Solitude is as needful to the imagination as society is wholesome for the character.

~ James Russel Lowell

Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.

~Henry David Thoreau

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wisdom

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

relationships, etc.

Most can agree that life is difficult and beautiful because of our constant changing reality. People come and go, are born and die. This is the focus of this writing.

I used to be concerned of women and my relationship with them for immature and lustful reasons. And, although lust is still a part of my mind's "vocabulary," the action is no longer there. I am sure to not fuck up the engagement I am currnetly in. Anyway, that's not the point. The problem I face is the same problem that I have with death. That is to say, the death of a relationship...

There are many friends I have had, or at least thought I'd had, that are no longer close friends. They are but mere aquaintances these days, which is the object of my sadness. Some I used to spend many nights with, talking about what the future could hold for us, together as "boys for life," and others were just simply spent being childlike and reminiscing over Disney movies via singing The Little Mermaid. I've related these memories to death for the obvious reason that the memories are gone forever, yes, but what is the difference between a severed relationship with these people and their actual death. The sad fact is, nothing. Things change and people grow apart, but the saddest thing about missing a relationship is when the people are still around. Of course we are to cherish the newfound friends and loved ones, but when it comes to reconnecting with the past, there are only a select few that can help fill the void. So, to all those peoples in the past that I've made fond memories with, I wish to illuminate my sorrow. Hopefully, in due time, we can all reconnect and reflect on the old ones and/or, preferably, make new ones.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever...
~ Gandhi

An ode to memories.

I was recently called a packrat by my significant other and was wrestling with an explanation of how I am not. I came to find that I am sort of a packrat, but I like to call it "preserving the past." I store papers, notes (from myself and others), etc...

I feel as though if I didn't keep these things that when I am a 65 year old man that is questioning his value in the world, approaching death, that I could have reminders of the past in various forms (digital, tangible, etc.).

After reflecting on this, I found a potential "New Year's Resolution." I feel if I were to focus on the present while embracing the future, and cherish the past in moderation, I should feel more optimistic. Not to say that I'm grounded in pessimism, but if the mind is stuck trying to preserve ALL of the past's memories then one will suffer. It is impossible not to be affected by suffering when reflecting on cherished memories of the past because anything, any moment, anyone that you can't revisit will only bring about sadness.

Since everything is impermanent, we must enjoy life as it flows and reflect on the past in moderation. The future will be bright and the past is already missed, but right now is the only place we can be, therefore it is what we should pay the most attention to. Obviously this is easy to say and hard to practice. That is why it is this year's resolution...