Category: Personal

nihilism

What villain actually had a good point?

First thought is either Walter White or Tony Soprano.

On reflection, I think the author of the “perhaps”, Beyond Good and Evil, and the “death of God”. Yes, he was super weird and he died after an extended mental illness but he needs to be experienced. I think his take on “truth” is well worth a thought or two. And his take on writing, that all is autobiographical, is worthy of much thought. His sister did him no service!

So, maybe not a standard villain, but Fredrick Nietzsche for me.

the holy mountain

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I am very happy where I am at the moment. But …

Mount Athos! It would be so inspiring to live in a hermitage there. Maybe an old used one!? And soak up the wisdom of the elders. To simply “be” somewhere so beautify and with such history. Yes, I think I would like to live somewhere on Mount Athos.

If you ask me tomorrow, it will be a different place!

to be humble?

Humility is the quality of being humble and kind. While older definitions, such as the 1998 Oxford Dictionary entry, described humility as having a “low opinion of oneself” or “not being proudful”, more recent psychological and philosophical definitions emphasize having an “accurate opinion of oneself“. This modern view includes expressing modesty appropriately, possessing clear goal orientation, openness, broad-mindedness, and a non-imposing mentality.

…

The term “humility” comes from the Latin noun humilitas, related to the adjective humilis, which may be translated as “humble”, but also as “grounded” or “from the earth”, since it derives from the word humus (earth).

The word “humble” may be related to feudal England where the least valuable cuts of meat (whatever was left after the members of the upper class had taken their parts), or “umbles”, were provided to the lowest class of citizens.

Humility

not for me

Is a little chaos actually good for us?

I am not sure if it is good “for us” but I am sure it is not good for me. I like order to keep sane. Too many people stresses and overwhelms me, and too much noise hurts my head. So chaos is not my thing. But it might be yours?

money!

What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?

I would like to say something profound and insightful. But I have learned recently that I am really bad with money. When I have it, I spend it. (Hence, my library.) Also I have noticed that I try to reward myself with purchases (that I absolutely do not need).

Having things does not make you happy, neither does it take away the darkness inside. My perspective shift!!!!!

always sleep

What do you do to improve your sleep?

I like sleep. In fact, one might say, I love to be asleep. Yet I know that certain foods and drinks stop me from sleeping. Or, maybe, sleeping as well as I can. So no caffeine in the afternoon, no big meals in the afternoon, and no snacks. Also no sleeping in the afternoon! I sleep with the sun – when it sets I go to sleep, when it rises I need to get up. I find that listening to an audiobook helps me to sleep. I know that it is because my anxiety needs it. But it works for me.

solitude

What’s the best way to deal with negative thoughts?

Know thyself! Ever person is gloriously different. So knowing yourself is a good first step to dealing with negative thoughts. For me, it is solitude. Not isolation. But real solitude. The difference? Solitude is rejoicing in who is present, isolation is who is absent. I do not do random!

This solitude puts all my thoughts into context. And those present are the context. So …

reading

What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?

Reading!! I hated reading in school – I had better things to do. But now it is almost exclusively what I do. I would not think of leaving the house without a book. And I often dream about the books I am reading. So …

freedom and devotion

I am watching the documentary on Gloriavale Christian Community. The title is interesting, Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal. Cults interest me!

Let me start by saying that I have no idea of their theology. I did look at their website and (big tick from me) they are KJV only. And, yes, there are bad people among them. But there are bad people everywhere! I do not have the numbers (and taking the moral outrage out of it): are they, for example, statistically worse than your average sports club? Maybe the issue is expectation?!

So my first take: there is a lot of talk about freedom in the second episode, Sins of the Father, centering on mind control (taking an individuals freedom by cohesion) and brainwashing Of course, no person would willingly join! Or would they? The assumption is that people in any cult are irrational and shown the error of their ways would leave. (This, of course, simply ends in battling authorities.) Yet, what I see are people who are completely committed to their understanding of the Christian life.

So, I wonder, in complete freedom, can an individual surrender that freedom to someone else?