Allan

Why is it, that........

Monday, 19. October 2009, 10:20:06

One should think that getting older would mean that you'd be a wiser and better person. I don't think so. I know I ain't getting better, and I very much doubt that I am getting any wiser.

I don't mean having answers to everything imaginable - like how somebody managed to place the sign saying 'Do Not Walk On Grass' in th middle of the lawn down at the park? Or why a 7-11 that's open 24-7 and 365 days a year have locks on the doors? I talk about the ability to understand the basics of life. Things that matter - like why it seems that whenever you have solved one major problem in your life, there's another one coming up, even more difficult, a short time after?

Or why it is, that almost everyone in power in society can't seem to handle that power. Why is it that people tend to become corrupt and inhuman when given power?

The one that bothers me the most is, why people behaving most inhuman seems to be rewarded by their fellow human beings?

Today it seems like getting older doesn't mean getting wiser or better - it just means getting older.

Baaah. I guess today ain't my day exactly.

Take The Load OffThe Olympics didn't come to USA, but Oprah came to Denmark

Comments

Martin K # 19. October 2009, 11:05

I feel the same. Period.

Nicolas Borgsmidt # 19. October 2009, 11:27

ageing makes me feel better. That´s all I know. living in the present is much easier now.

rickwiedeman # 19. October 2009, 14:10

"Life is suffering." That's the first principle of Buddhism.

I am not a Buddhist; I'm a fan, but ultimately, it doesn't explain the world I see. What I believe is: "Life is a beautiful suffering." I think we're supposed to notice that it's all f-cked up, and do something about it -- though I have no suggestions for 7-11.

Deb Platt # 19. October 2009, 17:01

Allan wrote:

I talk about the ability to understand the basics of life. Things that matter - like why it seems that whenever you have solved one major problem in your life, there's another one coming up, even more difficult, a short time after?

My husband has a theory about that. He thinks that life is like a video game. Whenever you have solved a major problem in life, you've cleared a level. Now it is time to move on to the next, more difficult level. And when everything seems to be going to hell, you've reached a boss level.

Darko # 19. October 2009, 17:33

What am I doing here, I am too young for this post

@debplatt, I like the explanation your husband gave

Allan, I think the word "wiser" is used in a more ordinary way - you have more experience than an average teenager, so you are smarter than she/he is.
On the other hand some people remain teenagers for entire life

PainterWoman # 19. October 2009, 18:21

Hmmmm....I think I have just become more accepting of things as I've aged. Mainly because I know I can't change them.

I DO like Deb's husband's explanation, however.

Stardancer # 19. October 2009, 18:48

Maybe "being wiser" actually means having a profound understanding that there are infinite things we just don't know yet, and "growing old gracefully" means looking forward to learning more and more of all that we finally realize we don't know.

Sorry you're having an off day, Allan. Hope you're feeling better tomorrow.

Allan # 19. October 2009, 18:56

Feeling better already. I too like the computer game analogy. Thank you for participating, all.

There are always two sides to a coin - today it was the flipside which showed itself to me.

Martin K # 19. October 2009, 19:44

And you can always restart your Play Station.

Deb Platt # 19. October 2009, 22:05

And dying is just a temporary setback.

rickwiedeman # 19. October 2009, 22:08

Originally posted by debplatt:

And dying is just a temporary setback.

Now THAT'S Buddhism!

I guess if video games reflected a Christian mindset, you'd only get one life, then you'd go to a boss level where it was impossible to die -- and that could be good, or bad, depending on which "game" you ended up in...

Deb Platt # 19. October 2009, 22:18

Originally posted by rickwiedeman:

Now THAT'S Buddhism!

And over multiple lives, you might be working your way towards Nirvana. Or you might prefer seeing whether you can beat your previous scores.

deborah # 19. October 2009, 22:39

doesn't seem like an off day for you allan, because you always have a knack for interesting topics.

thought i'd chime in with my explanation for the 7-11 locked door .... it is a way to fire a lazy worker. if the worker has the ability to lock the door when left unsupervised, then the worker can be terminated (believe me it has happened). but seriously, there are times when the doors to the store need to be locked, i.e., power outage, theft, and bathroom break.

as for getting wiser as i age, i'm with pam -- sometimes i'm more tolerant because of my age.

i liked star's comment too, very inspiring.

remaining an older person with a teenager's mind can be harmful to one's health dare -- like when i over-extend my physical abilities i pay for it for several days after .....

Angeliki # 20. October 2009, 00:46

I am glad you were wise to share your thoughts

that shows maturity...
a teen would have had different ways of feeling better but we are wiser not to act like teens..

Norfrid # 20. October 2009, 07:18

Benjamin Franklin was probably right;
"Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late...."

Thank you for your honesty! I wish you a better day today!

Allan # 20. October 2009, 07:34

This is strange.

Today I have another unanswered question:

Why is it, that the exact same life can appear totally different withing the time span of only 24 hours?

Today I am the stoic Buddhist seeing the world in the light of Christian charity. Everything is friendly, interesting and beautiful, I only want to share and interact.

Strange. But interesting.

rickwiedeman # 20. October 2009, 11:16

Originally posted by ricewood:

Today I am the stoic Buddhist seeing the world in the light of Christian charity. Everything is friendly, interesting and beautiful, I only want to share and interact.

I have always felt those two closely connected. It reminds me of a lecture (recorded) I heard from Joseph Campbell (a mythology professor, wrote great books like "The Masks of God").

He was talking about a big world-wide meeting of religious leaders being held in Kyoto, Japan back in the 1980s. When the Buddhist monks and Christian monks started talking to each other, they found they had the same experiences (through deep meditation/long ritual prayer), and it was very enjoyable to "compare notes." Only the priests -- those facing the outside names, rather than the inside experiences -- had arguments.

Allan # 20. October 2009, 11:25

Well, seems to me that all this is beyond arguments. God gave us life for nothing in return. We can deal with it as we choose, and we bear the consequences - but to all the questons, no real answers. Acceptance before argument.

Angeliki # 20. October 2009, 17:48

Originally posted by ricewood:

Well, seems to me that all this is beyond arguments. God gave us life for nothing in return. We can deal with it as we choose, and we bear the consequences - but to all the questions, no real answers. Acceptance before argument.

*copies Allans words*

thank you for making my day better,
even from thousands of miles away your words did make a difference to me today.(a not easy day but worth living)

Martin K # 20. October 2009, 19:37

"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprise of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action."

WS

Ana # 20. October 2009, 21:03

Allan, with this thoughts of yours, mention above, I wonder how that person can be old? In other words, if our soul is young, we are young too.

53north # 21. October 2009, 08:23

I take the view we're on God's Estate, hired as gardeners.
Some spend all day on his coat tails, tugging their forelock, yesmen. Probably a great irritation.
Some spend all their time chasing the maids, or killing His other higher forms of life in concentration camps To them Earth becomes a prison.
Others tend their plot never knowing God.
One or two get given special chores and are trusted enough to get taken on vacations to other of His Worlds..
;o)

Martin K # 21. October 2009, 10:09

"Money goes to money heaven
Bodies go to body hell
I just cough, catch the chase
Switch the channel, watch the police car."

D. Bowie, 'I Can't Read'

53north # 21. October 2009, 12:51

Nice choice to come & see my blog with... There's a fella from upstate NY and his African wife regularly visit Opera - hence my swahili translation hidden at the bottom of the welcome post...

Richard # 21. October 2009, 12:55

Fascinating post and comments. It's clear to me that your underlying mood colors one's world outlook at particular time, so a degree of self-awareness helps explain a lot!

That said, I personally find that I as I age I become more accepting and less worked up about things. Largely because I am beginning to realize how transitory and ephemeral most things are.

Plus, we really have lot less control over life than we like to imagine, and it is better to be accepting of that and acknowledge it rather than tilt at Don Quixote's windmills.

scott cumming # 21. October 2009, 19:44

a very interesting topic, allan. and the comments are good too...

i am never satisfied myself. i want not only to know everything but to understand the meaning of existence more deeply than i do. most of the time i am in the video game chasing my tail. sometimes, if i try to be in the moment, or in reality instead of dreams i get a glimpse that i am always in a low state of being. it hurts to see that. but it is creative suffering which drives me to work on myself.

Martin K # 21. October 2009, 21:34

'Creative suffering'... That's a new one. I like that.

Allan # 22. October 2009, 08:49

Actually I get quite a kick out of your comments. Nice read

scott cumming # 23. October 2009, 04:30

that's what i like about you allan. you understand.

Naomi # 17. November 2009, 21:10

I've decided I don't understand much at this age. I believe that's a sign of true wisdom.

scott cumming # 18. November 2009, 02:43

i am compelled to add that there is no will without understanding. if we didn't understand more and more as we get on in life, we would be missing the boat. we can at least, finally, decide what we want.

Allan # 18. November 2009, 09:19

I agree with the true wisdom statement. I need it.