When Dr. Bowery pointed out how much philosophy and yoga have in common, I found that the idea of meditation is one of the best things someone can do for the mind. I have tried meditation before when I was very stressed out about school and other things, and it has really helped. It allows me to center my mind and refocus all of my energy on what’s important. It’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind world around us. So many people, so many deadlines, so many tasks to be done, in general, so much pressure. The thing is, we in a way facilitate that sort of pressure because we allow it to be put upon us. We’ve become so used to reacting in certain ways to stressful situations, and our methods are not usually positive. Meditation is calming. Just sitting still and breathing, focusing on the breaths you take, and on nothing else. It really seems to allow unity of body and mind. It helps to try to empty out your thoughts. Regaining control of yourself is important, because we are at times so out of control that we lose ourselves without even knowing it. I often find that sometimes I get so busy with school and work and pressures from other people that I can’t really remember what I did that day other than school and work…Where was my down time? What did I do too just chill out? I can’t even sleep because I’m so focused on tasks looming ahead for tomorrow. I certainly don’t always want to live my life that way. Meditation is like me time…when I just pause and take a few moments to clear my head, I’m more efficient anyways. So actually, it’s a very valuable way to spend some time.

Working in retail, I have a lot of conversations with random people who come into the store. Since the store happens to be near a truck stop, many of our customers (but not the majority), are truck drivers. At first, I think that I should be nice to them, seeing as they probably haven’t spoken to anyone in a while, being on the road most of the time. And it’s true, I can always spot them when they come in, because after I ask how they are doing that day, they begin to divulge the whole of their outlook on that day and sometimes on their whole lives in general. When I ask how someone is doing, I typically want a brief, but positive response. I don’t usually want a long and drawn-out explanation of why each person’s life is miserable. And unfortunately, that is the typical response I get from such customers. It makes me sad, because it seems as though a majority of the world is feeling downtrodden. When I get upset with my own situation, I try to consider that somewhere out there, someone else is having a much harder go at it than myself. And so, I feel selfish for being so dramatic or for focusing too much on my life. I want to give these pessimistic customers a good talking to, not because I feel like I know any more than they do, but because it’s truly disappointing to be so negative and not entirely necessary. Have people always been so negative and whiney, or is this a weakness of modern culture? I wish the rest of the world could read some of the philosophic works that I’ve read, simply because they are the best self-help books you can find, because they tell you how to live life. Aristotle in particular lays it out for a person, and I like to think that human beings are made from a thicker fiber than I see so much today.

Aristotle’s explanation of friendship is one of my favorite points he makes. I’ve never thought to classify or qualify my friendships in that manner. It really helps to explain how some friendships last longer than others. For example, it’s nice to have friends that you meet in class. Sharing notes is always beneficial, but it’s really good to have someone to talk to before and after class, or discuss events within or outside of the classroom. But these are just friendships of utility it seems. Perhaps that’s why, when the class is over, there isn’t necessarily some deep sadness or regret when you no longer get to see that friend anymore. This is what you always knew would happen; because that’s the way those types of friendships work. In fact, if I look back, probably many more of my past friendships were those of utility than I thought, they were just dragged out a little longer. For that matter, I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced what Aristotle terms a “good friendship.” I’ve had friendships that were very meaningful to me, but they didn’t last, and I have a feeling that if they were real and true they might have been more permanent. I know that people grow apart and that is natural I suppose, but is it possible that two people can maintain a virtuous friendship for most of their lifetimes? I’d like to think that it’s possible. And if so, are they something that occurs by chance or is it something we must actively seek after every day? What are the chances that I will find someone so like myself that such a friendship is possible? I must admit that I feel pessimistic about the likelihood of attaining this perfect friendship, but it’s uplifting nonetheless to think about.

In response to the Ayn Rand quote Dr. Bowery provided in a blog entry, I find myself very intrigued by it. When people first think of love, we often think of the commercialism of Valentine’s Day, and giving gifts, bestowing affection, spending time with another person, etc. Love seems in every way to be a relationship with some other person. It is an exchange. And so, I found it interesting that Rand views love as a self-relationship projected onto another. If we think about it, to love requires someone to be capable of love, which means they must possess certain qualities or capabilities. Does that mean that we must in some way love ourselves to love another?

As far as love being an expression of self-esteem, I wonder if that means that we must feel whole enough to give away a part of ourselves. However, if love is a response to our values in someone else, then it must follow that we find ourselves to be worthy of love. After all, how can there be real love between two people who share no similarities? I don’t think there can be, because in a way, to love someone who is nothing at all like you in any way means that perhaps you do not love yourself and also you probably don’t have an accurate conception of love. For that matter, does it mean that people such as Ghandi who professed love for numerous groups of people he did not know personally was speaking of true love? I’m not sure if there is some other type of love which can be directed towards unfamiliar people that is general, or if that wouldn’t be love but rather some other emotion. Perhaps it is strong like love, but isn’t the same.

Thoughts on the Matrix

I really liked the video we watched on the Matrix. Who knew that it ran that deep into philosophical undertones? I’ve been thinking about the idea that everything is as it is only because we let it be, I feel like that was a point which was made in the video. For instance, in the movie, people let the matrix control them because it is a false world and they don’t know any better. And so, Neo can go beyond that world and discover this whole new perspective where he is in complete control of his body and can make it do whatever he wants as long as he wills it, there are no inhibitions like there are in the matrix. I wondered if there was a way in which we could apply this concept to our lives. I think the best way to do so is to grasp what life really is and in what ways we are controlled by various factors. Also, we should probably question things more than we do, and we shouldn’t set limits for ourselves because who knows what we are really capable of? The only danger with a matrix-like view of the world is detachment. I think if we see ourselves as being outside of the normal realm of people we will lose touch with those around us and possibly become numb in a way. There should be a way to tap into the higher sense of being while still appreciating the world around us. That would definitely require a sort of self-mastery, but I think such a life would be very fulfilling.

Thoughts on Protagoras

Protagoras said, “Concerning the gods I am unable to know either that they are or that they are not, or what their appearance is like. For many are the things that hinder knowledge: the obscurity of the matter and the shortness of human life.” I can’t help but wonder if that is the way God intended things to be. After all, we can come to know so many things in the realm of science and the arts, etc. It seems interesting that the one thing we cannot know about simply by means of its obscurity is religion. I am a Christian, and I have faith in God. I don’t know how much relevance I should give some accounts of Christianity however, as they are all accounts given by men. And as the quote points out, our knowledge base is finite. Perhaps that is what tests us most as believers: the fact that we must hold on to something which we cannot see, hear, or feel. Maybe that’s the true definition of faith. What is even more interesting is that of all the things in the world which people are most willing to die for, religion is at the top of the list. It has the most meaning for human beings. In fact, and in contrast to the thought of Protagoras, I don’t feel that even if human beings lived for 100 years more than they tend to now, that we would gain any more insight into our God. There exists, at some point, a gap which cannot be surpassed. That seems to be another sign of our mortality. It is a good way to look at things because I sometimes think that people must realize we are not the center of the world, especially as individuals. We must tame our egocentrism. Obscurity and the shortness of life give it more meaning, because our time on this earth is limited, and instead of being unsettling, this is actually quite beautiful.

In response to Nathan, I don’t believe I’ve ever really thought about why I like extreme sports or fast moving activities…but if I try and relate that I’d have to say I enjoy those things because they make me feel alive, and like I’m fulfilling my potential to be human. This could definitely take a philosophical position. By fulfilling my potential to be human I mean that I’m testing the waters and not wasting my time. I always felt that if I took the most pleasure in things like going to the mall and getting my nails done, then someday when I am old I won’t be able to say that I was an interesting person. I would feel more like a droid, a typical girl. I would have been more expected and predictable. I feel more connected with life if I push myself and develop numerous skills. I enjoy everything with wheels pretty much, so I want to be skilled at the things I enjoy. I feel accomplished when I do so. I feel that it is something else which I can add to my resume of life. I will be more apt to teach my kids or grandkids, I will have more to offer them if I cultivated my abilities. It’s always been my philosophy that it’s important to be an interesting person and to have something to offer the world. Also, I have always been in some ways a tomboy in that I absolutely despise stereotypes of what a girl or woman should be like. Perhaps I have rebelled against that. I don’t know that I’m a feminist exactly, but I have always sought to challenge boys, because I still feel that many see us as the weaker sex, and unfortunately in some ways women allow that belief. This angers me a lot. I don’t feel that I need to be more like a man or more like a woman, I just think it’s possible to cultivate characteristics of both. Why not be the best of both worlds? I feel that I can provide and protect as well as nurture and love. This may very well be my undoing someday, but I always have tended to be a jack-of-all-trades. It’s difficult of course, but I want to make the most out of my life and experience so many different things, and so I’m willing to spread myself a little thin at times if it means I can be literally everything I can. It is likely more healthy to follow the philosophy of cultivating certain skills and developing them until you are an expert, but maybe I’m crazy because I want to be an expert at a lot of things. I think maybe human beings seek thrills to feel more alive, instead of droning on every day, and trying new things and becoming skilled at thrilling activities makes me feel alive.