Upon closer inspection, it seems that everyone’s life is divided into instances of discipline and laziness, of nobility and cowardice, of heroism and villainy…why try and create some completely subjective scale where I can measure my life against another’s?  

I have come to the conclusion that all that matters is putting my best foot forward, and enjoying the ride.

We circle through ignorance and knowledge to end in wonder.

I have a theory we’ll be brought down by our weaknesses time and time again…not as an exercise in randomness or cruelty, but as a well-disguised lesson that teaches us how to become unassailably strong.

The crush of life is inevitable; some people meet it with anger, some with excuses, others with elitist philosophies…my favorite approach is to use a fluid perspective; this way, validity can be checked through functionality.  

If something doesn’t fit, then on to the next thing.

Rather than focusing on deification/vilification, I find it more productive to focus on what is effective and what is obsolete.

Doctrine/tradition is not there so it can be viewed as some jewel-encrusted ceiling we can only ogle but never surpass.  

I see it more as a diving board, upon which we can launch ourselves to greater and greater heights.

Mastery is being able to surf the breaks and cusps of destruction/misfortune until you don’t give a damn where you are, because you trust yourself to get where you need to go.

Enemies and obstacles, when used properly, are gifts that pave the way to improvement.  

To me, the exhortation to enjoy life seems to often be taken out of context.  IMHO, it doesn’t mean that one should walk around in a happy, nonfunctional daze.  It means that one should enjoy every effort, every pleasure and every strife….and take nothing personally, even when dismantling an opponent.

I’ve come to realize that having engaging tasks to perform is the REAL blessing.  Yeah, I could go for the fancy clothes, the cool house, the car and all that…but those are slap-dash configurations of atoms that are destined to fade.  IMHO, nothing can replace the fulfillment you get from truly applying yourself and building something you’re proud to call your own, whether it makes you money or not.