WiseDumbTime

I am very thankful for Honest Abe. Abraham Lincoln was a simple and self-educated man from the midwest. He demonstrated an ideal and true potential of human development when you apply yourself positively and productively. His level of self-awareness and pursuit of the greater good are nearly unparalleled in recent times. In a world where disinformation and deceit run deep, honesty is a hill to proudly stand on and defend devoutly with dedication and determination. Proclaim your truth from that position.

I think ancient Stoics would have admired Abraham like I do. He was a captivating orator as well as a champion wrestler. He demonstrated mental, physical, and spiritual class and acumen with his many prowesses. I learned last night from a friend that Abe allegedly invented or popularized the choke slam move used in many wrestling matches today. He is also the only US President to hold a US patent. Abraham Lincoln is honestly a great role model. No wonder many polls and surveys rank him as one of the greatest presidents of all time. His accomplishments and track record are illustriously impressive.

If you want to connect with more of the spirit world, then take a solemn walk around the cemetery in Gettysburg. It is the site where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. It shows how something good can still come from something so terrible and nightmarish. Feeling those two sides was overwhelming for me as I walked the grounds one late afternoon earlier this year. One of the worst battles on American soil in recent history, yet it yielded one of the greatest movements towards equity and unity for all.

Emancipation is a true liberation for Americans.

Honest equity and freedom should be global givens.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

Does your life spark joy? Can you see the beauty in all of the little things around you? I am very thankful for Marie Kondo. She has seen the beauty in organized and purposeful placements for the majority of her life. She also recognizes how her sense of beauty has changed over the years. Beauty is not static. It ebbs and flows; it blooms and grows; it is fast and slow. Do not cling to it. Let it come and go. Channel your inner Marie Kondo.

Marie Kondo acknowledges her affinity for feeling feng shui in a place from an early age, a rare ability to feel the energy movement in a location. She can quietly observe if a space is balanced and flowing or stifled and stagnant. She had a fainting spell when she was younger as well. Her epiphany upon recovering consciousness was to focus less on only identifying what all around her can be thrown away. Instead, she learned to appreciate seeing the beauty in everything that stays. If you do not see the beauty in something, then why are you still holding onto it? Why do you cling to things that do not shine and brighten your being with glowing presence? If you are not actively seeing beauty, then what all are you intaking, something that does not help or, worse, possibly harms you?

When have you last slowed down to soak in your surroundings? How habituated have you become to existing art, decorations, and pictures that adorn your abode? Here is an interesting idea: take things down if you have become accustomed to them to the point that you no longer even notice them. I do not recommend replacing existing stuff with simply more stuff. No, I sugjest leaning into the emptiness. Find beauty in nothing.

Then, when you put that object back on display again, whether it be on a table or a wall, you can truly appreciate its value and see it for all of its beauty again. We often become so blind to beauty that my heart hurts even writing this sentence. That is how deeply this sad truth pains me at my beautiful core. Various addictions, cravings, and desires override our ability to simply sit back, observe, and appreciate all the awe that surrounds us on a regular basis. Bask in the natural beauty. This morning, I saw a solar halo during my drive to work. It was a stunningly beautiful rainbow encircling the sun through icy clouds. How many other commuters missed such a mesmerizing, natural sight because it was “just another day”, repeating a morning drive? Each moment is beautiful if you see it that way.

You can begin seeing beauty if you adjust and expand your mindset. It is not always easy, but it is worth it. You can behold beautiful surroundings if you remember how to look at everything with fresh, unfiltered eyes. I sugjest giving it a try. I hope you spark more joy.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

Authenticity does not always demand verbosity. I am thankful for yet another Stoic philosopher, Paconius Agrippinus. As I understand it, he was a man who excelled at metaphorically marching to the beat of his own drum. It did not matter if others around him were moving to a different tune. He knew what mattered most to him, and he owned his authenticity. He proudly stood out as a bright spot amid much plainness and blending.

Agrippinus lived during the time of a leader who was basically the opposite of Marcus Aurelius. Nero has a terrible track record as emperor. Despite this common knowledge, he still ignored invites to palace parties, and he accepted exile over forceful acquiescence. In a way, instead of falsely and unjustly bending the knee, Agrippinus resisted with glee.

To state the obvious in case the bluntness is necessary, this lesson is even applicable in present day. Do we give into fear like current administrations and leaderships are trying to monger? Or, do we keep our focus on our lane, doing the best we can, while also doing our best to ignore anything outside of our control? If it affects us down the road, then we will act accordingly and authentically then. Until then, we can still live our best life. We can choose to color it however we like or feel is best as a personal choice as well as a gesture of dissent against those who wish to see us suffer in solid and soiled silence.

Do you silence yourself? Have you heard or felt a call to do more, to fully own your best life? If you are ignoring your own authenticity, then are you surprised that you may feel off or broken? I believe that authenticity leads to wholeness. Do you want to be a fragment of your true self, or do you want to step into your entire breadth?

Do not let others silence your best, and please do not silence it yourself. Sit with yourself in silence for some time, reflecting on this sugjestion. How can you begin to channel and embrace more of your best and true authenticity? How can you make Agrippinus and countless others proud of how you shape your lane similarly? Not identically, but proportionally perfect. Authenticity comes in many shapes and sizes. Find your true shape. Identify your best size. Please, do not sacrifice or compromise but thrive.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

I am thankful for many of the monks out there in the world; they prove that it is possible to put aside the desire for material and physical gains and possessions. They can devote and dedicate their life and their work to a higher purpose, defining and finding a sense of self-worth that transcends earthly ideas and ideals. They shore up their worth internally.

Think about how far back the role of monks go in the history of humanity. Almost 2,000 years. In this modern day and age, I do not think that such a practice is sustainable for everyone, at least anytime soon if ever. However, we can still learn plenty from monks. We can be thankful for the lessons that they teach and the guidance that they give. Ponder upon what drew them to such a lifestyle and practice. I have ideas as well as answers in some specific cases, and they run the range of possibilities. That is also a beauty of self-worth; there is no one-size-fits-all answer for it. Which fits you best, though? That is what matters. Feel your best; feel worthwhile. Then, share it with others, and help them when and where you can please. I believe that will be a worthy path.

Many monks excel at setting aside their selves, and this idea will not make sense to many currently. I think it feels foreign and scary to most people. I did not understand it as easily in the past as I do now. It is not easy to set aside ego, but it is worth it. We can really begin to see our full and true worth when we begin to examine our unsheathed self.

Are you willing to begin some self-examination?

What if it will stop you from more damnation?

You do not need to run off and join a monastery.

Embrace more peace and ignore anything eerie.

You can learn from them while in your own home.

That is one worth of YouTube, not some old tome.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

I am thankful for the rap god among many mere mortals. Whether a mockingbird or the monster, Eminem has established himself as a confident mainstay within the realm of rap music. To gauge your own confidence, I sugjest asking yourself, “if you had one shot or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted, one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?” You can still be confident in yourself even if your palms are sweaty, your knees are weak, and your arms are heavy. It shows that you care about what you do.

At the same time, please do not be afraid to ask for help. After all, we all may cry out on occasion, “somebody save me.” A lot of confidence is also required whenever you choose to be vulnerable and authentic. Marshall Mathers III has been his mostly-unapologetic and true self across the decades. We have watched him hone and master his craft each and every time. He has confidently and courageously persevered through some very dark and troubling times in his past. He is a composed and compelling rapper. Why else does he have the record for most words in a hit single? Em rises to the challenges, confidently.

Think about the lack of precedence here. He broke into a space that has been historically dominated by black artists. Listen to the interviews by Dr. Dre, showing how impressed and surprised he was by Eminem. One person’s confidence shored up another’s. He not only stayed in the rap scene; Eminem began to lead and redefine the genre repeatedly.

If you are confident, then you do not need to love the way you lie. Owning your truth creates more self-confidence; then, this way, you do not have a need for any magic tricks like Houdini. Emotions will come and go each and every day. They are all temporary. Confidence can be a constant if you continue to cultivate it courageously. Do not let it blind you, but believe in yourself please. As for the real Slim Shady, I am very thankful that he confidently stood up. He never gave up on his childhood dream. Look at him now.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

I wish I could share a day with Carl Jung. Even though we sadly do not have any days of life overlapping, very few people make me feel as seen or heard as this man does. To be as brilliant and accepted as he was in the scientific world, paving the way for modern psychology, he also embraced his eccentricities enthusiastically. He did not shy away from creating new concepts or exploring knowledge from any corner or community. When he persisted through periods of extreme stress, wondering if his limits were breaking at points in his life, he pushed through and pieced himself back together.

Carl Jung’s fortitude could go to toe-to-toe with pretty much anything and anyone. We have Carl to thank for thinking up two of my absolute favorite terms:

individuation and synchronicity

Individuation – the idea that we each can and should become our best self. We are not living here for the purpose of blending or fitting into a common mold. No, we should each explore and embellish our individual identities. As an exquisite alchemical metaphor, Carl alluded to impure souls as lead and perfected souls as gold. I wonder how many golden souls exist. Have you considered the color of your character?

Synchronicity – when you see enough things interconnect and interrelate, there comes a point where I think you are simply foolish if you keep ignoring the universe as it gently and silently shouts for your mindful presence. As I understand it, that relates to how the scenario played out between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud when they fell out. They were close colleagues and friends for quite some time, but there came a point when Carl continued on with his inner truths; Sigmund blindly and belligerently refused to consider.

Carl Jung was so strong in his resolve that he carried his field of study forward all by himself. I am so very thankful for his fortified fortitude. It forecasts the powerful potential we all possess. Sometimes it is those nearest and dearest to us that can test and forge our finest fortitude. It can be lonely paving our own path, but it can also be very fulfilling.

Another of my favorite people who I will more than likely write about in the future is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. In his younger and poorer years, he curiously attended a free lecture about the trauma of Europeans post-WWII. Who was his lecturer? Carl Jung.

Carl’s fortitude is so strong that you can watch an interview with him later in life where the interviewer asks him if he still believes in God. He answers no because he knows. He does not need to believe when he already knows that God is real. Some people will scoff at this like Sigmund did, and that is each person’s choice within their lane. How well does that decision sit with you, though, at your core? Will you stop and listen long enough?

How are you doing as of late? Are you distracted and scattered by this and that? Do you want to continue maintaining an unwhole personality, or do you want to strengthen and solidify your singular self? It requires steadfast fortitude to fully accept and integrate your entire being. Only then can you best proceed, acknowledging all parts while not acting on it all. Providing progress in the best, healthy way for yourself and all others.

In closing, I also appreciate how thorough and meticulous Carl was with leaving behind plenty of his written works. I will be working through a lot of his ideas slowly but surely for many more years. What will you work through to fine-tune your fortitude?

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

I can easily temper the complexity of this post because you can find plenty of information about this famous figure elsewhere. With that said, whenever I consider temperance, Marcus Aurelius often jumps to mind. Hand-selected to assume one of the most powerful positions on the planet at his time, he sets a golden standard for us all to live by.

As emperor of the Roman Empire for years, this monumental man could have whatever he wanted. Yet, what did he focus on? The truly valuable and intangible aspects of life. Marcus delighted simply in waking up each morning. Do you? He did not get weighed down in material wealth and accumulations. He focused on health and acted as an ideal example for all of us to strive towards. To be given the possibility of everything and not change who you are at your core is one of the greatest accomplishments I can possibly imagine. To continually strive each day towards bettering yourself instead of resting on your plentiful laurels. To leave behind a map that we can all read and follow if we so choose to lead a life with a similar degree of temperance. Would you rather tame your lane or fall victim to all that surrounds it, becoming enslaved by the next ad, fad, or vice?

I want you to have it all, but will you still stay true to the best version of you if and when you do? Meditations is one of my favorite books. It essentially consists of many entries from his time spent journaling and reflecting on his days. While I am still working my way through it slowly when I want more wisdom to digest, I love that we have the intuitive reflections of someone so prominent and temperate preserved for posterity. Marcus never intended for his thoughts to be visible to the public, yet we are so lucky and fortunate to have such wisdom available. I think it would be dumb to ignore his informative insights.

Temperance is not about being a tough person. Temperance is about being your best self because you know it to be what is best for all. Marcus openly discusses crying out of empathy for himself and others on multiple occasions. He tuned into and turned towards his emotions instead of tuning them out and turning his back on them. The great Roman emperor channeled each feeling as it arose in order to move on to each eventual event with as even of a temper as humanly possible. Bottling up your emotions is not healthy, and it does not produce a temperate climate for you or those around you. Make yourself internally wealthy. When he reflected on what he learned and valued from those who helped him grow into the shining beacon of justice that we now admire, speaking about his adoptive father, Marcus wrote “you could have said of Antoninus, as they say, of Socrates, that he knew how to enjoy and abstain from things, that most people find it hard to abstain from, and all too easy to enjoy.” We, too, can learn how to live our best lives if we begin to cultivate and grow our own temperance. Will you give it a try?

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

On a recent plane ride home, the in-seat entertainment screens were acting up some intermittently. I was patient with the staff as they reset systems multiple times, trying to fix the root cause. Regardless, for some odd and unexplained reason, I could not watch certain options that were contained within their current cinematic catalogue. Interestingly enough, though, I was able to view some of the media there as I tried to pick and choose. I patiently expanded my scope of considerations¹ and enjoyed a few new discoveries that I may not have seen otherwise. Technology can be so finicky. I can fight it in a frustrated way, or I can patiently flow with it as best as I and it can. Long story short, I am very thankful for Oliver White as a result of being able to watch “A Thousand Casts.”

The difficulties that Oliver has already endured during his existence are simply surreal and astounding in my opinion. I am quite thankful for his patience and perseverance. Who knows if he always felt calm, cool, and collected in each of the moments, but I certainly appreciated and valued his tone and pace as he patiently presented on his past problems. 

When he was younger, Oliver broke his lower back in addition to other bones in a skiing accident. As he patiently waited, allowing his body to slowly recover, he discovered fly fishing, an activity that has transformed his life path. It allowed him to meet a Wall Street executive during a guided fishing expedition that he offered in South America. This exec was so impressed by Oliver that a job was offered. Talk about being a fish out of water when he moved to the Big Apple and joined a hedge fund. He patiently waited amidst the concrete jungle of NYC and the dog-eat-dog world of Wall Street. Oliver knew his true calling still existed out in nature, though. He patiently progressed on his life path, receiving support from that same exec who backed him. While creating his next passion project, he ran into a nightmare scenario. Down in the Caribbean, Oliver was kidnapped from his own property and hogtied for money in the back of his own vehicle. Throughout this one wild ride, he patiently endured multiple beatings, being hung in a noose, and an attempt at trapping him in his own truck as it was set aflame. In one event, he patiently endured how many nearly-unspeakable misfortunes? Nevertheless, he prevailed, and he is still with us. He has since settled back in the States and begun to establish a family.

When his son was born, though, this new baby spent his first month in the NICU. Talk about really trying a parent’s patience. All those devices and all those sounds when you are completely out of your element. Seeing the two together in the video was one of the cutest things ever. You can tell he can be a great dad. Patience can prove your power. Patience will show your potential and what all is truly possible if you let time tell.

I do not know much about fishing, let alone fly fishing, but it sounds like Oliver obtained a golden opportunity to fly to Bhutan and spend days chasing after golden mahseer. I also do not yet know that much about many fish, but the golden mahseer appear to be one of the rarest and most highly revered creatures of the sea, at least in that region of the world. Oliver did not travel across the world to collect a trophy for a wall. He caught one after days of practiced patience, he cherished the moment while celebrating it with his current companions, and then he let the beautiful being return to its life in the water.

It strikes a very different tone than that dentist from Minnesota and his horrific act that is now jumping to mind from years ago. Countless other examples litter the past. Patiently build beautiful moments and make memories that will last a lifetime. We do not need to collect more stuff that will simply collect more dust. If we are patient and prolong our lives well enough, well, we will be enough dust in the end anyway. Anyway, keep your ledger clear and pure like Oliver White. Patience can help you stay clean and pristine.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

1. A sugjestion: are you expanding or contracting your scope of considerations? ↩︎

I am thankful for the respectable resilience of indigenous communities and cultures across the world. Imperialistic colonization caused more problems than solutions in my opinion. As a global society, I think those warmongering ways set us further back instead of aiding in advancements and ascensions. Therefore, I am extremely grateful for the fact that many ancient customs and traditions still do live on today because of the resilience of various suppressed minorities who persevered across time despite powerful pressures.

Reflecting on US history, the infamous Trail of Tears jumps quickly to mind as but only one of many atrocities committed against the original, local inhabitants of these lands.

As you may gather from the guardrails, I deeply treasure my thankfulness for the Toltecs. I am glad that their people, philosophy, and practices have maintained enough resilience to not be rended asunder. How many other groups, though, were far less fortunate? From what I have learned, the scientific and technological advancements of the Mayans were all but wiped out by Spanish invasions of cruel, corrupt, and conceited conquistadors.

Do you know why Tai Chi was created? The authoritative and suppressive government in China had banned or forbidden all martial arts. They did not want their citizens to know how to properly defend themselves. So, what did the wise teachers do? They slowed it all down and still taught their art, right in front of everyone. This smooth and gracefully-flowing practice simply promotes healthy well-being wink wink ;) Nothing to see here…

History is full of people trampling people, and it can feel very frustrating very quickly. Fortunately, with adequate resilience, we can stare down the shameful past and plot a better path for the future. We can dance to a different drum and prove that there is a better way that can stay. If people trample people, then it is up to people to peacefully present polite possibilities, improving potentialities. Resilience restores our will and determination to not give up, to not back down. We can and should be better people. Else, why are we even here?

A thankful sugjestion for today: let us all work on being beautiful people. That is what I often see best among these resiliently-admirable indigenous populations… true beauty.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

This Thanksday, I want to recognize my thankfulness for all of the truly authentic and real people out there in the world. It is easy for us to get swept away in the latest look or trend that we feel compelled to adhere to. It is frequently comfortable to blend in, but does that make us truly happy? Are we being our best selves, living our best lives? The flip side here to watch out for is being too vocal about your individuality. Be your true self while keeping your head down at the same time. Do your best in your lane while avoiding distracting others. Chase your dreams, and remember to stay humble along the way, too.

Power can and often does corrupt easily and quickly. That is why it is so refreshing to see those famous stars who do not let all of that attention and light go to their heads poorly. People who can remain authentically and unapologetically themselves are increasingly rare in this world. When you discover those unique individuals, I think it is best to be quite thankful for them. I sugjest treasuring their one-of-a-kind persona, helping uplift one another even further. In doing so, you can begin to count more blessings than curses.

For those that adapt and compromise to fit in, please ask yourself if you are really happy. Can you tap into and feel how your inner child is suffering? What can you change to become more alive and real? Why keep faking artificialities? Be you, and stay humble.

With the right amount of humility, you can ignore a lot of the outside noise. You can learn to slowly become content with your own best lane. When you pause periodically to get in touch with yourself, you figure out what is best for you. No one else can tell you that. Similarly, do not try to tell others what is best for them. You can humbly offer sugjestions if they welcome them, but the final choices for their lane should always rest with them.

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.

I am very thankful for all of the mindfulness and meditation practitioners and teachers out there in the world. Like I mentioned recently, I listen to the Calm app a lot. Jay Shetty is one of my favorites, but I still enjoy listening along to the others on occasion as well. They have all taught me so much, and I will continue to learn plenty more from them.

Accepting guidance from others can be quite helpful. We do not need to constantly chart our own path forward in a lonely bubble. We can relax and rest as we listen to someone else guide us through a mindfulness practice or a meditation exercise. These activities can be especially beneficial if you recently finished something stressful or need to take a break from an intense event. There will always be another mountain in the future waiting to be climbed, so pause and take respite while down in the valleys. Savor the sweetness.

Our minds can do some wonderful things for us. We should respect them in return by giving our brains the aid they need to continue functioning at their best. We take cars in for maintenance. Knives and blades need sharpening, and racquets and bows need to be restrung. The same applies to our mental faculties. Find the balance to the give and take process in order to approach optimal growth. Embrace daily moments to rest and restore.

Welcome assistance from people who make it their life’s work to provide us with wise counsel. Ignore their sage advice to your own detriment and deterioration. If you do not look under the hood from time to time, then you are sure to break down. Thankfully, we can all choose to build ourselves up instead. When have you last rested? How recently have you listened to a guided meditation or a mindfulness exercise? Try this example :)

Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.