Relearning
I constantly notice growth in myself, but I
also often observe that I am learning the same lessons over and over again.
Then I wonder whether I am learning anything at all. There is that saying that
“one should never make the same mistake twice”, but I guess I am just not
quick enough to achieve it! Specifically, what I am currently relearning is
the importance of keeping perspective in life. It is so easy to get caught up
in the day to day issues that come up and forget how insignificant they are in
the larger picture. As a way of helping myself remember how to do this and to
continue to practice it (as well as a way to keep my blogging more
consistent), I am going to journal about the various ideas I have on the
subject. So, today’s personal lesson is to keep perspective by thinking about
the enormity of the universe and the extent of the unknown. It’s hard to get
angry about your car window being smashed by vandals (which happened to me
this weekend when I visited NH) or to be overwhelmed by work when you think
about big philosophical questions like where life comes from or whether matter
even exists.
Comments
Hey Sheena,
Interesting post, in which I recognise a lot of myself. One thing that immediately sprung to mind, and caused me to write this is the following: All throughout life I am trying to improve it. I read / hear / come up with something new, and then try it. And almost always I overshoot the direction I'm going in. For instance in starting my my exercise, as soon as I thought of that, I started karate, and running and everything doing it over 10 hours a week. Then it goes back, and to 2 hours. Then up to 9, and so forth. I could say I am not learning, as I make the same mistake over and over again. I'd rather call it finding a balance. The thing is that it is not just one balance. There is a balance in sport, work, love, silent-time, active time, sex, enthusiasm, health, etc etc. By shifting the balance in one, you have to regain balance in something else. This complex homeostasis keeps readjusting itself. This readjustment process might mean that you readjust one area 10 times in a row, but not because you have not understood the consequences of this part, but that you need to find the balance between this and some other subject. anyway, that's just my two pence. Let me know what you think.
Love, Tijl
Posted by: Tijl Koenderink | March 9, 2005 12:10 PM