding nature of water.
Ya know?
TDH #37
The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 12
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been waking up in time to make it to the beach for sunrise and the skies have been nothing short of gorgeous paintings. This morning I paddled out on the surfboard and simply floating offshore as the sun came over the horizon made me feel closer to this phenomenon than I’ve ever been before. The thought, “Why haven’t I been doing this all my life?” came to mind. Soon after that, I rode my first legitimate wave and was hooked on the lifestyle.
I lived in South Florida eight years prior and I felt like this place chewed me up and spat me out after a couple years. I was apprehensive to return, but opportunity knocked and my inner vision seemed to be calling me back, so I trusted the intuition. No regrets whatsoever.
Although the friends I thought I had here seemed to disappear, I let go of the attachment to my expectations and new friends have come into the picture since then. I’m loving where I live more and more as the days go by, and, to quote Mitchell’s last line here, I try to keep my heart as open as the sky.
I attribute much of my shift in attitude and expectations to studying religions like Taoism. Ancient wisdom like, “Observe the world but trust your inner vision,” will never expire.
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 12
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been waking up in time to make it to the beach for sunrise and the skies have been nothing short of gorgeous paintings. This morning I paddled out on the surfboard and simply floating offshore as the sun came over the horizon made me feel closer to this phenomenon than I’ve ever been before. The thought, “Why haven’t I been doing this all my life?” came to mind. Soon after that, I rode my first legitimate wave and was hooked on the lifestyle.
I lived in South Florida eight years prior and I felt like this place chewed me up and spat me out after a couple years. I was apprehensive to return, but opportunity knocked and my inner vision seemed to be calling me back, so I trusted the intuition. No regrets whatsoever.
Although the friends I thought I had here seemed to disappear, I let go of the attachment to my expectations and new friends have come into the picture since then. I’m loving where I live more and more as the days go by, and, to quote Mitchell’s last line here, I try to keep my heart as open as the sky.
I attribute much of my shift in attitude and expectations to studying religions like Taoism. Ancient wisdom like, “Observe the world but trust your inner vision,” will never expire.
TDH #45
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 16
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been pushing myself to meet at least one new person every day. Sometimes I tell myself I’m gonna introduce myself to someone and then when the time comes I create an excuse like, “She’s too X” or, “He’s probably Y” or, “I don’t know what to say.” It’s when the opportunity slips past that I feel stupid, though.
What is the worst that could happen?
They scream, “GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!”
Doubt it (if you’re approaching with at least some semblance of normalcy, that is). The worst is probably a quick brush off, like, “I’m really busy right now” or, “I’m meeting my [friend/colleague/spouse]” or, “Mommy told me never to talk to strangers.”
The approach I’ve been using lately is as simple as can be: a smile plus, “Mind if I introduce myself?” I’m yet to get a hard ‘No,’ but even if I do, I probably didn’t want to meet that person anyway. So far everyone has been warmly receptive and one gal even told me, “It’s nice to meet someone like this. Most people are always wrapped up in their phones.”
Introduced myself to a young lady sitting by herself this morning and she mentioned coming for the sunrise with her boyfriend, but said he was off wandering around.
“Is he the jealous type?” I asked. “Should I leave?”
“He’ll probably wanna shoot you,” she said with a smile, pointing behind me.
I was relieved to turn and see a guy walking around with a camera.
They turned out to be great, we had all sorts in common. We talked about religion, meditation, psychedelics, float tanks, ice baths, acupuncture, breathing techniques, and all sorts of stuff.
One thing she said that felt relatable to the quote above was, “You can recognize who has seen God.”
Encountering other souls from the common source comes with an air of serenity, but sometimes you can miss them if you never stop to say hello. I almost didn’t introduce myself. I almost made an excuse not to. But instead a handshake sparked a solid conversation and a good reminder that wonderful people are out there waiting to meet you as well.
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 16
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve been pushing myself to meet at least one new person every day. Sometimes I tell myself I’m gonna introduce myself to someone and then when the time comes I create an excuse like, “She’s too X” or, “He’s probably Y” or, “I don’t know what to say.” It’s when the opportunity slips past that I feel stupid, though.
What is the worst that could happen?
They scream, “GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!”
Doubt it (if you’re approaching with at least some semblance of normalcy, that is). The worst is probably a quick brush off, like, “I’m really busy right now” or, “I’m meeting my [friend/colleague/spouse]” or, “Mommy told me never to talk to strangers.”
The approach I’ve been using lately is as simple as can be: a smile plus, “Mind if I introduce myself?” I’m yet to get a hard ‘No,’ but even if I do, I probably didn’t want to meet that person anyway. So far everyone has been warmly receptive and one gal even told me, “It’s nice to meet someone like this. Most people are always wrapped up in their phones.”
Introduced myself to a young lady sitting by herself this morning and she mentioned coming for the sunrise with her boyfriend, but said he was off wandering around.
“Is he the jealous type?” I asked. “Should I leave?”
“He’ll probably wanna shoot you,” she said with a smile, pointing behind me.
I was relieved to turn and see a guy walking around with a camera.
They turned out to be great, we had all sorts in common. We talked about religion, meditation, psychedelics, float tanks, ice baths, acupuncture, breathing techniques, and all sorts of stuff.
One thing she said that felt relatable to the quote above was, “You can recognize who has seen God.”
Encountering other souls from the common source comes with an air of serenity, but sometimes you can miss them if you never stop to say hello. I almost didn’t introduce myself. I almost made an excuse not to. But instead a handshake sparked a solid conversation and a good reminder that wonderful people are out there waiting to meet you as well.
TDH #53
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 9
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve taken time off from writing posts to work on a manuscript I’m finishing and there was a twinge of guilt about not posting here in that timeframe.
Of course, the whole thing was in my head because there’s no one pressuring me to write a blog or a book at all, so how silly.
But productivity has been a little devil on my shoulder whispering in my ear for as long as I can remember. Or rather, it’s the lack of productivity that causes whispers (which is both a blessing and a curse I suppose).
But when I noticed this feeling creep in I thought, “I’m not gonna be a prisoner to the blog I’m creating as a platform to release the book I’m writing by taking focus away from finishing the book itself!”
I’m not sure exactly how this ties into the quote above (other than the fact that they both had the word “prisoner”) because the person’s approval I’m caring about here is a ghost in my own subconscious, not a physical being.
But perhaps those ghostly little devils on our shoulders are the ones causing us to fill our bowl until it spills, to sharpen our knives until they’re blunt, to chase whatever makes our hearts clench.
Anyway, it led me to question what other areas of my life where I’m a prisoner to my own expectations.
Can you think of any in yours?
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 9
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve taken time off from writing posts to work on a manuscript I’m finishing and there was a twinge of guilt about not posting here in that timeframe.
Of course, the whole thing was in my head because there’s no one pressuring me to write a blog or a book at all, so how silly.
But productivity has been a little devil on my shoulder whispering in my ear for as long as I can remember. Or rather, it’s the lack of productivity that causes whispers (which is both a blessing and a curse I suppose).
But when I noticed this feeling creep in I thought, “I’m not gonna be a prisoner to the blog I’m creating as a platform to release the book I’m writing by taking focus away from finishing the book itself!”
I’m not sure exactly how this ties into the quote above (other than the fact that they both had the word “prisoner”) because the person’s approval I’m caring about here is a ghost in my own subconscious, not a physical being.
But perhaps those ghostly little devils on our shoulders are the ones causing us to fill our bowl until it spills, to sharpen our knives until they’re blunt, to chase whatever makes our hearts clench.
Anyway, it led me to question what other areas of my life where I’m a prisoner to my own expectations.
Can you think of any in yours?
TDH #61
Just realize where you come from:
This is the essence of wisdom.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 14
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was hanging out with some children yesterday. (Well, it wasn’t just me and some children, that’d be weird. It was a Thanksgiving gathering, mind you. Point is) I couldn’t help but notice the level of joy that exists in kids around the age of five. Pure giggling, non-stop, over the most insignificant things.
I can’t remember the last time I experienced that much joy at seemingly nothing. I can’t even remember the last time I experienced that much joy at SOMEthing, despite any amount of sugar I’ve consumed.
At what age does that stop, I wonder? When does life squeeze it out of you with trauma and bills and responsibilities?
Is it psychological, where life experience puts things in perspective?
Or is it chemical, where aging doesn’t trigger the same dopamine release in our brains?
Are the years you barely remember really the most joy-filled years of your life?
It seems sad, but then again, life might be strange if spinning around on the floor and screaming in ecstasy over games of tag tickled us the same way as adults as it did as children. Not to mention the tears that come moments later when repeating chants of “I want a lollipop!” yield no results.
Maybe we just have to take whatever little sparks of joy that come as we get older.
Excuse me while gorge myself on delicious leftovers and watch World Cup goals get scored.
This is the essence of wisdom.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 14
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was hanging out with some children yesterday. (Well, it wasn’t just me and some children, that’d be weird. It was a Thanksgiving gathering, mind you. Point is) I couldn’t help but notice the level of joy that exists in kids around the age of five. Pure giggling, non-stop, over the most insignificant things.
I can’t remember the last time I experienced that much joy at seemingly nothing. I can’t even remember the last time I experienced that much joy at SOMEthing, despite any amount of sugar I’ve consumed.
At what age does that stop, I wonder? When does life squeeze it out of you with trauma and bills and responsibilities?
Is it psychological, where life experience puts things in perspective?
Or is it chemical, where aging doesn’t trigger the same dopamine release in our brains?
Are the years you barely remember really the most joy-filled years of your life?
It seems sad, but then again, life might be strange if spinning around on the floor and screaming in ecstasy over games of tag tickled us the same way as adults as it did as children. Not to mention the tears that come moments later when repeating chants of “I want a lollipop!” yield no results.
Maybe we just have to take whatever little sparks of joy that come as we get older.
Excuse me while gorge myself on delicious leftovers and watch World Cup goals get scored.
TDH #69
A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 27
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you’d expect any late-night Miami Uber driver to collect, this one shared stories that could only emerge from such a city. Like the man who casually revealed a baggy of cocaine for a quick snort on the highway. Or the teen who pulled a knife on her mother over a squabble about a boyfriend. Or the gentleman who drunkenly punched his wife in the face over something trivial.
In the midst of these joyful taxi tales, he laughed to interject the conversation with this:
“I used to work at this country club and they hired a former Army sniper to shoot the iguanas! Can you believe that?”
As unbelievable as an iguana sniper may be, I was so thrown off by the transition that I had no response but blinking. I’m not sure if he just needed to get that off his chest or what, but he got back on track as quickly as he got off it, telling me a story about a couple he’d picked up who’d totaled a rental car swerving into a barrier on the highway. As any rational person might, he assumed they were in need of a lift to the rental car HQ, or perhaps the police station, or maybe even a hospital. But instead it turned out the drop off location was a local 24/7 bar that lived up to its reputation at 6am on a Sunday.
In his heavy, Turkish accent he told me, “Night time is not the right time.”
We laughed at the summary of his highlight reel, then an awkward pause hung in the air as we approached my terminal. Deadpan, I filled it with this: “You don’t mind if I do some heroin before my flight, do you?”
The tension grew as he stared ahead, calculating whether or not I was joking. And because I love messing with people I’ll never see again, I let out a heavy sigh and said, “I’ll take that as a no.”
What? I gave him a nice tip.
And I know: This has little to do with the quote above other than the fact I was traveling. Sue me. But I thought it was funny and perhaps there’s a lesson about planning to be cautious during travel if you are intent on arriving. You never know if someone’s on drugs, has a knife, or is an ex-military iguana sniper.
Stay safe out there.
and is not intent upon arriving.
Tao Te Ching - Verse 27
(Translated by Stephen Mitchell)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you’d expect any late-night Miami Uber driver to collect, this one shared stories that could only emerge from such a city. Like the man who casually revealed a baggy of cocaine for a quick snort on the highway. Or the teen who pulled a knife on her mother over a squabble about a boyfriend. Or the gentleman who drunkenly punched his wife in the face over something trivial.
In the midst of these joyful taxi tales, he laughed to interject the conversation with this:
“I used to work at this country club and they hired a former Army sniper to shoot the iguanas! Can you believe that?”
As unbelievable as an iguana sniper may be, I was so thrown off by the transition that I had no response but blinking. I’m not sure if he just needed to get that off his chest or what, but he got back on track as quickly as he got off it, telling me a story about a couple he’d picked up who’d totaled a rental car swerving into a barrier on the highway. As any rational person might, he assumed they were in need of a lift to the rental car HQ, or perhaps the police station, or maybe even a hospital. But instead it turned out the drop off location was a local 24/7 bar that lived up to its reputation at 6am on a Sunday.
In his heavy, Turkish accent he told me, “Night time is not the right time.”
We laughed at the summary of his highlight reel, then an awkward pause hung in the air as we approached my terminal. Deadpan, I filled it with this: “You don’t mind if I do some heroin before my flight, do you?”
The tension grew as he stared ahead, calculating whether or not I was joking. And because I love messing with people I’ll never see again, I let out a heavy sigh and said, “I’ll take that as a no.”
What? I gave him a nice tip.
And I know: This has little to do with the quote above other than the fact I was traveling. Sue me. But I thought it was funny and perhaps there’s a lesson about planning to be cautious during travel if you are intent on arriving. You never know if someone’s on drugs, has a knife, or is an ex-military iguana sniper.
Stay safe out there.
TheDevoutHumorist
Ancient wisdom with a modern application (and an often humorist twist)
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