May rains and rains and I find myself focusing more and more on writing and becoming absolutely absorbed in obscure material and old texts, filling my head with all sorts of fascinating information that, on the surface, would appear to have no practical use, yet if you look deeper, such things - philosophy, math, chaos theory, Taoism, programming, and certain sciences - are at the very core of our lives. Without these things, we have no ability to analyze, to think logically or in any sort of linear fashion (let us bow down to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), and our self-discipline that keeps us going everyday no matter what (Marcus Aurelius), and how things work (Newton), and how to be revolutionary in everything that we do and take on -
These days, I turn to Guy Kawasaki, an amazing entrepreneur and former Apple Fellow who went on to form the VC firm Garage.com - highly successful - and then penned several books, one of which is Rules for Revolutionaries - a must read for anyone wishing to do anything and intending to make a difference.
I've taken up kick-boxing and tae bo, and see a marked change not only in my body (strengthening, lengthening), but in my mind as well: focus, will-power, determination.)
As you likely know by now, there are those that would gladly tear you down. And yes, even those whom you have trusted can turn in a heartbeat, and though it may not make sense at the time, my advice is to move forward, to not look back and try to understand because there is no understanding the purely irrational behavior of others. The best you can do is understand yourself - take yourself to task - know thyself - be firm, courageous, willing to take a chance when it feels right, and never afraid to jump from the high-board when the situation calls for it.
As Nelson Mandela said, "It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us..." and he ends by saying, "ask yourself, Who am i not to be? And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same." (inagural speech).
Thanks for listening,
s.r.p.
may, 2005
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