Let's Try the Red One

"Remember - you are not a helpless bystander to the tyranny of your mind."

Toltecs

 

Reflecting on my day I'm now much more conscious of how much time I spent talking about myself or focusing attention on myself or my issues.  SuperK went out to lunch with some friends from her golf league and got stuck to a woman who asked her not one question (just back from Denmark!) while prattling on and on in great detail about herself.  Borrrrringggg!  I'm not sure what I would have done but then I'm not as nice as my wife is - she actually cares what other people think about her.  But I know that I'm not so important that I need to keep a constant watch over myself.  I can stop watching myself and start noticing others.  I can continue to discover the world around me.

"One must do more, think less, and not watch oneself live."

Sebastien de Chamfort

"Sometimes we have habits or practices that cause us pain, yet we continue to do them.  This is because that same action also brings us comfort in some way.  Being honest with ourselves in this regard is key to knowing whether or not we really want to change them."

Toltecs, again

This is an alcoholic, pondering the ruination of his life, fully aware that he simply cannot drink and survive, pouring the next drink.  He has learned what the problem is; he is aware that there is a solution; but he doesn't change his behavior.

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.  The sensation is so elusive, that while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after time differentiate the true from the false.  To them, the alcoholic life seems the only normal one."

Doctor's Opinion, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Homer Simpson, in an effort to get free cable, climbs up a utility pole where he finds a red connection and a green connection.  He attaches the cable wire to the green connection - makes sense - and is promptly shocked into next Wednesday.  "Hmmmm," he muses.  "Must be the red connection."  For a second time he gets the shit shocked out of himself.  Frazzled, he pauses, smoke rising from his singed hair, and states, with some purpose and confidence: "Let's try the green one."  and is promptly knocked right off the pole.

This is an alcoholic pondering the next right move as he looks back on an endless stream of bad choices, before deciding to try the alcohol solution . . . one . . .  morrrrre . . . tiiiiime . . .