Allegory of the Cave; 1989 freshman year St. John's University, Philosophy 101. Truth, I sat hour upon hour wondering, "When does this start to make sense?" 2003; a bad year, fork in the road of a seemingly good life, age 30, "Oh, so that's what he was talking about". Well, not exactly. The moment was hardly an epiphany, in fact it was only in retrospect that I would realize the moment had actually come and gone. I've been on the previously uncharted road for nearly 5 years now and with that comes a new dilemma; does the student become the teacher?
Sometimes-more often than not, I find myself in the middle of a discourse involving some seemingly cave-like thinking; any and everything from child-rearing practices to work ethic and all local stops in between. I don't know what to do anymore. If I spend any more time writing and talking to my cats, I'll become officially weird, if I spend any more time trying to persuade others to exit the cave of their minds (patterned thinking, behaviors, comfort, ignorance) I worry I'll get sucked in. At some point you begin to wonder if your own wealth of life and happiness is all an illusion. Perhaps, I'm in the cave and everyone else is out dancing on some musical yellow road like pre-weird Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in The Wiz. Doubtful, but you never can tell.
So, I'm going to try something new, I'm going to ask my readers and just for shits and giggles I'm going to put together a package of goodness for the person who feeds me the sweetest morsel on the topic. (Morsels are defined as sweet goodness for your mind body and spirit.) If you're not on blogger, please leave an e-mail contact alongside your comment.
Do I rely upon the depth and breadth of my own teachings to help others close to me or do I depend on the sheer nature of the Universe to show them the way and, why?
11 comments:
I believe that it is determined by a specific person. For example person A instinctive knows/can figure it out of their own that if you roll a ball it will get to a certain destination. Person B will stare at the ball until someone tells them it rolls. I think it all a matter of balance, there must be teachers and there must be students...but, the teacher can only accomplish so much.
I am not sure what you are talking about...but I read your entire post. lol.
i do like the Wiz though, and i totally get that movie! :)
I do think that you can do what you like to do and talking to your cats is fine. I don't think you are weird. just remember to take showers,brush your teeth, love your family and read your bible :)
i know there is more but those are the first ones to know you are still healthy. lol
The ones who need teaching are not listening to and/or applying the knowledge in the first place.
I personally get a lot of satisfaction out of setting a stellar example and a few self righteous smirks when necessary.
Once a (much!) older woman at the Habitat for Humanity where I was volunteering said about the community services kids that were required to work there "I don't play with ignant cheerin" (say it loud). I adopted that as my personal motto and it has saved me a lot of heartache over the years. :)
Aren't you teaching them just be being in their life? If they choose not to learn, so be it.
If you're referring to your children (or anyone else close to you, really)
Think of it this way: You're the guide...you've traveled a path, set a course, taught your wisdom based upon the obstacles discovered in/on your own journey. There comes a time when all one can do is set others free in the Universe...and they, too will find their own path.
Why? Because they need wings.
At some point you begin to wonder if your own wealth of life and happiness is all an illusion.
Well, it is, and it isn't. We're just all part of a huge river of light, after all. It just keeps flowing along, and we get what we get. What matters is how we perceive it all.
So the key to not falling into a cave of despair is to have gratitude for everything. Birth, Death, Breakups, Unions, bad food, good food, the whole mess. And to recognize that gratitude is an action, not an emotion.
Thank you for your visit, for your kind words at my place, and for listing me on your gorgeous blog. I've added you to my list as well, because I feel a lovely spirit here.
Well... I guess the latter, but that's kind of lying. I let everybody do their own thing, because that's how I learn from them. Not how I can be like them, but how they be like them. If I can get an idea of what goes into the making of them, it helps me understand how to more clearly see what goes into the making of me.
That was a fancy way of saying I just make it all about me.
Now the way I see it..we share what knowledge we have and try to help, people take what part of our knowledge and help they want and then they are on their own..I always say the name of the game is "Choices"..
Some choices are good and some are bad, just hope we learn and can live with the choice.
well welcome to the cave sister
have a great weekend
I see it a bit like the saying "you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink". You can show, tell, beg, whatever, but if someone does not want to change their behavior, they won't. The best you can do is step back and keep on setting the best example you can. Because sometimes the Universe will step in and provide them an opportunity to learn and grow, and your example may be what they have to draw from.
Now - if I could just put this into practice in my own life!
I kind of alternate between the two. It's not in me to see someone close to me floundering and NOT try to help, KWIM? But, if I try repeatedly and they do that thing like they want my help but refuse any suggestions or advice, I let things take care of themselves. It's definitely a fine line because of course I want to help the people I love but you always give up a little piece of yourself when you do that. I don't mind doing that if it's a sincere want/need for help, but if it's just drama queen antics or attention whoring, I don't want to give out a little piece of me for the sake of somebody like that. Ya know? I've had to come to terms with the fact that just because I love my family doesn't mean they always deserve it or that they always do the right thing or that their motives are always what they should be. I do what I'm capable of and then I draw the line. I hope that answers your question!
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