Hello Again!
I thought I might talk a little bit more about survive and succumb, and playing the game(s) that will actually get you where you want to go instead of struggling along thinking you are playing one game when you are actually playing some other game altogether.
By survive, I mean those actions that have you winning and heading in the direction you consider to be life and living. The actions make you feel like you, and the world around you are alive.
By succumb, I mean losing. The challenges and actions of the person’s life are not getting him where he wants to go. At best the person is just “surviving” each day, but never really growing and expanding and winning.
I’m sure you can think of examples of each.
Ultimately there are consequences for actions and non-actions. These actions and non-actions are how you play the game(s) you want to play.
Sounds simple, but I know from time to time I would love to have someone look at me and ask,
“What are you trying to do?”
After examining this question I might realize that a parka and snowshoes aren’t really necessary for a hike through the desert, and now I might accomplish what I’m setting out to do.
A better understanding of where a person is trying to head or what he is trying to accomplish can be the difference between winning and losing and ultimately surviving bigger and better.
By asking these types of questions of not only ourselves but for others we care about, we can help each other win.
In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat,
“Would you tell me, please which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat,
“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
Then it doesn’t matter which way you go!” said the Cat.
“-So long as I get somewhere,“ Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
Interesting conversation and many are happy with motion and as long as they seem like they are moving all is well. They really have no idea where they want to arrive, and then are disappointed when they look in the mirror or the world around them
I hear this often with patients who aren’t happy with their life or some part of their life.
“Well, where were you trying to get to, because you’ve obviously arrived here! Is this it?”
Good question.
Some are happy listening to health gurus and “authoritative” experts who tell them what they should think, what’s best to eat, how they should act, who they should care about and who their enemies are.
Authorities?!? Do you really think there is someone out there who knows better for you than you?
Sadly, I think a lot of people do.
I know when I was a little kid and my mom and dad got heavy with me, I couldn’t wait to get old enough to make my own decisions. Things were definitely going to be different when I was in charge of myself!
Funny enough I just seem to understand my mom and dad better! I hope I’m running things at least as far as I’m concerned, but death and taxes…!
But you really can be in charge, just make up your mind about how things should be and how they should look, and do those things that will get you there. Do your research, consult your knowingness and never compromise with that knowingness.
It won’t be easy and expect a lot of problems and challenges. People really wouldn’t have it any other way, though.
In fact, and oddly enough the only real problem is that people don’t have enough problems. If a person did, he could easily let go of a few of those problems.
If a person doesn’t have enough problems or games he will simply make himself the problem or the game, and things that were simple to do now become a struggle. One will turn on himself or family or groups all for something to do. This is probably where a lot of health and aging challenges come from.
Well, I hope I gave you a few interesting things to look at and ponder over. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, only that I think that you can, and I am rooting for you!
Think for yourself, and to heck with the experts and authorities. You’ll find that most of the games that go nowhere and have you sitting out in left field spinning your wheels are their problems/games… not yours!
Best Wishes,
Dr. Dave