The Fable of the Wolves

Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit.

- William James

The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.

- John Dewey

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life…

He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.

The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”

They thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win, Grandfather?”

The Elder simply replied, “The one you feed.”


Commentary:  The world is very busy giving us advice on how to live.  The problem is that the TV, well-intentioned friend, Internet and self-help book are focusing on their needs and not yours.  Only you can take care of your needs.  Only you can select which wolf to feed.  


In a nutshell: Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy. - Joseph Campbell

Letter to Linda - Oct. 16

Hello Linda,

I like your new wig.  It suits you at this time.

I am sorry to hear that Auntie C. is being a being such a nuisance.  When she sits around the house, she sits AROUND THE HOUSE! (*rimshot*)

Right now, I think I am the only Wisconsinite not watching the Packers.  My relationship with football is a very informal one.  I like to show support for the team because it makes me fit into the Wisconsin community but watching I don't actually like to watch the game.  I have a few pat lines for discussing the Packers and that is about it for me.

I hope you like the new story I wrote.  Please let me know if I become too preachy in them.  I am trying to decide whether the commentary is too much.  On the other hand, many people need a push when it comes to talking about the big discussion of life.

The auction ends today.  I will keep you posted regarding the progress.

Love,

Cate

Zen and having a great time

In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
Pliny the Elder (23 AD - 79 AD)


The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.
Ursula K. LeGuin


There was once a Zen student who loved to play pool and drink beer.  He thought that was the pinnacle of having a good time.  On Saturday, he convinced his fellow Zen students to go out to a bar and play pool with him.  He invited the teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn, to come with him promising an evening of American fun.   While all the Zennies were drinking beer and talking (neither to the point of intoxication, of course), the Zen student taught the Zen Master how to play pool.  After a while, he turned to the Zen Master and said, "Isn't this fun?  I am having a great time."  


The Zen Master grabbed the closest billiard ball and tossed it through a large picture window.  After the crash, the crowd went wild.  Many people piled on top of the Zen Master.  Some where trying to protect him and others were trying grab him.  A barroom brawl ensued.  The bartender called the police who broke up the fight and arrested the Zen Master.  As the police were leading him out of the bar, he turned to the Zen student as asked, "Where is your good time now?"


Commentary: How often do we manipulate circumstance to get what we think will make us happy?  Does it actually work?  Is it the best use of our energy?  How can we appreciate and use what we already have?  In the 1970's TV show, there was a psychiatrist character named Major Sidney Freedman who said on a couple of occasions, "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."  


In a nutshell: A foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grow it under his feet.

James Oppenheim

True North

“Just as a compass always points to true north, your heart will recognize true principles."
Sean Covey

“We cannot cope with the confusions and the challenges of this world unless we use a clear and consistent moral compass that will unerringly take us through our own personal trials and the tugs and pulls of our own temptations--a compass that will chart our way to peace of mind, self-worth, and joy.”
Elder Richard B. Wirthlin

Quotations, self-help books and other sources of deliberate inspiration often admonish us to find our moral direction.  They suggest that we develop some sort of internal compass to find a spiritual true north.  Does this metaphor work?

The North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole are not the same.   The North Pole is a relatively fixed point on the top of the world where the Earth’s axis of rotation meets its surface.  Since the Earth is not perfectly round, the North Pole moves a few yards back and forth in the frozen Arctic Ocean because the Earth wobbles as it turns.  The Magnetic North Pole is the point where, if you held a compass over it sideways, it would point straight down.  This is not a fixed point.  It is presently near Ellesmere Island in Northern Canada and is moving toward Russia at almost 40 miles an year due to magnetic changes in the Earth’s core.  It has been moving since 1904 and is speeding up.

Commentary:  Why didn't they tell us this in school? 

In a nutshell: The only constant is change.

A Letter to Linda - Oct. 15

Hello Linda,

As you know, I have been trying to write for many years.  I have had many excuses: work, taking care of the family, settling in, something unsettled me, distractions, etc.  Some of them have been legitimate but most of them have not.  This is yet another start.  I have had a ton of "starts:"  Some are blogs. some are journals, some are fiction (by that I mean that I tell people I am writing when I am not). 

I am not a good starter.  My ex-husband mentioned that shortly after we got married almost 3 decades ago.  I knew that even before he spoke it.

Linda, I wish I was there with you.  I wish I wasn't one of those phone people who are competing for your attention.  I wish I could actually be helpful - coooking, cleaning, taxi service - rather than simply sending digital energy - calls, blogs, emails, PayPal.  Sometimes I feel like a glorified telemarketer.  

I hope that you are taking excellent care of yourself right now.  I called about an hour ago.  I hope you said, "I am all out of nice right now" and rearranged your beads.  I hope that you are channeling your inner caretaker and an inner protector or two to back her up (how can she be anything other than a she?).

In the last couple of days, I worked my limited network and started to look for a job working in Hospice.  It is little more than phone calls right now but I hope something will bloom. 

There is an ambulance with full sirens going outside my window.  I live kitty corner from a nursing home.  The fact that the ambulance drove through a residential area in full noise tells me one of two things:  it is either very serious or we have a rookie driver.  In the past I would pray it was the later but now I just pray.  Kwan Seum Bosal. 

I updated some of the window treatments in my home.  As a gift, the salesman gave me a bunch of wooden cord fobs.  He was happy to give me the items but refused to put them on my 30+ window cords.  I tie and retie the knots with my hands shaking.  I did everything I know to slow the tremor in my hands so I know it will not get any better.  I think about you, Linda, with your patience tying small beads onto cords.  I also think about Mom knitting yarn into intricate patterns.  I conclude that there is nothing to do but grab then next fob and try again.

I am going to add some of the stories that you like in this blog.  Hopefully, I will eventually take these stories and end up with a book.

I hope to talk to you soon but only when you are ready to talk.  I don't want to to be a chore that you feel you have to do even though you aren't fully up to it.  I don't want to be a fob.

Love,

Cate