"You must do what you feel is right, of course."
Ian and I often end up in these wonderful deep talks that start over dinner and meander into a late night. We had a good one tonight, very cheerful, and very challenging. He's my best friend, and I find him so fascinating, and sometimes so alien. I love talks like these! Tonight, I discovered, rediscovered, or confirmed the following things about myself:
I believe unquestionably in the existence of the human soul.
I further believe that humans are so entirely more awesome than the whole of the entire animal kingdom that the difference can only be expressed with crazy waving devil hands and shouting, "Wooooooooooo!"
I don't understand Animal Lovers, and I deliberately avoid conversations on this topic in much the same way others avoid talk about politics or money.
I am inherently a Good person, and my nature is also inherently lawful.
I genuinely believe in The System. I don't know many others who do.
Because of this, I equate being criminal with being bad. I think criminals are bad people. Of course there are degrees within this, but I make this association in general.
I hold Sincerity as a higher virtue than any other I can think of off the top of my head.
In any situation where there is a question of the appropriate action, I will consider what is Right. I will be guided as to what is right by what is sincere, among other things. I usually count being sincere as a higher value than being polite, making peace, or making people happy. This is not always the smart choice, but I believe it is usually the Right one.
Somehow, while growing up, I missed the class that covered the quiet social cues which instruct when a social relationship is over and should be left quietly without a further word. As the song lyric goes, I've been married nine times, so maybe it's me? I recognize that this is something "everyone" thinks is right. But just like I perceive that I'm the only person who comes to a full and complete stop at red lights before turning right even when there's no cross traffic, I don't agree that such behavior is okay because "everyone does it." I won't participate in that behavior, even if the smoother choice would be to favor being polite, keeping the peace, or making people happy. In this, I hold sincerity as my higher guide.
I believe that acting contrary to your own nature, that is - being insincere - paves the path to madness.
But much like getting anything done in a bureaucracy, I am starting to realize that sometimes you gotta let go even if it doesn't feel right, or doesn't seem sincere, just in order to keep moving at all. I know that the choice between letting go or holding on in sincerity is a really difficult one for me in general. I don't like to let go until I'm ready.
I think I spend more time concerned about doing the right thing than most people I know. (This is not to say that I think I am successful in actually doing the right thing more often than most people I know!)
I believe that vengeance is inherently evil. Yes, it often feels good to achieve it. Yes, it can sometimes be practical. Inherently, however, this is an evil act, and taking it taints a person. Therefore, choosing not to exact revenge is an act of goodness.
I believe that declining an opportunity for revenge does not further the state of victimhood. On the contrary, it is an act of reclaiming power lost as a victim.
I now believe it is very unlikely that I will ever embrace spiritual faith while Ian and I are together.
Good talk, very good for the heart, mind, and soul. Ian is a wonderful sounding board and great friend. I'm glad he listens. I'm even more glad that he talks, and talks very well. Of course the Irish in me acknowledges that to speak well in such a discourse may well to be even more full of shit than a moment before! But such is the way of these things!
T$
I believe unquestionably in the existence of the human soul.
I further believe that humans are so entirely more awesome than the whole of the entire animal kingdom that the difference can only be expressed with crazy waving devil hands and shouting, "Wooooooooooo!"
I don't understand Animal Lovers, and I deliberately avoid conversations on this topic in much the same way others avoid talk about politics or money.
I am inherently a Good person, and my nature is also inherently lawful.
I genuinely believe in The System. I don't know many others who do.
Because of this, I equate being criminal with being bad. I think criminals are bad people. Of course there are degrees within this, but I make this association in general.
I hold Sincerity as a higher virtue than any other I can think of off the top of my head.
In any situation where there is a question of the appropriate action, I will consider what is Right. I will be guided as to what is right by what is sincere, among other things. I usually count being sincere as a higher value than being polite, making peace, or making people happy. This is not always the smart choice, but I believe it is usually the Right one.
Somehow, while growing up, I missed the class that covered the quiet social cues which instruct when a social relationship is over and should be left quietly without a further word. As the song lyric goes, I've been married nine times, so maybe it's me? I recognize that this is something "everyone" thinks is right. But just like I perceive that I'm the only person who comes to a full and complete stop at red lights before turning right even when there's no cross traffic, I don't agree that such behavior is okay because "everyone does it." I won't participate in that behavior, even if the smoother choice would be to favor being polite, keeping the peace, or making people happy. In this, I hold sincerity as my higher guide.
I believe that acting contrary to your own nature, that is - being insincere - paves the path to madness.
But much like getting anything done in a bureaucracy, I am starting to realize that sometimes you gotta let go even if it doesn't feel right, or doesn't seem sincere, just in order to keep moving at all. I know that the choice between letting go or holding on in sincerity is a really difficult one for me in general. I don't like to let go until I'm ready.
I think I spend more time concerned about doing the right thing than most people I know. (This is not to say that I think I am successful in actually doing the right thing more often than most people I know!)
I believe that vengeance is inherently evil. Yes, it often feels good to achieve it. Yes, it can sometimes be practical. Inherently, however, this is an evil act, and taking it taints a person. Therefore, choosing not to exact revenge is an act of goodness.
I believe that declining an opportunity for revenge does not further the state of victimhood. On the contrary, it is an act of reclaiming power lost as a victim.
I now believe it is very unlikely that I will ever embrace spiritual faith while Ian and I are together.
Good talk, very good for the heart, mind, and soul. Ian is a wonderful sounding board and great friend. I'm glad he listens. I'm even more glad that he talks, and talks very well. Of course the Irish in me acknowledges that to speak well in such a discourse may well to be even more full of shit than a moment before! But such is the way of these things!
T$