It is enough, Dave. I'm happy to know that your life has been happy and safe--it gives me warmth and a smile. I haven't always been so lucky but I credit those things that cause, and have caused, me pain with a good part of the wisdom I now own. Wouldn't trade them away.
Your purpose? It is something we all wonder about, most of us spend time wondering, but there are things we do that has an effect on others, a good one to be sure, and rarely do we hear "My GAWD you really made my day, thank you" So just keep doing the things that make you happy.
FYI, I have kept all of the words of encouragement you have offered, printed them and refer to them now and again. My GAWD you really made my day Thank you
Though we’ve never met face-to-face you have become a true friend. We’ve exchanged a lot of ideas and thoughts, more than I have with people I’ve known much longer. Thank you, Burce. You really made my day.
Again, our paths a similar. I been married just once and we’ll have that silver thing next year and it’ll probably be quite silent. I don’t know, maybe I’ll be surprised. We don’t see many now, so no reason to create rekindle what have become estranged relationships.
Like you, I’ve never been on my deathbed, I’ve had illnesses, broke a few bones and might be a little more street smart than book smart. One thing, though, I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. Scared of things I can’t control, people who are out of control trying to drop, no force, their warped beliefs on me. It’s hard to ignore when there are too many nut jobs and their actions affect me whether I want them to or not. The world is a mess. I can turn off the noise, but the results are real.
Am I fortunate? Hell yes. But so many are gone, times are hard and many of the things that make me feel fortunate seem to be just a memory. You’re a wise man, a good person to be in contact with. I look to you for that wisdom. Maybe that’s the answer to your question. Maybe you’re here to be that guy people look to for a little reminder, that peace of mind.
You and @CJ Heck are my guides. Your wisdom and guidance have gotten me through some rough days. For that, I’m very thankful.
Thank you, Ken. I find wisdom in nearly every piece I read on Substack, including yours. I’m not homebound in the standard sense. I can get out and about but most of the time I’m happy to stay home and learn from the friends I find here. My world is bigger than ever thanks to the wisdom of experience from every unique soul I discover.
Thank you for saying that, Ken. Most of the time, I'm walking along, fingers in my ears, eyes squinted to peepholes, easing one foot forward at a time, feeling my way along, taking a peek from time to time to see where I am ... can you call that guidance? Who knows. I'd say I just get to the problems first, then I go back to fingers in my ears, eyes squinted ...
You on the other hand are an excellent Guide and Supporter! Thank you!
Good morning, Dave. You do have a purpose and I'm surprised you don't see it. It's to keep writing like you've done for so long. You put smiles on our faces and always send us off into the wild blue yonder thinking. That's no easy task and yet you do it so well.
I have a daughter who, like you, from birth has led a charmed life, too. Many times, I've heard her say much the same things. Life for her just seems to flow. No huge ups but definitely no downs either. I've always told her just to enjoy and pay it forward to those whose lives aren't so charmed.
You do that with writing ...keep on keepin' on, Dave.
This made me wonder if “hard life” and “easy life” are labels we create after the fact.
Because when you strip it down, life just shows up as it is.
The moment we compare, interpret, and assign meaning, that’s when it becomes “hard” or “easy.”
You’ve had what many would call a charmed life, yet you’re still asking the same question people in much harder circumstances ask: what’s the point of it all?
Which makes me think the question isn’t shaped by how much we suffer, but by the meaning we attach to whatever we’re given.
Maybe nothing was missing from your life. Maybe nothing is missing from any of ours.
Maybe we’re all just trying to make sense of something that was never labeled to begin with.
Thanks you for sharing. I've often thought of my life this way too (68 this year). I have had a wonderful life filled with so many good things and sometimes I feel as if I should apologise for it lol. But so thankful ....
It’s an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it? It’s a reverse play of people who have suffered major challenges and pain asking, “Why me?” Thanks, Cathy. Stay happy and healthy.
Hi Dave, Bruce showed me "Morning Joe" this morning. My first time! I loved reading it. Loved the thoughts. Thoughts that have always been traveling companions for me ,too. It's always amazed me to realize how much impact we have, each one of us, on the people around us. Those who play large roles in our lives, or the guy standing in line behind us at the grocery store or Home Depot. Sometimes the simplest exchange of a few words or a shared laugh can change the course of someones day.Their outlook. Their actions. The direction they are moving in. And we never have any idea of the power we've had, the influence, even the saving Grace, at times, that we've unknowingly extended. Life gets so busy, sometimes, so stressful, that its easy to become distracted. To forget about that incredible power that we all have to affect the people around us. It's easy to forget, in the moment, to recognize each opportunity, as it comes along, to use that power to pass along even the most fleeting moment of feeling good. Of sharing the kinship we all inherently have. Of leaving even the most insignificant intersection of lives, a little bit better than it was the moment before, rather than a little bit worse. Leaving two hearts and minds a little bit lighter. And two faces tending more to smile than to frown . You reminded me, Dave, to hoist that awareness back up into the "top priorities" position, where it belongs! Thank you, so much! I'll be reading "Morning Joe" regularly now! What is your purpose? Among many others, maybe it is to make people stop and think about things that might not otherwise occur to them. Such an important purpose, and you do it so well!!! Sure made my day better! Thanks again, G'ganna
Trust me, and whether you believe it or not, your "Soul" has had/is having hundreds if not thousands of lives, past, present, concurrent and future lives. Time is a construct of our world.
The "world" of your Soul exists outside of time, so that all these lives happen at once, NOW.
All this to say that for every "life" without significant challenge or hardship, your Soul has the experience of many that would crush you.
The way I see it, enjoy this one's relative ease and peace. "You" deserve the break. For you have had and are having many, many that are not.
Perhaps in your quieter moments you can sense them. They are the unexplained internal communications that seem to have no basis in our objective world.
If you feel them or sense them, offer them your peace. It is a kindness you are offering yourself.
You pain an insightful picture. Odd as it would seem to most it makes sense to me. I’ve been learning about time and quantum physics lately. The hypotheses of scientists who study them lean toward your explanation. So does the Tao philosophy and Buddhism, as far as I can tell. And none of it leads me to disbelieve the Bible or any other book or scripture. It can all be true at the same time. It just makes sense.
And since you mention the Bible and scripture, and assuming that your background is Christian, I highly recommend investigating the gnostic scriptures.
These are texts from sources, many of whom lived during the time of Jesus, which were later excluded from the Bible by the then-fledgling Church as heretical, since they counter-indicated the Church's attempt to portray Jesus as exclusively the Divine Son of God, separate from the rest of humanity.
Many of these were discovered as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other sources, and include such things as the Gospel of Mary, Jesus' mother, and the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus brother.
These gospels paint a more accurate depiction of the man we call the Christ, and show the lessons that Jesus was actually trying to impart to us as what I would call a prophet, to teach us that the Kingdom of God is within us. And that we are all divine beings due to being created with "God-stuff".
All this before the Church usurped authority of our direct connection with God, and placed itself as the only viable intermediary between original-sin-soiled lesser beings and the Creator.
There are many places to avail yourself of these texts. I think you would find them as fascinating and insightful as I do.
I love this read and especially the affirmation that your father gave you. Whatever you might get into, you come up good and well. After a few rounds of “hard times”, it becomes just “times”. Sometimes it takes a bit of pressure to refine our clarity and priorities in life. But the goal is always our purpose. Thanks again, Dave.
It is enough, Dave. I'm happy to know that your life has been happy and safe--it gives me warmth and a smile. I haven't always been so lucky but I credit those things that cause, and have caused, me pain with a good part of the wisdom I now own. Wouldn't trade them away.
Thank you for the good morning read. Again.
Thanks and good morning to you. Again. 😊
Your purpose? It is something we all wonder about, most of us spend time wondering, but there are things we do that has an effect on others, a good one to be sure, and rarely do we hear "My GAWD you really made my day, thank you" So just keep doing the things that make you happy.
FYI, I have kept all of the words of encouragement you have offered, printed them and refer to them now and again. My GAWD you really made my day Thank you
Though we’ve never met face-to-face you have become a true friend. We’ve exchanged a lot of ideas and thoughts, more than I have with people I’ve known much longer. Thank you, Burce. You really made my day.
check your email i got into it a bit more and how i did a thing for the guy who got me on the air LOL talk about how things come back to us
Again, our paths a similar. I been married just once and we’ll have that silver thing next year and it’ll probably be quite silent. I don’t know, maybe I’ll be surprised. We don’t see many now, so no reason to create rekindle what have become estranged relationships.
Like you, I’ve never been on my deathbed, I’ve had illnesses, broke a few bones and might be a little more street smart than book smart. One thing, though, I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. Scared of things I can’t control, people who are out of control trying to drop, no force, their warped beliefs on me. It’s hard to ignore when there are too many nut jobs and their actions affect me whether I want them to or not. The world is a mess. I can turn off the noise, but the results are real.
Am I fortunate? Hell yes. But so many are gone, times are hard and many of the things that make me feel fortunate seem to be just a memory. You’re a wise man, a good person to be in contact with. I look to you for that wisdom. Maybe that’s the answer to your question. Maybe you’re here to be that guy people look to for a little reminder, that peace of mind.
You and @CJ Heck are my guides. Your wisdom and guidance have gotten me through some rough days. For that, I’m very thankful.
Thank you, Ken. I find wisdom in nearly every piece I read on Substack, including yours. I’m not homebound in the standard sense. I can get out and about but most of the time I’m happy to stay home and learn from the friends I find here. My world is bigger than ever thanks to the wisdom of experience from every unique soul I discover.
Thank you for saying that, Ken. Most of the time, I'm walking along, fingers in my ears, eyes squinted to peepholes, easing one foot forward at a time, feeling my way along, taking a peek from time to time to see where I am ... can you call that guidance? Who knows. I'd say I just get to the problems first, then I go back to fingers in my ears, eyes squinted ...
You on the other hand are an excellent Guide and Supporter! Thank you!
From day one, you’ve always made me think.
I’m sorry. 😁 Thanks Ken. It’s a wonderful compliment.
I'm glad, Ken. Thank you for saying that. I appreciate you.
Good morning, Dave. You do have a purpose and I'm surprised you don't see it. It's to keep writing like you've done for so long. You put smiles on our faces and always send us off into the wild blue yonder thinking. That's no easy task and yet you do it so well.
I have a daughter who, like you, from birth has led a charmed life, too. Many times, I've heard her say much the same things. Life for her just seems to flow. No huge ups but definitely no downs either. I've always told her just to enjoy and pay it forward to those whose lives aren't so charmed.
You do that with writing ...keep on keepin' on, Dave.
Thank you, C.J. Not just for the compliment but, as always, for your insight. It is tremendously encouraging.
You’re sincerely welcome, Dave. Always a pleasure!
See my note below, CJ ☺️
This made me wonder if “hard life” and “easy life” are labels we create after the fact.
Because when you strip it down, life just shows up as it is.
The moment we compare, interpret, and assign meaning, that’s when it becomes “hard” or “easy.”
You’ve had what many would call a charmed life, yet you’re still asking the same question people in much harder circumstances ask: what’s the point of it all?
Which makes me think the question isn’t shaped by how much we suffer, but by the meaning we attach to whatever we’re given.
Maybe nothing was missing from your life. Maybe nothing is missing from any of ours.
Maybe we’re all just trying to make sense of something that was never labeled to begin with.
Thanks you for sharing. I've often thought of my life this way too (68 this year). I have had a wonderful life filled with so many good things and sometimes I feel as if I should apologise for it lol. But so thankful ....
It’s an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it? It’s a reverse play of people who have suffered major challenges and pain asking, “Why me?” Thanks, Cathy. Stay happy and healthy.
Hi Dave, Bruce showed me "Morning Joe" this morning. My first time! I loved reading it. Loved the thoughts. Thoughts that have always been traveling companions for me ,too. It's always amazed me to realize how much impact we have, each one of us, on the people around us. Those who play large roles in our lives, or the guy standing in line behind us at the grocery store or Home Depot. Sometimes the simplest exchange of a few words or a shared laugh can change the course of someones day.Their outlook. Their actions. The direction they are moving in. And we never have any idea of the power we've had, the influence, even the saving Grace, at times, that we've unknowingly extended. Life gets so busy, sometimes, so stressful, that its easy to become distracted. To forget about that incredible power that we all have to affect the people around us. It's easy to forget, in the moment, to recognize each opportunity, as it comes along, to use that power to pass along even the most fleeting moment of feeling good. Of sharing the kinship we all inherently have. Of leaving even the most insignificant intersection of lives, a little bit better than it was the moment before, rather than a little bit worse. Leaving two hearts and minds a little bit lighter. And two faces tending more to smile than to frown . You reminded me, Dave, to hoist that awareness back up into the "top priorities" position, where it belongs! Thank you, so much! I'll be reading "Morning Joe" regularly now! What is your purpose? Among many others, maybe it is to make people stop and think about things that might not otherwise occur to them. Such an important purpose, and you do it so well!!! Sure made my day better! Thanks again, G'ganna
Bruce, please tell your friend, Bill, thanks for the insightful comments and tell him I just started reading his book. I like it.
Trust me, and whether you believe it or not, your "Soul" has had/is having hundreds if not thousands of lives, past, present, concurrent and future lives. Time is a construct of our world.
The "world" of your Soul exists outside of time, so that all these lives happen at once, NOW.
All this to say that for every "life" without significant challenge or hardship, your Soul has the experience of many that would crush you.
The way I see it, enjoy this one's relative ease and peace. "You" deserve the break. For you have had and are having many, many that are not.
Perhaps in your quieter moments you can sense them. They are the unexplained internal communications that seem to have no basis in our objective world.
If you feel them or sense them, offer them your peace. It is a kindness you are offering yourself.
All part of the greater plan of the Creator.
You pain an insightful picture. Odd as it would seem to most it makes sense to me. I’ve been learning about time and quantum physics lately. The hypotheses of scientists who study them lean toward your explanation. So does the Tao philosophy and Buddhism, as far as I can tell. And none of it leads me to disbelieve the Bible or any other book or scripture. It can all be true at the same time. It just makes sense.
Indeed Dave.
I see @C.J. Heck follows you here as well. She knows.
I follow both of you, although I’ve known Dave for almost forever and yes, I know. Thank you, Philip. ❤️
And since you mention the Bible and scripture, and assuming that your background is Christian, I highly recommend investigating the gnostic scriptures.
These are texts from sources, many of whom lived during the time of Jesus, which were later excluded from the Bible by the then-fledgling Church as heretical, since they counter-indicated the Church's attempt to portray Jesus as exclusively the Divine Son of God, separate from the rest of humanity.
Many of these were discovered as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other sources, and include such things as the Gospel of Mary, Jesus' mother, and the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus brother.
These gospels paint a more accurate depiction of the man we call the Christ, and show the lessons that Jesus was actually trying to impart to us as what I would call a prophet, to teach us that the Kingdom of God is within us. And that we are all divine beings due to being created with "God-stuff".
All this before the Church usurped authority of our direct connection with God, and placed itself as the only viable intermediary between original-sin-soiled lesser beings and the Creator.
There are many places to avail yourself of these texts. I think you would find them as fascinating and insightful as I do.
Fascinating. I will look into it.
I love this read and especially the affirmation that your father gave you. Whatever you might get into, you come up good and well. After a few rounds of “hard times”, it becomes just “times”. Sometimes it takes a bit of pressure to refine our clarity and priorities in life. But the goal is always our purpose. Thanks again, Dave.