January 1, 2007

• First, a quick piece from a book I recently finished reading.

  
  

     Then to my amazement, Socrates took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.  "Speaking of smoke," he said, "did I ever tell you that there's no such thing as a bad habit?"
     I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears.  This isn't happening, I told myself.
     "No, you didn't, and I've gone to great lengths on your recommendation to change my bad habits."
     "That was to develop your will, you see, and to give your instincts a refresher course.  You see, any unconscious, compulsive ritual is a problem.  But specific activities - smoking, drinking, taking drugs, eating sweets, or asking silly questions - are both bad and good; every action has its price, and its pleasures.  Recognizing both sides, you become realistic and responsible for your actions.  And only then can you make the warrior's free and conscious choice - to do or not to do.
     "There is a saying: 'When you sit, sit; when you stand, stand; whatever you do, don't wobble.'  Once you make your choice, do it with all your spirit.  Don't be like the preacher who thought about praying while making love to his wife, and thought about making love to his wife while praying."
  ...
     Haven't I got the message across to you yet?  Smoking is not disgusting, only the habit is.  I may enjoy a cigarette, then not smoke again for six months.  And when I do smoke, I don't pretend that my lungs won't pay a price; I follow appropriate action afterward to help counterbalance the negative effects."

  
  

  -Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman

  
  

  Happy New Year to everyone.  Hopefully, everyone was able to celebrate with a person or people that they enjoy being with.  They say that whatever you're doing at midnight will echo throughout the new year.  Woe to those who were in the bathroom, because they may have a shitty year.

  
  

  So, every year, people look forward to this one day, a day to "start over", to "begin anew".  What's so special about this day though.  I mean, it's really no different from yesterday.  Hell, the Fiscal Year started in October.  Officially, the end of the year was the end of a tax period, the last chance to max out your IRAs, the last chance to hold an "End of Year Clearance", but it's only a day. 

  
  

  You can start your life up any day you wish, so there is little reason to have put it off until the New Year.  Why wait to quit smoking?  Quitting today is just as good as quitting a month from today.  Better even, because today shows dedication.  Tomorrow shows procrastination.  Granted, for some, there is always a time issue.  There may be pieces to the puzzle that are not in place yet.  But that's exactly my point.  If things won't realistically support your decisions until May, due to something like work, school, finances, etc., then it's fine to wait until May.  Just ensure that you take that step.

  
  

  This is the time of year where everyone makes resolutions.  Most will end up failing, because either the goal isn't realistic, or the method of attaining it is off.  Imagine that you are a gauge, and you are pointed at one end, the red.  You resolve to point at the other end.  Remember that the arrow does not immediately appear there.  It must travel through the yellow before arriving in the green.  At the same time, what gets you out of the red way not be the same thing that will get you into the green.  So make your resolution, but reevaluate your plan throughout, or adjust your plans of actions.

  
  

  Whenever you're and having a hard time focusing on what your doing, say these questions and their answers:

  
  

  Where are you?  Here.
  What time is it?  Now.

  
  

  Black 6, out.

  • 9:40 am
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