Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Phil-O-Sophy

Websters Dictionary defines philosophy as:
1 a (1): all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts (2): the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology(3): the 4-year college course of a major seminary b (1)archaic : physical science (2): ethics c: a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology
2 a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs
3 a: a system of philosophical concepts b: a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought
4 a: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group b: calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

The last 2 definitions are what really matter and it occurs to me that, as you go through life, you NEED a philosophy, or creed. That is you need something to live by, some sort of code or moral standard that gets you through the day and helps guide your opinions and drives you to achieve the things you want to achieve in life. I've had several philophies in life, but the one I live by the most and is my current creed and motivator is this: "Life is too short to........." To what you might ask? Well, that really depends on the situation you find yourself in.

It could go like this: "Life is too short to be so angry". That simply means that you should not waste your time on being angry, frustrated or upset all of the time and that you should't bottle those feelings up. If you bottle them up, you are asking for a HUGE explosion as the absolute WRONG time. It could be very embarassing. So let it out as it occurs. I sometimes have a reputation for being a hot-head or being too passionate about things, but that is simply me blowing off the steam of whatever has me worked up at the time. Once I've vented, then it's in the past, and what's in the past is done and over with and should no longer matter.

Perhaps it could be: "Life is too short to dwell on the pas". Meaning, if it happened yesterday, forget about it and concentrate on what's happening today. The past can be used as a warning of things to avoid or as a reminder of something hilarious, but it should never be used as a script for the future. The future is ever changing so not all past experiences will fall into any category of the future. My generation is called Generation X by noted psychologists and we've often been categorized as people who can't make up our minds about where our lives are going until we are middle age. Maybe that's true, but it also means that we don't let our past keep us from trying new things in the future as they come up. Many of the people in my generation have switched careers a few times before settling on what we really want to do in our lives.

Or maybe it will be: "Life is too short to be so scared". Why go through life terrified or worried that bad things are going to happen? Or why be so afraid to try new things? Or why worry about what everyone else thinks of you to the point of being so perilized that you never achieve YOUR dreams? LIfe is wayyyyyyyyyy to short for that! Something scares you or makes you afraid, face it! Challenge that which makes you afraid and it will not longer make you afraid. You'll beat it and move on with your life.

As you can see, for me, "Life is too short....." can mean many, many things. Whatever it happens to mean that day, I use it as a driving force to push me into the next step or phase of my life. I live free, I live happy, and I push forward at every opportunity! Remember: "Life is too short to wait!"

1 comment:

Casey said...

reminds me of the old adage: "Don't sweat the small stuff. Its all small stuff"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKcuHaZlFiY