Life as a standing wave

[drscott]

[from a comment I left for furfairy: discuss]

If you persist in framing everything that happens with a negative script, life hardly seems worth living.

It helps me to think this way: I am an organized pattern of thoughts embodied in a chemical/electrical matrix which is constantly decaying and being renewed through its strength of pattern. Most of the atoms in my body are different than the ones of my body ten years ago, and similarly my thoughts and memories are more copies of what was than originals. I am only a cousin of the man and boy I once was. I am constantly losing, and constantly gaining; and if I think if what was and what I have lost and don't think of what will be and what I am gaining, I will miss the glory that is life, and cower from the action that is needed to renew myself.

Learning to enjoy the present -- and acting to realize a better future instead of dwelling on the losses of the past -- helps a lot.

Comments

Having read this yesterday

[poodler.livejournal.com]

Having read this yesterday I found myself poorly paraphrasing it to a friend at dinner last night in the midst of a discussion about Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe (as well as other probing books which we had recently read). I hope you won't mind me adding you to my friends list, I find your insights and observations intiguing, witty or just interesting. I came across your LJ persona while reading a recent comment in Rootbeer1's- blog (re: contemp music). Intrigued, I read your website and a page or two of your LJ blogs. I'm sorry to see that you're selling your house- it's a beaut. I do wonder why you renovated the kitchen if you're moving (nice job, by the way, loved the cabinets).
Paul

Re: Having read this yesterday

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I try not to be boring, and I guess I've fooled you long enough to get you to friend me. I'll reciprocate, since I've been reading your thoughtful comments for some time.

As for the house, the latest plan is to hold onto it -- buying out my partner and moving in the new guy, Paul. At the time we were doing the work I was aware we might just sell it afterwards, but in this market it was going to more than pay for itself anyway. It turned out so well I'm happy that I'll still be living here.

Re: Having read this yesterday

[poodler.livejournal.com]

Good to hear (that you're staying). In 2003 my partner and I ripped down and rebuilt our house (he's an architect) and while I could easily walk away from all we've done (I like projects) it's nice coming home to a space I appreciate. In good time I'll be getting pics of our kitchen up on LJ (when we finally get around to finishing the walls [Japanese stucco] and backsplash [tile as yet undetermined]). Glen designed the cabinets around stools we bought at Pottery Barn, asian in flavor, and with the help of as many Japanse resoursce books as I was able to find. Cabinets in clear coated maple. They have an understated simplicity similar to yours.
I'll send you a clothespin for reading my blogs- thanks for nice compliments, though.