Paradigm

With the quiet of late from the usual suspects, I'm missing the community and conversation that somehow materializes among the interwebs. It's been quieter for months, I think, though there was a more active patch in there, which was fun.

Granted, my activities have moved a bit away from socializing, due to a growing tiredness - just the crud; a bevy of vague and not-so-vague complaints that wear me down without keeping me in bed, though sometime I will just take a day off of work for the extra rest. Sick building syndrome may also be to blame: I've felt more lousy more often at this job than any other - and I ride my bike to work a lot, which theoretically should make my constitution closer to that of an equine. (Yes, I'm referring to the phrase "healthy as a horse".) This is under investigation. Nonetheless - haven't been out as much, haven't seen friends as much, haven't done a group ride in a couple months.

My thoughts often turn toward an analysis of trying to find a balance. Some days it's as though I'm the only one who's discovered that a lack of happiness is likely attributable to an imbalance. I've developed a language and tend to work at a generalized level of situational evaluation, and abruptly am speaking a language that's only familiar to sociologists. Expectations, attachments, lack of empathy, poor communication... I see perceived problems in the most general terms; only the specific circumstances seem to vary.

I can evaluate even that tendency. People have a tough time zooming out because they're too attached; re-evaluate and you may have to loose your position; doing that can threaten a person's ego and sense of identity.

I can't be the only one out there developing a sense of balance (which I now amusedly note I have not addressed), but perhaps I'm the only one with this approach to the bumps in the road.

Found in a sig

The world is like a ride in an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. It has thrills, it's very brightly coloured, it's loud and it's fun, for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time and begin to question: "Is this real, or is this just a ride?" And other people have remembered, and they come back and say, "Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride." And we kill those people.

Believing the best in people

I just heard a quote on NPR:

"I call myself a born-again Christian. I believe that all people have a natural inclination to sin."

It made me realize pretty abruptly that I don't share that belief, which makes me wonder if I'm also opposing one of the central tenets of Christianity. Oops?

Not sure if that makes me optimistic, especially as I've also a good tendency toward cynicism. Heh.

Whatever. I've other things to do that are more interesting uses of energy.