The Stars Rise for You
Three quotes by Carl Sagan stood out to me today: "Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception." "For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." "If we long to believe that the stars rise and set for us, that we are the reason there is a Universe, does science do us a disservice in deflating our conceits?"
I have said in previous posts, that I am a survivor. That I don't know how to be anything but a survivor; I always move forward. Last year and this year that has felt like a fault, to always be future oriented. Granted too much of anything is bad. However, it is not a fault as some people see it. I may not always have the words to explain myself well, but I always move forward and try to embrace growth.
It's not that I'm missing social cues. It's that I override them if I'm overwhelmed enough, which can easily happen when your social cues do not line up with your words. I get verbose when I'm trying to figure you out or when I'm trying to make a connection with you to make sure you understand. It's really not that complex... But in this situation, I will survive it because I know nothing else. Extinction for me is never an option--life taught me to always look ahead rather than back. My grandfather was a survivor or war and the . He always looked ahead...I didn't realize how alike we were until I thought about it.
As a survivor I always seek the truth even when it hurts. That is how I am able to listen and not react and how I am able to channel my energy into more important things and grow. Yes, I talk about things--that is how I process. Again, not a fault but just who I am. Aside from helping people, seeking the truth is my calling in life. That is also why I gravitated toward Zen Buddhism. It is about finding the truth through your eyes, but as the world really is.
If more people sought the truth rather than hiding behind their perceptions, the world would be a very different place and there would be a lot more understanding and communication. But in general, people are afraid of the truth. And they assume you are because they are. Sometimes I don't feel very human...other times I feel like I'm the only real one. Life isn't about your perceptions--it's about truth, love, hope, relationships, communication, and effort. That is why I study Buddhism; it helps me stay centered on what I believe amidst all the distractions and it always leads me back to my self when others have me questioning my sanity.
A lot of people perfer lies so they can live in their world of black and white. But the world isn't black and white. It's not even gray--it's full of vibrant colors all across the spectrum, just like people's personalities. Which leads into the quote of self-centered arrogance.
What would the world be like if instead of judging everyone through how we would respond or how they inconvenienced us, we looked at each other with acceptance and understanding? How many of us would thrive in an environment like that? Unfortunately we are too caught up in our own convenience--myself included. It's so easy to get caught up in it but we must be mindful to hold true to what really matters and see others as they are and encourage all that they could be rather than see them for what they are not and how we think they should be. It's very difficult, but if we do so together, we will bring that out of each other.
I believe this is who we really are as human. We have so much more power than we realize but it's up to us to take it. We have the power to create, to shape the world and change it. We need each other. If we have any hope as a species we must get over this conceited perspective of the world and start looking for understanding. The truth is, we are already shaping the world and making a difference in each other's lives. The question is what kind of change and difference are we making.
I have said in previous posts, that I am a survivor. That I don't know how to be anything but a survivor; I always move forward. Last year and this year that has felt like a fault, to always be future oriented. Granted too much of anything is bad. However, it is not a fault as some people see it. I may not always have the words to explain myself well, but I always move forward and try to embrace growth.
It's not that I'm missing social cues. It's that I override them if I'm overwhelmed enough, which can easily happen when your social cues do not line up with your words. I get verbose when I'm trying to figure you out or when I'm trying to make a connection with you to make sure you understand. It's really not that complex... But in this situation, I will survive it because I know nothing else. Extinction for me is never an option--life taught me to always look ahead rather than back. My grandfather was a survivor or war and the . He always looked ahead...I didn't realize how alike we were until I thought about it.
As a survivor I always seek the truth even when it hurts. That is how I am able to listen and not react and how I am able to channel my energy into more important things and grow. Yes, I talk about things--that is how I process. Again, not a fault but just who I am. Aside from helping people, seeking the truth is my calling in life. That is also why I gravitated toward Zen Buddhism. It is about finding the truth through your eyes, but as the world really is.
If more people sought the truth rather than hiding behind their perceptions, the world would be a very different place and there would be a lot more understanding and communication. But in general, people are afraid of the truth. And they assume you are because they are. Sometimes I don't feel very human...other times I feel like I'm the only real one. Life isn't about your perceptions--it's about truth, love, hope, relationships, communication, and effort. That is why I study Buddhism; it helps me stay centered on what I believe amidst all the distractions and it always leads me back to my self when others have me questioning my sanity.
A lot of people perfer lies so they can live in their world of black and white. But the world isn't black and white. It's not even gray--it's full of vibrant colors all across the spectrum, just like people's personalities. Which leads into the quote of self-centered arrogance.
What would the world be like if instead of judging everyone through how we would respond or how they inconvenienced us, we looked at each other with acceptance and understanding? How many of us would thrive in an environment like that? Unfortunately we are too caught up in our own convenience--myself included. It's so easy to get caught up in it but we must be mindful to hold true to what really matters and see others as they are and encourage all that they could be rather than see them for what they are not and how we think they should be. It's very difficult, but if we do so together, we will bring that out of each other.
I believe this is who we really are as human. We have so much more power than we realize but it's up to us to take it. We have the power to create, to shape the world and change it. We need each other. If we have any hope as a species we must get over this conceited perspective of the world and start looking for understanding. The truth is, we are already shaping the world and making a difference in each other's lives. The question is what kind of change and difference are we making.