to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly;
to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart;
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony."
By William Henry Channing
Thanks, John, for the offering; it is provocative.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we don't really need 4G, or even 3G or 2G. Maybe 1G is more than plenty.
Whatever technological or commercial enticement tends to separate or isolate us from interpersonal relationships seems to diminish our humanity. This is difficult for us misanthropes to accept, but reality has a way of imposing itself on us.
Retrospectively examining the moments of greatest fulfillment and personal gratification, one is quite rational to conclude, like Channing, that accumulation of material possessions never comes close to the bonding experience that child-rearing provides those parents who are wise enough to recognize the significance of familial interactions to human psyches. It's really the essence of living. It is probably not possible to engage a child in helping him to grow and mature without experiencing growth and maturity in ourselves.
Contrary to popular misconception, he who dies with the most stuff just has more potential beneficiaries who are happy to see him dead.
Beyond surviving and preparing succeeding generations to do likewise, most everything else is just distraction; "bread and circus".
Grandpa Grimm
History has seen many Philosophers with other skills: physicist philosopher (Newton), mathematician philosopher (Laplace), etc., but you might just be one of the first geologist philosophers. You make me mighty proud when you write/say/do things like this. I think most of that you got from Mom - I am, after all, an ENGINEER! But however you came by it, it's a very neat trait and you're a great Dad - and a terrific son.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Grandpa Chadwick
What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot find good use for half an hour?
ReplyDeleteAhhh John..you bring out the Transcendentalist in each of us.