The world turns slowly

Often we drift into the back of our minds and let run selective scenarios hat we would like to come see to fruition within our own lives. The latest trend in personal development books is focusing on these dreams. They ask you to see yourself as how you want to be. Studying fine details, noting every method undertook by our envisioned avatar. I myself have been a strong believer in the well sung Rocky Horror Picture Show mantra of “don’t dream it, be it”.

As long as I am throwing out antiquated pop culture references we may as well go to the old wheel house of American culture and quote Linus from the Peanuts daily cartoons. His reply would state “has it ever occurred to you, that you may be wrong”

The beauty and peril of dreams is that they are nothing more than fiction. When I create a mental image of myself I am more than happy to ignore the fine details of my present flaws. These flaws seem to have magically blown away. The present yet thankfully rescinding stomach bulge as well as my once razor sharp hairline which now sees its shores eroding as the high tide of my forehead ravages the coastline. These physical flaws are wiped clean. Replaced by the typical trappings found in clothing catalogues.

The flaw in today’s personal development gurus is that it is based upon the belief that you actually know what’s best for you. Unfortunately who you are and what you think should be are going to be decided by a terrible melting pot of culture and parental or lack of parental involvement.

The American dream is in its mind safety and peace. In its dark heart however we dream of being top dog. The one, who makes the wheels turn, is never second guessed and remarkably never wrong. While we yearn for security and to not live by fear of economics or health, our strongest desires ask for control.

What the development books will never tell you is that life is not an ordered process. You can make plans to be that person of your dreams but you will never fully be them. Static plans within a chaotic system will fail. The desire to control what cannot be controlled is fruitless. However the reason to be encouraged is that we are not static. We are static when we are dead. Instead, we have a beautiful chaotic world to live and breathe in.

Personal development has its place. Measuring progress is a good reminder. I am glad that the numbers on my scale moved slightly to the right believe you me. In my envisionment of myself I am lean and muscled. Someday I might actually be that image. However today I am not. Now what?

Now all we are to do is treat all others in kindness. Forgive ourselves, forgive others and give every worthwhile task put in front of us our best effort.

The hardest part for me and I believe my generation is the blasted notion that we shall be rewarded. I’m now two weeks into my doctor ordered ban on all culinary delights. The first week we had a success, poundage was moving away. However into week two the results have begun to slow. How is that in any way fair? I put in the work, I want results the same as last week. I have not strayed, I have sacrificed.

The best part of our world is that you can have no faith in it. The same applies to your body, your career and your hobbies. Turning away from our reward turning away from our ideal self and enjoying the surrounding environment becomes a harder and harder task the older I get. You notice others, you covet their education, and you covet their possessions. We desire these things and we want them now, however the world continues to turn at the same pace. We continue to focus on ourselves and our ideals all the while being slaves to the clocks unflinching hand and a world filled with events beyond our control. Yet we only become more determined to focus inward and beat the system. To rise above and control our fate and the fate of others.

Where are the books that devote themselves to you better improving others? Where are the books that say perhaps helping and being considerate of others will in fact grow you personally and help with appreciating who you are. I can think of one but I will leave that to subtlety.

My closer and more sarcastic readers may be wondering if I recently had my feelings stepped on thus the reason for these "wheres the love posts". I can tell you that this is not the case. The last couple of posts are a reflection of my personal disgust with myself. Cheers!!

While it may be a bit disjointed and uneven, consider this an epilogue to Tuesdays entry.