Chapter 13 is very short--only 3 pages, but I found one of my favorite quotations here. It is on page 149. "There is very little that any philosophy, or self-help book can teach us that is new about attaining the ultimate currency. The most a book or a teacher can do is to help raise our awareness, to help us become more fully in touch with what we already know. Ultimately, our progress, our growth, and our happiness come from our ability to look within ourselves and ask the important questions."
It is up to each of us to figure out how to enjoy life. School, mentors, books, role models, etc. can open possibilities, but we, ultimately, reject or accept them. There have been many times in my life when I have rejected a chance to try something new and exiting simply because I was either afraid or just didn't want to be bothered. There have been other times when I dove in headfirst and had the time of my life. The trick is to know when to jump and when to decline. That's where experience and education come in.
4 comments:
I wasn't a big fan of chapter 13; part of that could be due to its lack of length. The "going to your past in a time machine" scenario has been, in my opinion, used too many times. I did find the studies on open confrontations with death and terminally ill patients interesting, but then again, I've heard about such studies beforehand so it wasn't eyebrow raising information. The one line that really caught my eye was, "It is a matter of awareness." in the first paragraph on page 149. Since we're with ourselves 24/7 (as in I'm with me and you're with you at all times) I find it pretty dang curious that we know so little about ourselves. You'd think that after living with yourself for your entire life you'd be a bit more observant when regarding ones self. When do you think we begin to lose our focus?
*Page 149, first paragraph, "George Bernard Shaw's quip notwithstanding, youth does not need to be wasted on the young." I laughed when I read that, especially after Cougar's comment on the generation of today; that today's generation isn't creative.
There is very little that any philosophy, psychology, or self-help book can teach us that is new about attaining the ultimate currency. The most a book or a teacher can do is to help raise our awareness, to help us become more fully in touch with what we already know. Ultimately, our progress, our growth, and our happiness come from our ability to look within ourselves and ask the important questions.
I feel a close connection to this paragraph because I came from a difficult past & since I moved here a year ago, I've become more focused and determined. I now know what I want in life and where I want to be in ten years. I understand that life is full of challenges and I welcome it with a positive outlook.
Chapter 13, page 147
Mark Twain once wrote "Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen". I think the only reason people would be happier is because generally life gets worse the longer you go. If I am eighty and going backwards in life of course I would be happier. I would be going back in time to a time where most bad stuff hasn't happened yet.
In order to reach the life I want. I need to set goals to achieve the things I want in life.
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