Gotta love euphemisms. Another name for the whip used in horseracing. How do you motivate animals? The same way as human beings. Carrot and stick. Too much of one and not the other , it becomes counter-productive. Most of us are spoilt and don't get enough stick. I guess. I think I'd like to do an article on: -motivation -euphemisms -the persuader as a metaphor OK writers back to it now. or I'll get the persuader on you!
I do the Psych. degree. Followed by the Clinical Psych. Then I specialise in Drug and Addiction. But I also do a degree in Theology/Literature because you need broad perspectives to attack the big questions. So I become a counsellor/Academic/ intellectual giant who gives TED talks on a smattering of things. Synthesis. That's what works these days. Like Eckart Tolle's Power of Now. Best to have a buffet of sources to draw from rather than devote to one. People only have a short attention span. They don't want to devote to one faith, one philosophy. Too narrow. Better to show you're broad so Oprah can invite on to her show and use you to show how broad she is. She likes cherry-picking too. Entrees without the main course. Dips. What's this delight? A Buddhist savoury? A Christian cheese cracker? A Jungian junket? Blakean beetroot anti pasto? A Waldean Waldorf Salad? Ice-cream and Punishment? Sorry got side-tracked there. Where were we? Oh that's right. My failed career. Before I bore all of us, let me focus once more on how things "should" have turned out. I ddint think I had any talent. But the truth is, you can achieve a lot in this life with effort. I'm thinking effoirt is more important than talent. I've seen some pretty dumb people with PHD's. That is not to sound condescending but I do admire their gutsy determination. If I was half as single-minded, I would've achieved a lot. I think I'm suited to counselling but its too late now. I needed to fully comprehend Dosteoevsky and Nietzche and Kierkegaard. I'm not quite intellectual enough to get that stuff easily. I ddint apply myself hard enough to graps their philosphies. I think they are vital to making your Christian faith come alive. But I guess that is only if you value the option of a Christian intellectual life.
Taking the opposite view on purpose in order to think things through better. The "opposite" view might be the less savoury, politically incorrect, unlawful even, apparently evil or ostensibly unfeeling and immoral. It's risky when we try to express it. Because people will judge us by what we say. Or the "disgusted" part of them needs to come down hard. In order for them to distance themselves from apparent evil. In this regard they are aligning with the "good guys". It gives them a temporary boost. "Maybe I am a good person after all." No better example in politics. Democrat versus Republican. How many try to see it from our opponent's POV? Maybe Trump isn't all bad? Oops, I've just upset half the population. But I am willing to entertain that notion. Just maybe some of his policies anyway, are helping America. I'm willing to overlook his private life, his terrible sins. My only assertion is that Trump might be doing some long term good for America. Even he looks like a monster.
I suffer frequent viruses. Suddenly I have to lay low for a whole day. My head aches, my body stiffens, I start to fantasise about death. Life is too challenging. I know 80 per cent of the population are tougher than me. I'm a wimp. I rarely go through a tough period without moaning. I've got a virus right now. Don't worry . It wont go to my computer and to you the reader. This headache is so attention seeking. I'm writing now to escape it. It sucks my motivation. And I feel guilty for not exercising through it. Instead of trying to sleep it off.
My grandmother used to lead us in the Rosary. My brother makes fun of it now. Like a horserace caller. Speedy. "Hail Mary full of ......." Amen. Guiness Book of Records. But I think she was a holy woman really. We needed that conservative role-model in order to rebel against it. And express our own version of Catholicism. And who knows. maybe we've back-slidden too far. Have Liberals like myself drifted too far away from the truth? That worries me. Abortion is a non-negotiable.......but but? No. Some things are non-negotiable. Thomas Merton was one cool dude. A hero for us liberals and some conservatives too. Though I think Fulton Sheen was their pin up boy. Merton dared to question, and push boundaries. Let's learn something from Zen Buddhism and make our own prayer time more effective, enjoyable even. Instead of doing the raceallers version of the Rosary. Its tempting to oversimplify and maybe I have already. I envy truly "holy" people with genuine respect. And the Rosary works for some people. It really does. And maybe I should give it another shot. Right now sdomeone in the world is praying for World peace saying the Rosary. That's a selfless gesture indeed. Gotta bow to that. That's admirable.
Paperbackwriter, what a good guitar intro. Fingerstyle guitar is a big part of my life. I'm currently going through Beatles songs.What a treasure trove of songs! There is no need to listen to any other artists really. Its all there. Right now I'm trying to deconstruct "Michelle". What a song! How original! Macartney and and his jazz chords again. But such is my low skill level that Michelle is just out of my league. I mastered the intro and and half the chords sound nice but the other half sounds clunky and embarrassing. So yeah I pay homage to the Beatles. Their God given talent is enviable but also brings a lot of joy to my life.
I am a bitter man, I am a lazy man. My liver gives me trouble. And I suffer from sinus headaches too which is a real bummer. I don't love the world and so far the world said the feeling is mutual. And here's the worst part. I'm supposed to love the world. Because my Christian heritage says I should. Sometimes I dislike Christians the most. Because they get all holier than thou which I hardly ever get, except when the opportunity arises which is hardly ever because mostly others are far holier than me. I cant even pretend to be. I pride myself on finding faults in others. It somehow compensates for my self-loathing. And gives me a break from fits of self-torture and regret. I congratulate myself on my insights. Welldone. You really brought that over-confident ass, down to earth. Now he's on the same level as you. No actually you are above him now. Doesn't that feel grand!