Teachers

The bad person is the resource of the good person.

~ from Verse 27 of the Tao Te Ching (Derek Lin translation) ~

We have a friend here in Ocean Shores who just cannot get out of his own way.  He is, as they say, his own worst enemy.  Anytime success is within his grasp, he finds a way to turn it into a catastrophe! Needless to say, his life is in constant upheaval and turmoil.

The man is a role model.  Not the kind one usually thinks of.  He models the ways NOT to live one's life.  And though I'm certain it is not his intent, he is a valuable teacher.

In many ways, he's a sweetheart of a guy.  He has a slew of positive attributes, but his negative ones often negate them.  He incessantly seeks the counsel of others, but rarely takes the advice proffered.  He is a lovable (albeit pathetic) fellow.

He is my resource!  I believe I am a better person because of his example.  It's not that I feel morally superior to him.  No, it is more that I see some of myself in him and this has motivated me to make some inner changes.

Hopefully, good changes, not bad ones.

Acceptance

I didn't want to move to Ocean Shores -- my wife wasn't too thrilled with it either.  But this was how the cards fell.  

We have now lived in our 690 sq. ft. apartment for going on 3 1/2 years.  We've made some friends.  There are organizations we are involved with.  We have sort of adopted our 15 year old neighbor as our pseudo-granddaughter.

I'm still not overly thrilled with living in this town that caters to tourists, but I've learned to accept it.  This is where we've landed, so we are trying to make the best of it.

And that's a big life lesson.  You don't always get what you want.  It is not uncommon for circumstances to dictate the situation.  While there are times and variables that are in one's control, much of our lives are dictated by external forces.

The old Taoist adage is certainly true.  Learning to go with the flow -- acceptance -- is far easier (and less stressful) than constantly trying to swim upstream.  

Why fight the current when the vast majority of the time all it means is that you wear yourself out and yet find yourself in more or less the same spot?

I'm Still Bopping Along

Gosh, it's been a long time since I've posted anything.  In fact, I posted nary a thing throughout the entirety of 2016!!

One of the reasons for my lack of writing on this blog is that a lot of the political stuff I used to write about I now broadcast on the radio.  I have a show on KOSW 91.3 FM -- The Left [Left] Coast -- that I do Monday - Friday from 10 - 11:20 pm Pacific Time. 

I'm a bit bushed right now.  With a sidekick, I broadcast tonight a doubleheader at North Beach High School (both the girls and boys teams lost) and then I had to high-tail it to the station to get ready for my show.

Anyhow, I am going to make an effort this year to post, at least, once per month.  We will see if I keep to this schedule.