To Go Wrong in One's Own Way is Better Then To Go Right in Someone Else's

We live in a world were there are so many things that are competing for our attention. So many ideologies and faiths telling us that they are right. So many people telling us they know the truth. TV programs telling you that they know something you don't. You have doctors telling you how to raise your children, you have scientists telling you how should live your life and what you should believe. Even family members competing for our minds attention. 

And in that world there are two distinct kinds of people. We have those that are independently minded and those that are dependently minded. The dependently minded individuals need someone to tell them what to think. They need to someone to tell them how to react. How to live their life. A good example of this I think is in a religion setting. I have known people who scour the the internet, purchasing books, actively looking for mentors, watching videos, and just looking for someone to tell them how to live their life. The dependently minded individual will accept someone else's view point without merit or reason, and based solely on the fact that they are “more educated” and share a common belief with said individual. In this particular case, they look to something other then what they should. So what are the benefits to being dependently minded you may ask? It's easy. Thinking is a challenge. Especially if your not used to it. Its easier to ask someone else what to think, and why, than it is to figure it out yourself. You don't have to analyze, research, or compare. I believe that is the biggest reason more people are dependently minded. 

The independent individual obviously has a mind of his/her own. They know why they believe what they believe. They don't have a group mindset. They don't follow the herd. They are not sheep. They come to conclusions all on their own, and through their own means. An independent thinker thinks different when something feels wrong. An independent thinker is different. Sometimes an independent thinker can be down right offensive with their ideas. But hey, the value in being an independent thinker is not something to be taken lightly. They go against the grain. They create change, and push others. Their belief system they adhere to is well thought out. Even if they are wrong, like most of us are, they continue to adapt and change. They don't hold themselves down to certain stereotypes and ideologies. It seems that breaking from the meta is their method of operation.

But in the end, I think being a dependently minded individual is actually harder then it seems. It costs you in the long run. The ability to fight through the fog of life and see clearly is something that is lost on you till you decide to change it. Neither class of individual is superior to the other. Its just a mindset. A mindset that, with a little work, can be changed. 

The fog of life is a lot thinner when you think for yourself. 

Your absent minded friend, Jacob

Who does not Thank for Little will not Thank for Much.

Today's post will probably dip into more of the political sphere. So you've been warned.

The funny thing about having an easy life, is that it breeds entitlement. People, especially young, begin to feel like they are owed something. Usually that something is yet an even easier life. They begin to feel like they deserve it. They feel special, so they whine, mope, and complain when things aren't as they “should be.” Society isn't giving them what they worthy of. Hopefully you get my point.

So imagine you've just been stranded on an Island. You can take 2 of the next 5 people with you. An Engineer, a Mechanic, a Farmer, a Soldier, and last, but not least, an Artist. Me, I'm taking the Engineer and the Farmer with me. Why? Because an Engineer is smart. He is worth something on this Island to me. And the Farmer. He is worth something to me as well. And what do both bring to the table? They both increase my chance of survival for what, I hope, are obvious reasons. On an island nothing is easy. Nothing is free. Everything has to be created in order to survive. Nothing is given to you, nothing is owed to you. What you put into it is what you get out of it.

So what is my point with that illustration? I'm ascribing worth to people in an economical and survivalistic way, and in that way only.(I'm not referring to worth in a spiritual way.) Basically a persons value is ascribed to them based on their knowledge, skill, and ability to work. The Mechanic and the Artist do not have nearly the worth as the two I chose for surviving on a desert island.

In this age of modern technology, life here on earth for most people, at least in the United States, is extremely easy. Well, my life is easy anyways. If you disagree with me, think about what life was like 100 or 200 or even 300 years ago. Our Generation has life way easier then any generation in all of history prior. Our lives may not be very simple, but it is easy. It is convenient. 

 

An entitled individual lacks worth for the general growth of society. A generation of entitled people will eventually ruin a society. Entitlement, I feel, springs from a lack of understanding. A lack of a sense of reality. A lack of the sense of the need to survive. Entitlement breeds Socialism. If history has anything to say on the matter, a move towards socialism is the downfall of any great and comfortable society. When people switch their focus from survival to create a Utopia, that society becomes worthless. But that is my perspective anyways. Take it for what you will.

-Your lazy and somewhat overweight friend, -Jacob. 

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content - 1 Timothy 6:8

I'm a content person. So don't get me wrong, there are things in life I want, but I am content. Being content is better than being disgruntled, but at the same time contentment can be dangerous to our future and our happiness. At least I feel like it can be. Sometimes contentment can make us complacent. Contentment can suck our drive to do more and better ourselves. 

 So is being content a bad thing? Absolutely not, any sane person will tell you so. It keeps us from disgruntlement and perhaps bitterness. Its keeps us from being negative. But it should not be confused with happiness. Happiness is part of the word happening. It is possible to be content, and even joyful, when a lot of the things life is throwing at you aren’t what you’d like or how you'd you like. I feel like contentment is being ok with the things life is throwing at you. Like me, I'm content. I have a wonderful job that pays me decently, not the job I want to have forever, but one that is stable and provides good life experience. 

So what is the dangerous side of contentment? It can lead to being complacent. It can suck your drive to better yourself, and potentially suck the joy out of your life. Sometimes you can be so content to just let life pass you by that you miss out on the great things life offers. These great thing are usually unique to every individual. But if you're not careful, eventually this kind of contentment could lead to comfortability . Perhaps that is where it actually gets dangerous. People become comfortable with their place in life, perhaps they even become comfortable with letting go of their dreams and goals. They become comfortable with their weight, or even comfortable with their low end job. People become comfortable with staying exactly where they are. 

 And maybe its just me, but I find that I get the most joy from life when I push myself, when I progress, grow, learn, do, and just live. That is hard to do when you're so content, that you're comfortable.

-Your friendly couch potato, Jacob.



photo taken from:

Coyote Free Art & Photography's Photos

https://www.facebook.com/coyotesiphotography

Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them

I'm pretty sure we all view time differently. I've found with my life that I watch the clock like a hawk. When I'm at work(or church. Lol.), I watch time float by in an agonizingly slow way, waiting for my next break, and my next break, until it is time to go home. Then when I'm home, I watch the clock, hoping that Ill have enough time to do what I want before bed(And I never do). Bed time rolls around, and I, somewhat dismayed, think "Where has time gone?!?" well I should know, shouldn't I? after all, I've been watching it so intently all day. And so I watch time, but I don't take advantage of it. After all, we all have plenty of it, right?


So here I am, almost 21. And it seems like just yesterday, I was 17/18. Thankfully I'm not, but it makes me sit back and think about where time has gone, and how much of it have I wasted. I watch as people I know pass away, some young, some old, and some not so old. I notice as people frivolously run about trying to accomplish their dreams, or just trying to survive. Some don't have the luxury of pursuing their dreams. Or are just to lazy too.

I'm content with my life, but strive for more. I have hopes, dreams, goals, ideals, and wants. But time? Time is funny. Time says they'll always be there. But one day you wake up and ask, “Where has time gone?” Pretty soon you're too old to pursue some of your dreams. You see people accomplish things you'd like to have accomplished, but didn't. The difference between them and me? How they spent their time.

 Time feels like it can drag on, but in reality, its short. Just ask anyone over the age of 30.

 -Your not so sympathetic procrastinator, Jacob.