Stoic Poetry: Recent Episodes

Kurt Bell

There’s little good news in nature. The universe seems incapable of care, or of opinion, or of preference regarding right or wrong, good or bad, or what constitutes a just and virtuous society or life. The universe’s first opinion on these matters is evident in the dead, bleak environment of space and time; the restless progress of all order in the direction of entropy, and the cold indifference of matter and energy everywhere - where the curious phenomenon of life appears like some strange, exotic exception to a rule of inorganic truth. So, what do we do with this fact? How do we prevent a slide into nihilism? How do we keep our upright posture while our legs buckle and give way as our mind struggles to accept a reality the facts cannot seemingly deny? This project takes on this challenge.

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Principle of Family
  13. Public Speaking
  14. Temperance
  15. Life Will Not Go Well
  16. The Horror Show
  17. That Which Must Be Borne
  18. The Feast of Offal
  19. Distraction
  20. Agency and The Great Indifference
  21. The Best Seat in the House
  22. The Restless Man
  23. The Path of Wildness
  24. The Great Life Adventure
  25. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  26. Sin and Damnation
  27. Complete Oblivion
  28. The Season of Philosophy
  29. Scriptwriting
  30. Bullseye Aim
  31. The Uphill Climb
  32. Arena and Utility
  33. Nothing IS enough
  34. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

Episode 137 of my podcast series Stoic Poetry deals with a category of principles titled Engagement, and explores how these five strategies for living are helpful in dealing with bad days, horrific days and the up-welling of negative emotion and action which might emerge as a result.

GoingAlone#TheGoodLife

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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In episode 125 of the Stoic Poetry podcast, I explore the outer, more Stoic, edges of being ready to die—of how to be prepared for death unexpected and seemingly out of time or in the improper season—namely, how to go to our deaths like Socrates, Seneca or with the stated fortitude and resolve of Aurelius. I’m not there yet, not by a long shot. But hey, every boy and girl should have a dream.

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die
  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources
  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles
  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions
  5. Perform Good Actions
  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity
  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War
  2. Principle of Reason
  3. Homunculus
  4. Anchorhold
  5. The Home of Good and Evil
  6. Principle of Purpose
  7. Atomic Principle
  8. Principle of Nature
  9. The Pirate Ride
  10. Principle of Maturity
  11. Social Principle
  12. Public Speaking
    1. Temperance
  14. Life Will Not Go Well
  15. The Horror Show
  16. That Which Must Be Borne
  17. The Feast of Offal
  18. Distraction
  19. Agency and The Great Indifference
  20. The Best Seat in the House
  21. The Restless Man
  22. The Path of Wildness
  23. The Great Life Adventure
  24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk
  25. Sin and Damnation
  26. Complete Oblivion
  27. The Season of Philosophy
  28. Bullseye Aim
  29. The Uphill Climb
  30. Arena and Utility
  31. nothing IS enough
  32. The Principle of Fun

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die

  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources

  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles

  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions

  5. Perform Good Actions

  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity

  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War

  2. Principle of Reason

  3. Homunculus

  4. Anchorhold

  5. Home of Good and Evil

  6. Principle of Purpose

  7. Atomic Principle

  8. Principle of Nature

  9. The Pirate Ride

  10. Principle of Maturity

  11. Social Principle

  12. Public Speaking

  13. Temperance

  14. The Feast of Offal

  15. Distraction

  16. Agency and The Great Indifference

  17. The Best Seat in the House

  18. The Path of Wildness

  19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk

  20. Sin and Damnation

  21. Complete Oblivion

  22. The Great Life Adventure

  23. The Season of Philosophy

  24. Bullseye Aim

  25. The Uphill Climb

  26. Arena and Utility

  27. nothing IS enough

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference.

Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Be Always Ready to Die

  2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources

  3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles

  4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions

  5. Perform Good Actions

  6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity

  7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES:

  1. Principle of War

  2. Principle of Reason

  3. Homunculus

  4. Anchorhold

  5. Home of Good and Evil

  6. Principle of Purpose

  7. Atomic Principle

  8. Principle of Nature

  9. The Pirate Ride

  10. Principle of Maturity

  11. Social Principle

  12. Public Speaking

  13. Temperance

  14. The Feast of Offal

  15. Distraction

  16. Agency and The Great Indifference

  17. The Best Seat in the House

  18. The Path of Wildness

  19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk

  20. Sin and Damnation

  21. Complete Oblivion

  22. The Great Life Adventure

  23. The Season of Philosophy

  24. Bullseye Aim

  25. The Uphill Climb

  26. Arena and Utility

  27. nothing IS enough

My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone.

Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org

Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES: 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Feast of Offal 15. Distraction 16. Agency and The Great Indifference 17. The Best Seat in the House 18. The Path of Wildness 19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 20. Sin and Damnation 21. Complete Oblivion 22. The Great Life Adventure 23. The Season of Philosophy 24. Bullseye Aim 25. The Uphill Climb 26. Arena and Utility 27. nothing IS enough My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone. Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES: 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Feast of Offal 15. Distraction 16. Agency and The Great Indifference 17. The Best Seat in the House 18. The Path of Wildness 19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 20. Sin and Damnation 21. Complete Oblivion 22. The Great Life Adventure 23. The Season of Philosophy 24. Bullseye Aim 25. The Uphill Climb 26. Arena and Utility 27. nothing IS enough My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone. Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES: 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Feast of Offal 15. Distraction 16. Agency and The Great Indifference 17. The Best Seat in the House 18. The Path of Wildness 19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 20. Sin and Damnation 21. Complete Oblivion 22. The Great Life Adventure 23. The Season of Philosophy 24. Bullseye Aim 25. The Uphill Climb 26. Arena and Utility 27. nothing IS enough My name is Kurt Bell

Learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone. Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. Life Will Not Go Well 15. The Horror Show 16. That Which Must Be Borne 17. The Feast of Offal 18. Distraction 19. Agency and The Great Indifference 20. The Best Seat in the House 21. The Restless Man 22. The Path of Wildness 23. The Great Life Adventure 24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 25. Sin and Damnation 26. Complete Oblivion 27. The Season of Philosophy 28. Bullseye Aim 29. The Uphill Climb 30. Arena and Utility 31. nothing IS enough 32. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. Life Will Not Go Well 15. The Horror Show 16. That Which Must Be Borne 17. The Feast of Offal 18. Distraction 19. Agency and The Great Indifference 20. The Best Seat in the House 21. The Restless Man 22. The Path of Wildness 23. The Great Life Adventure 24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 25. Sin and Damnation 26. Complete Oblivion 27. The Season of Philosophy 28. Bullseye Aim 29. The Uphill Climb 30. Arena and Utility 31. nothing IS enough 32. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. Life Will Not Go Well 15. The Horror Show 16. That Which Must Be Borne 17. The Feast of Offal 18. Distraction 19. Agency and The Great Indifference 20. The Best Seat in the House 21. The Restless Man 22. The Path of Wildness 23. The Great Life Adventure 24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 25. Sin and Damnation 26. Complete Oblivion 27. The Season of Philosophy 28. Bullseye Aim 29. The Uphill Climb 30. Arena and Utility 31. nothing IS enough 32. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. Life Will Not Go Well 15. The Horror Show 16. That Which Must Be Borne 17. The Feast of Offal 18. Distraction 19. Agency and The Great Indifference 20. The Best Seat in the House 21. The Restless Man 22. The Path of Wildness 23. The Great Life Adventure 24. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 25. Sin and Damnation 26. Complete Oblivion 27. The Season of Philosophy 28. Bullseye Aim 29. The Uphill Climb 30. Arena and Utility 31. nothing IS enough 32. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly

PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Feast of Offal 15. Distraction 16. Agency and The Great Indifference 17. The Best Seat in the House 18. The Path of Wildness 19. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 20. Sin and Damnation 21. Complete Oblivion 22. The Great Life Adventure 23. The Season of Philosophy 24. Bullseye Aim 25. The Uphill Climb 26. Arena and Utility 27. nothing IS enough

My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

View Details

The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The Good Life Meditation is my daily recitation and reminder of personal objectives and principles used in pursuit of a purposeful life in spite of a universe of seeming indifference. Learn more about The Good Life at my website GoingAlone.org or by reading my book Going Alone. And visit our Discord at: https://discord.gg/fT3p8DXegV OBJECTIVES: 1. Be Always Ready to Die 2. Make Good Use of Time and Resources 3. Develop Good and Sound Life Principles 4. Cultivate Good Emotional Reactions 5. Perform Good Actions 6. Recognize True Limits and Opportunity 7. One Thing Slowly PRINCIPLES 1. Principle of War 2. Principle of Reason 3. Homunculus 4. Anchorhold 5. Home of Good and Evil 6. Principle of Purpose 7. Atomic Principle 8. Principle of Nature 9. The Pirate Ride 10. Principle of Maturity 11. Social Principle 12. Public Speaking 13. Temperance 14. The Horror Show 15. That Which Must Be Borne 16. The Feast of Offal 17. Distraction 18. Agency and The Great Indifference 19. The Best Seat in the House 20. The Path of Wildness 21. The Risk of Avoiding Risk 22. Sin and Damnation 23. Complete Oblivion 24. The Great Life Adventure 25. The Season of Philosophy 26. Bullseye Aim 27. The Uphill Climb 28. Arena and Utility 29. nothing IS enough 30. The Principle of Fun My name is Kurt Bell Learn more in my book Going Alone Be safe... But not too safe

Website: https://goingalone.org Email: softypapa@gmail.com

softypapa #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife

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The opportunity to stay or to go. I say always go. Especially when we are young—always go. For the wonder of what we have left behind is like a dull lump of coal possessed against a moment's need of warmth should life turn cold and dark and possibly alone. We remain behind to not give up the little we already have, in turn for the guarantee of nothing should we leave; a bargain hardly equitable to a reasonable mind. So, I'll stay. And I will settle in. And I will remain with what I know—my lump of coal growing denser through acquisition, gaining substance by way of the gross accumulation of things: a house of our own, a safe marriage, 1.9 kids, the start of a career and the necessity to only once ever memorize our phone number. I might go out Into lifeTo see what there isAnd return in peaceOr I might staySeeking peaceWondering alwaysWhat there isOr I might depart. I say depart. Especially when we are young—always depart. For the wonder of what we find is like sand on a foreign beach. Worthless. Yet warm to our bare feet, and soft to the touch. Inviting of a long walk along a curious, foreign shore. And the finding of a soft place to sit and behold a strange sunrise, or sunset—or why not both in one day, or for a year, or longer still? Pick up a handful of the strange sand and look close. Such wonders of tiny stones. Worthless. Yet containing everything at once. Put the sand back down. And live for a while in this other place. Accumulate some other things: new ways, and fresh words, and strange and interesting times, some risk perhaps and maybe a scar. And when your days are done, and your children come to clean out your things, will they wonder more at the lump of dense coal they find upon the mantle by the TV, or by the strange sand which spills from the old pair of sneakers you long ago left by the door before they were born?

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I remember when I first thought up the idea of Going Alone. My family and I were living then in Japan, and I was making YouTube videos for the Walking in Japan and Abandoned Japan series. I was active at that time on social media, and among the questions I answered from viewers were periodic requests from people who planned to visit Japan, and who asked if they could join me on an adventure in the mountains. Such arrangements only rarely worked out, as the logistics of visiting both Japan and my out of the way city proved more challenge than most Japan dreamers were willing to overcome, though I did escort at least one or two groups a year with me into the Japan Southern Alps. The guided trips were fun, as it was nice to meet new people, and to talk freely with native English speakers, and to see my favorite remote Japanese villages through the curious eyes of other foreigners who shared my appreciation for such rare and special places. But, the trips were not the same for me. Such trips were nothing like my adventures alone into the rugged mountains of central Japan; and I knew what was missing—it was the fact that I was not going alone. I did not understand why at the time, but I knew that solitude in the wild was the special ingredient which was the real draw and reason that I went to such places. Going alone was the very purpose of my going at all. Going Alone is not about living alone. It is about going forth and then returning, from places where there are none.And so, one day, while still living and adventuring in Japan, I dreamed up the title of a new video series—something to replace Walking in Japan. The new series would be called "Going Alone" and would be essentially identical to Walking in Japan. The sole purpose of the name change was to create a handy label to dissuade others from asking to join me in the mountains. For, who would venture to invite themselves along on an adventure called Going Alone? It was just a passing idea, something I thought up while strolling alone through a small village, smiling a little at the silliness of the idea before letting the notion go. I never even wrote the Going Alone idea down, as the thought seemed nonsense, and anti-social even, and was in no way related to what I was then doing and sharing from the mountains of Japan. In fact, I remember feeling a little embarrassed that I had even dreamed up the idea of Going Alone. After all, how selfish was it of me to consider a video series titled for the sole purpose of warding away potential companions. However, there was indeed something to the idea of Going Alone which I sensed was important—not the title, but the fact of Going Alone—and it was this relatively rare experience of being alone in the wild which was the true thing which I was trying to protect. Not my privacy...but my being alone. And then in 2014 I came home to America. I came back initially alone, to start a new job, and to get settled before bringing my family across the sea to join me. At first, I did not adventure at all from my new home in Southern California, life itself then being more than enough newness, challenge and change. But soon, I began to go back out again into the wild looking for new places to adventure and explore. And I found my way back into the Mojave Desert where I had once wandered as a younger man. I returned then to the wild—and I returned alone. But this time I did things differently. I chose not to seek places in particular, no famous national parks like Death Valley or Joshua Tree, no monuments like the East Mojave, and not even the ghost towns or natural sights which are everywhere out there in the desert lands. No. Instead, this time I only sought to go to places where nobody else might be, or where no one else has been for a very long time, or perhaps ever— I was after then the deep, penetrating solitude, and the experience of places unseen for ages by others, to be very far off the named and charted parts of the map, into the

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I once imagined I was steering my own life in a very full and meaningful way. Full control. Nearly complete, adult, and independent self-management of my direction and course of being. Such a fool I was—grasping at the controlling wheel which I'd imagined for myself, steering left at will, and then right at will, and again right, and then left, on and on, every day and night even; driving away my life in pretend that, though I could certainly make any decision I like, I could ever choose in any way other than I actually did. And then my greatest folly of all—imagining that I then utterly owned these decisions and the consequences which they did bring about. I am a passengerGazing out the windowOn a busHurtlingWithout a driverIt is a frightful thing to imagine the consequence of believing that we have no free will. As, the life ahead with such vision may appear as resigned, and given up, and without impetus to actively live. For, if we are nothing more than engines of consequence, destined to fall like dominoes lined up by the mindless will of universal chance and failing order, then why bother even to get up in the morning, let alone to seek after our fortune, well being and the pursuit of good—for what is good when life is so seemingly determined and without will? But I do not believe we have no utter free will. I hold that we can indeed make choices, and decide as we like, and choose to get up before dawn, and make coffee, and eat well before a good day of hard work, and active thinking, and considered choices and the willful pursuit of a well lived life. A life passed seeking the good which we perceive and maintain as true, and which we discuss with others to refine and improve, and which we then work together towards a better world for us all—working hard each day, to then sleep a satisfied rest while the determined stars arc gently overhead while we dream. A good life. A considered life. A willful life. A life of meaning, and purpose, and pursued best ends. I do believe this life is true, and real, and something we can freely choose. Only, I will nevermore fool myself into thinking my will is truly free. For, I know that I am indeed a puppet—if not a slave—to the mindless forces which unconsciously made me, and which force my hand now to the left, and then the right, and again to the right and at last wherever they will. My choices are my own...somehow they are mine. Or maybe I just tell myself this to hold on to some bitter crumbs of hope that I really do freely live? Perhaps I fool myself free? But, so be it. This is the place I find myself now. And maybe it is because I simply cannot possibly now think—or bear—to imagine any way other. My belief in free will is that I am free to think and choose as I will...though, in fact, I could never think or choose in any way other than I actually do. I am only free to live the life which I actually choose to live. As ridiculous as that may seemingly seem.

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I was never very afraid of the dark, or the things which come out after the sun goes down, to wander, and slither, and creep, and fly across and over the darkened landscape around me—hunting prey with wide eyes and snuffling noses and darting tongues and feelers probing for scent and a lead to the kill. Though I sometimes must take a deep breath before I go out alone among them, I can always nevertheless set out into the dark by myself, without a light, or a map, or a compass or even a knife—and never a flame!—to wander amidst the beasts through lands I never know and to places I never see. I've always been one to go alone into the night. Always with fear, yet never quite afraid. There are ghosts which haunt the mind—Drifting thoughts and fears and musingsPhantom and vapor of confusionLet them haunt,Let them drift,Let them be...These will not dissuade my purposeTo find, carry and achieveWhat is good.I will rise always and do my work—Haunted,Fearful,Deathly afraid...Yet I work,Yet I dream,Yet I live.But yet, I am sometimes afraid of the inner dark landscape of my own mind, populated with the things I do fear, and the thoughts which sometimes seemingly haunt my inner world: floating things, drifting things, hovering things which bob out there in the dark mental mists, mostly out of sight, but sometimes coming close to let me see, or to try and rub up against me if they can. These non-things are something I do truly fear, as they know me, and exist seemingly to remind me of ideas and memories which I no longer wish to know, but which cannot be unknown again; or to cause me to worry over things which may come to pass, perhaps unfounded or ungrounded in what is real—persisting nevertheless through my wish to fuss and my sometimes feign forecasts of doom. I am tentative to walk into such a night. And I wish instead to return to the daylight of my being, or to some inner shelter to start a campfire within my mind—a place protected of localized light—to push back the darkness of my more dismal thinking, and blow away with illumination the floating things which come to mind when I am weak, and tired, or fed up. These are challenging inner places to be sure. Lands where I would rather not go. Periphery I do not wish to see. Adventures I do not want. Perhaps though, I can be strong within like I seemingly am without? Maybe I can find muster for the inner journey as I always do when setting out alone into a dark and unknown wild? A strength to do the same where my thoughts become night, and where the chill wind of confusion and fear blows deep into the place where the terrible seeming things do float and glide? I think I can. In fact, I know I can...as I have already begun doing this for several years now—when I recognize suddenly where I am in my mind, at that frontier of peace becoming night, and I choose to still the fretful inner dialogue to silence, and I cease my shuffling inner feet, and I look up with confidence to peer like a curious cat into an abominable night, and I perceive the moving mists out there just beyond, and the seeming downward slope of the land, sensing the colder climes below, and hear perhaps even the howling of the dread thing from beyond where I should never seek, and I set out now...I step once, and I step again...and I move now without fear into and THROUGH my own inner night— I walk then alone into the darkness of my empty place within, without any map, or compass, or even a knife—and never a flame!—to wander amidst the beasts through lands I never know and to places I never see. I will always be the one to go alone into the night. Always with fear, yet never quite afraid.

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There is a sea within us upon which circumstance presses restless winds night and day; forming crests and troughs, moving over the face of the waters in scale relative to whatever may be happening around us, and to us, and to those whom we know and love and the things we possess and care for and call our own. In mild times the waters are still or rising just slightly with a gentle breeze blowing in the direction of mild climes. Sometimes though, a wind picks up as our life seemingly tumbles along through challenges and hardship and pain, and our inner sea becomes ragged with a heaving face and a broken, foaming white churn of confusion, disorder and noise. And still other times a gale does come and great waves form and the sky and the stars are lost in the mountains of our mad inner sea—and we fear then that we too may be lost, swept below by the great moving tide to sink into the cold darkness of an abyss of ruin and failure and death. To sail tranquilly, Over placid inner seas Or an inner tempest Or the maelstrom of dying days But, our vessel is more capable than we know, more seaworthy than we think, more buoyant than any storm may overcome—but only if we remember not to steer, or to steer just very little. The key to surviving the inner sea is to clasp the tiller but lightly, or barely, or, if very strong, not at all. We float best when we guide our vessel with only the most distant and subtle commands, giving direction by indication less than command, backed by an accepting resignation rather than resistance to whatever is more than we might control or overcome. Such steerage may guide us through any sea—over placid midnight calm; or the blowing freshet of dawn, bringing the waters to an undulating pulse and promise of new day; or the afternoon gale, lashing like anger and the sore inclination of fate; to the great storm of nightfall, when churning waves rise high to overcome, and we forecast a coming night of terror, riding blindly the dark seas of our doom, lost into midnight, and our forethought imagining of every dread thing we do fear. And so we do sail. And so we do live our lives upon the inner sea. And so we must sail. And so we must live our lives upon the sea—there being no one to truly help or save us out there upon the waves—where we can, and we must, and we will survive. So then, come out from the still deeper inner cabin of warmth and light, take your seat now at the helm facing fore, and put your trembling hand to the steering beam, but only lightly, touch your hand just barely to the guide—and then be blown where the storm and seas must take you, leading the way yourself with every slight determined turn, knowing you must only go where the wind must push, pretending to steer, imagining command, sailing boldly and with peace into the terrible good night. Always merely lost. Never truly quite in control. At peace wherever your ship may go. Wherever you do hardly guide. My website: https://goingalone.org My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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There is an inward architecture which we create through the fact and consequence of our decisions and actions, which become the scaffolding structure of the inner man or woman who others may dimly see when they look us square in the eyes; perceiving a light or darkness within which shines or empties in proportion to the effort we have made to not just live, but to live well, and in accord with our perceived nature and better inclination. We fail utterly when we build our inner world solely guided by the prescribed blueprint precedence of others, which guidance may suffice to create grand and stately outward living, but may leave us inwardly hollow and empty in the end, when we are alone within our outer world, and we look at what we have, and do possess, and have made; and we wonder what we may have seemingly missed—and if somehow there may be more? Why are we so outwardly filled yet so inwardly empty? Our home then, a stable and impressive castle of outward success and seemingly worthwhile achievement and acclaim, resting upon an inner foundation of shifting sand. Better a cave,Warmed of fireAnd illuminated of firelight

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I once rose late each day to meander life in search of tidbits to consume: news, gossip, politics, and the shared things of the appetites of people I mostly never knew—friends, and those I follow, and others whom I merely liked what they had to say. My consumption then was a gross intake of whatever could fill the time, or stuff my attention until necessity took me aside for work, or a meal, or sleep. Such a wasteful use of time: days and weeks and months and years of life utterly lost to distraction— Life I can never get back. Life lost utterly to nothing. To the life aimed at the consumption and contemplation of literature. Such a good use of time.

I now rise early each day to meander life in search of tidbits to consume: ideas, narrative, insight, observation, and the sincerely contemplated sharing of people I never knew—writers, and poets, and scientists, and thinkers and those who dream, and who I like, or am challenged by, or expanded by what they have to say. My consumption now is a dear intake of whatever I find good, or wholesome, or sweet to my muse and my poet and the better self I wish one day to become. Such a good use of time: days and weeks and months and years of life utterly gained through distraction— Life I can never get back. Life utterly improved through such good use of time. And I keep now a place to focus my time, a small shelf behind my head, which I dust every Sunday to keep clean, and where I have placed a small collection of the books I wish to read. It is the place which holds the focus of the time which I now truly claim is mine, the time when I am not working, or sleeping, or eating, or bathing, or being a social man of family and community and well being. My small shelf is the place where I go to take up the distraction which I do willfully choose; where I find my books, and my glasses, and my pen and a blank notebook. And I sit with these things, the books mostly, and I consume— I read, and I think, and I sometimes makes notes about the things which I learn. And though I know that I am still simply filling time, I also know that I am now filling time well—at least as well as possible in a cosmos so deep as this, as bottomless as the end of light-years, and the winking out of life, and the very near memory of never being. Such a good use of time...this reading of my books. That's what I tell myself—and I truly believe it—and that is now what I do. I wake, I work, I rest and I read.

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What effort is involved in holding a position of faith? The work is in the restraint needed to protect our belief from doubt. We strive to never question, or if we do question, to resist the downhill slope of asking too often if we could be wrong. Of course we are right, we just know it. And look at all the others who know as well like me—like we—like all of us who share this blessed certainty of what is true, and eternal, and the last fact we must ever know. The work is easy if we do not doubt, and just accept, and just live, surrounded by our family and the others who do also believe. Those others beyond our pale are lost—do not listen to their confused ideas. Prepare your subtle witness while they drone on. And then witness when you can. Be an example to the world. But never doubt...and if you do doubt...then simply don't. Faith arrives Without leaving

Life then passes. Our faith perhaps gaining like the inertia of a boulder in sand. The world swirling and twisting around us like blown grains, forming dunes at our side which inch by past our unflinching resolve. The sun and moon come and go with their assaults of heat and cold and the frozen, probing wedge of ice and the twisting strain of inferno light. Yet, still we resist and withstand, holding firm to the gravity footing of what we do choose to believe for the simple sake of belief—refusing doubt, turning aside from the others who are so clearly wrong, showing them the virtue of our obstinate resolve and willingness to suffer, and maybe die even, for what we so dearly hold as True. And thus life may pass. And thus, may we pass life.

My website: https://goingalone.org My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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I awoke today to headlines of war, and gossip, and scandal, and the rise of stocks and advertisements for soap, and a 30% chance of rain in the afternoon. I read these things over my breakfast, and thus did ready myself for a day of trivia, and minutia, and the heat and entropy of life spent over small things of no real consequence—another wasted day of distraction spent clamoring over the news. I must devote myself onlyTo the news which is never oldBut perhaps one day I might wake and step to the porch to walk past the paper into the sunlight of new dawn, where I might then strive to begin a better life: to declare war on what I believe is true, and slander the name of gossip, and assess for myself the day's elemental inclination to rain, and to put trivia and minutia to rout and seek the light and order of what considered folk before me have known, and said, and which will continue to be said by such people long after I am gone—another worthy day of good living spent in meditation upon the world. A day reviewing the news which is never old.

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The price of admittance into the venue and arena of life is the effort and labor of our parents in conceiving, bearing, and bringing us into the world, as well as their work then to successfully raise us into functioning citizens of whatever society claims us its own. Our days may then be passed like a templated script: getting educated, finding friends and work, and making a home and a way and children of our own. And by such means, every day of our life may be passed, experienced, and sometimes enjoyed even, in relative peace, gaining the glossy outward fulfillment of doing it right—of living life well, and in accord with how others and we ourselves even believe life should be done. And then we die, possibly well satisfied in our striving of a sort, in our consumption, and in the collection of these things we call our own—these objects into which our identity has been projected like the nonsense soul we claim is projected into us. And then we die, surrounded by our loved ones, who are real, as well as the phantom things of the dream which was our life, which are hardly real, despite the careful arrangement of tchotchke upon shelves, and among furniture, and the thoughtful, forward thinking packing of mementos within boxes stored in the attic above our head, saved for a tomorrow which will never come, to be sold upon the lawn next month for a dollar, or picked up by surly men at the side of the road to fill the land somewhere along with the other waste and excess of such senseless passage of time. We are citizens to live We are philosophers to be alive But for some moments along the way we perhaps forgot about our things, and our home, and our job, and the people who populate our little world; and we looked out then across the far horizon of sea, maybe while our little ones played in the sand making castles of their own—and we wondered thoughtless-thoughts of whatever is beyond and past the limits of sight and current understanding—but just for a moment, just 'till little Johnny steps too close to the water's edge and we rush forward to snatch him safe from the waves. Or later, as our pastor tells us comforting stories of forever while we sit in straight lines on hard seats wearing our Sunday best, and we ask ourselves why every man of Amalek did need to die, every grown man, woman, and every child, and the beasts even—why they did all must need to die? And we wonder whence our virtue does truly arise? Upon words chiseled into stone? Or perhaps from the elsewhere and elsewhen from which our species did come: from the misty past of brutal survival, cooperation, social necessity and past success? And still later in life, as we attend our elder mother's passing, sitting at her side while holding her chill hand, bony and weak, covered with a thin veil of loose, and translucent skin revealing too much of the machinery going on below, causing us to wonder at our own machinery within, and how this mechanism does seem always to stop, and we ask ourselves how far down does the stoppage really go? And these moments of philosophy are held like curious seashells found while strolling a long walk along the beach, picked up for a moment and examined for some seconds while the world around us falls away, before being placed gently back upon the sand as we move on, our thoughts carried on away from nowhere, away from the mist, to dinner...and what show might tonight be on TV. Such are some ways in which we live. Such are some ways in which we are alive. My website: https://goingalone.org My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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Just every once in a while...every so often...I'll spot the Indifference between the moments of my daily life. For, while the Nothing looms from sand to the sky and the stars out there when I am alone in the deep desert, this same great expanse of empty is hard to perceive from my life at home, and at work, and while busy keeping myself distracted from what else may be truly real. But, the Nothing is there—so cleverly masked as our purposeful life—the seeing, less a perception of something beyond, as much the recognition of what there really isn't within what is. There are empty spaces Between the Distraction Where we can see through To what we do not wish to see I never say a word when I see it though. As I am sure nobody mostly cares. The Distraction being enough for this life. The lovely life we know being itself quite surely enough: the education, and finding of a mate, and the getting of a home, and the filling our home together with family; and the attention of time consuming entertainment, and the strange pleasure of gossip, and having fun, and seeking love, and finding God, and of living our days gone by and by and past through months and years of the simple striving which seems so necessary and real. Just once in a while I see through all that. And I remember then, if just for a moment, what isn't truly real— My website: https://goingalone.org My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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Life is a little like coming awake on an island beach, naked and screaming and vulnerable and weak. The natives here do care for us, and get us up off the sand to shelter and shade from the sun and night and the grinding machine outside. They teach us their tongue, and give us some ways, and show us how to be and behave and what to expect. And the natives explain why we are here while expecting belief. And so we grow seemingly strong and fluent and capable; and establish our place with the people on the island in the shade—always suspect of the sunlight and the deep dark and the strange sounds far away. From nowhere, Into this forum—Of trial and opportunity.Barely time to open our eyes.Rarely a moment to see.Just time enough—To accept and pretend,Our brief days away.And soon the others go away—the old ones mostly—and cease seemingly to be. They leave when they close their eyes, and stop their breathe, and are no longer this thing called alive. But...I was taught they go on in some way, and that we will see them again in a place where there is no pain, and where no one ever leaves, and where someone very strong will care for us all. And so I carry on in these ways, accepting belief, tolerant of pain, living this way that we be. But I wonder sometimes...what this really is...this place where I am, and this thing which I am, and this seeming existence day by day? I don't tell the others my thoughts, which upsets their belief which binds them each to what they call true. Such nice people, who saved me from the beach, who brought me in, and made me their own, and taught me that which few ever doubt and which carries them all of their days. And so, I will hold my tongue, and go through their ways, and speak as they do for each and all of my days. All the while wondering to myself... What there is—or isn't. Across and over the sea?

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"...and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward!" -Henry David ThoreauI accept life as hard. I accept the need to rise early. I accept my difficult work. I accept circumstance which are hard for the fact of change. And I accept my things must break, and that I am broken, too— And though I wish none of these for their own sake, and I desire no such life for another, I accept this way to go, and these facts of being—and maybe much worse—for their own sake, and the simple fact of being, and the opportunity to climb. Picking among bouldersEvery day of my lifeFollowing alwaysThe upward ground—And I will not complain, or even speak my pain. Though I will seek relief where I can: by reading good words, and in rest where I can, and in a good and simple meal, and in making my body clean with water and soap, and in going to bed early—to sleep deep through the night, and start again early next day, lifting, and moving and pressing forward and upward and on. And I will climb knowing I've nowhere to go. Finishing someday no better than where I'd begun. But still better for the journey. Better for the upward climb.

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Whenever I strive, I always fall short. For the fact of striving makes me miss the mark. It would be better to become educated, without seeking an education. Or make a living without the need of a job. Or enjoy friendship, without counting friends. Or adventure even, without packing or leaving home or even remaining at home— But this isn't practical at all, and no way to live and find a mate, and raise children, and make a home or live a life. Every ambition,A near miss—Even the bullseye hits,A near miss—So, I will grow, and become educated, and find adventure and then a job, and a mate, and make a home, filled with family and I will strive. All good things. All necessary things. And I will tell myself that I have thus hit the mark—and I have, in a way, hit a mark. And I will grow old, and become weak, and enjoy grandkids at my feet; such evidence I've hit a mark, such a very good life, such an excellent use of time. And I will be right—I have hit a mark. And I will die well satisfied in my bullseye aim. What else was there to strive for? What other aim could I see? What did I miss??

There is no other aim... Which is where striving never leads. For the bullseye is a silent and invisible thing, never gained through trying, never found after being sought. Never lived but through not living—and who does not wish to live? And so grow, and become educated, and have adventure and then a job, and find a mate, and make a home, filled with family and do strive. All good things. All necessary things. But, do not expect to hit the mark—expect instead, to miss, always. And lift your chin to the sun and let a smile creep across your face, a genuine grin, through your eyes, of tempered expectation and anticipation of a good life whatever may come. A life of good striving. A life of good learning. A life of hard work. A life of family. And a life of friends, and laughter, and cherished moments, and—if very lucky—a gentle decline at the end overlooking all that was lived and done and become. Never asking...what did I miss? But never, not once even, having hit the mark. Nor ever, not once, having expected to.

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As a young man, my ideas resembled the ideas of others, and my writing was an imperfect transcript of what I'd learned. My time then was better spent putting these ideas into practice; like an athlete rehearsing the instruction of their coach, making the teaching their own through the training of body and mind in order to gain the necessary strength, resilience, tone, and muscle memory to engage the world with wise instinct—the lesson of the teacher having then become the natural practice of the one who has been taught. We each possess a bottleAnd some paperAnd a pencil stub;And a strong armFor hurling into the seaAnd so, with time, the practiced lessons of youth become the mature character of the aged; taking on some qualities of self and the hue and tint of the life we have lived; the things we learned when we were young then becoming our own through the course of living. We gain in this way, not only our own way of being, but something perhaps to say... Something to share about life. Something which is not just the copied idea of another—a reflection and imperfect transcript of what we'd heard—but our own distillation of learned and lived principles which have become our own. As an older man, my ideas now resemble the life which I have lived. And my writing is an imperfect transcript of principles collected and refined and distilled and made rare through deliberate life, and deliberate thought, and the deliberate wish to improve—these things becoming my own, by way of possession and use, and the very fact of deliberate days on end, and perhaps soon to be ending. And so, I'll scratch some words on this bit of paper. And toss them within a bottle into the sea. My own words... My own deliberated impression of life, to float away upon the sea.

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I began my life as a young adult finding things along the way. I went out from the circumstance I knew into life which was not yet mine, and made it mine. As so, I explored for some years along distant roads and over mountains and even under the sea. There are seeds to findOut there,Where life is strangeFind them,For a lifetime of bountyAnd those places where I went did not become my own, though I remember them like photos I did never take. It was instead the going to such places which mattered to me, not the places themselves, but the fact that I went. And I took back with me the fact that I went: nothing to show anyone, nothing much to share, few stories to relate—but the fact that I went. And I lived my life as the man who went. And the man who went alone. Going alone robs us of the ability to share. What we do then becomes hearsay to the rest, as there's nobody to back our claims, or laugh together in remembrance, or recall tears along the way. But that is the point—of going alone. To bring home not stories, or laughter, or tears even, but the consequence of the fact that we went—alone. There are seeds of a sort discovered is solitude which are hidden to those who do not go alone. Hidden seeds, which cling to our passing solitary figure like weedy burrs to socks—seeds coming along wherever we go, perhaps remaining unfound 'till nightfall, when we remove our shoes to note what chaffed us while we went, what scraped at us while we walked, rubbing soft flesh raw, opening new wounds perhaps, and making us weak and unwilling to carry on. But we carried on, and brought with us the chaffing things, which must remain now with us always, if not the thing which chaffs, but the dear scar and healing of having been alone to somewhere which does leave its mark. Such is the fact, that we went—alone.

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Before I was alive I'm pretty sure I simply did not exist. Oh sure, the stuff of which I am made was around, and the energy which courses through me was somewhere here—but, I wasn't. The thing which is me did not exist. The composite collection of atoms and energy which thus assembled and was given my name was never anywhere together before my conception and what was the start of a long chain of chemical reactions leading to now; a series of cellular additions—the lives and deaths of countless unicellular me—cascading through five and a half decades of life; astonishingly complex in organization, with a simple mandate to carry on long enough to continue copying myself, beyond myself, before dying and getting once more out of the way. No other purpose apparent. No better objective reason to be. I just am. Finding myself suddenly one day here and alive—from nothing which was me before. And I will live until that which I am winds down again—to a nothing which will never be me again. We each cannot rememberWhat we were not before we wereWhich is likely what we will not be againWhen we are done being what we are nowI can alllllmost remember the nothing... It is like a void of sorts in the line of time before I was born, or conceived. But even this nothing is contrived, like time in a story of fiction; something clearly made up which we willingly fool ourselves is real—for though the time before I was alive was seemingly real indeed, it is simply a believed fiction to me who was never there, and who does accept the story based on the persuasion of parents and teachers, as well as the evidence of society, libraries, museums and the cherished heirlooms of consensus that what is went on before I was ever here. I do not mean to suggest the past was never real—only that it was never real to me who was never there; like the future beyond my own death, which is another place and time I can never know, though I can believe it will be true. So, the nothing which I was and the nothing which I will again become—strange idea that..."becoming nothing"—exist in a past and a future which I can never know, which is a fiction of sorts to me at least. And it is into this fiction where some of us smuggle forever. Forever rescues us from oblivion—but only in the future, as the past denies us forever like a closed and sealed door. Yet the future welcomes any tale we wish to believe. And so we tell ourselves stories: of providence, of love, of salvation, of forever, of reunion, and of peace. And every story we say fits perfectly into an open hole which is open because it is not real. It's a perfect fit! Our contrived salvation and immortality sit just so within the emptiness of the time beyond our death. How grand it will be! And how fortunate we are! To be ones who know of the truth, and can pass this bastard thing of our life like a hard day with a head cold, knowing relief from suffering is at hand just as soon as the sun goes down, and we go to sleep, and then awaken to the sunrise of a new day. How desperate we become to sleep the night away. Those are nice stories to be sure. And a good balm and relief from the anxiety of the unknown. But stories they are. Like the words children tell themselves alone and in bed in the night, with the covers drawn over their heads, imagining somewhere and sometime beyond darkness and the strange sounds elsewhere in the room. And so, the night may pass thus tucked in against the dark, mumbling convincing prayers and "hallelujah, We Shall rise"—passing minutes and hours of restless sleep and awake, 'till the night is done and we move on into the unknown which we call our known. Or we might just say "I don't know" and "it seems like nothing awaits to me" and then get on with this one life we seem to have to enjoy, and to suffer, and to build upon, and to fail within, and to know others, and to be rejected, and to find peace, and to suffer, and to live. Pull now the covers from our face. Look square into the...

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There's this world where I live... And where others like me live. We are there together always. Such a nice place: with the things we like, and some ways to be, and to think. And we are always together in this world, even when we are apart. For the things we know and say and do are alike and these things bind us like strong arms about one another's shoulders—we understand one another, and we raise our little ones to understand, too. Comfort before truth—I will believeWhatever will not upsetMy worldAnd our small ones come up in our ways and they too are brought in and made warm and made safe and comforted by our words and our ways and our being. We lift our clasping arm and bring them under and then grasp them at the shoulders with the same warm and reassuring clasp which makes our own world whole.

And we can not remember ever not being so whole. Can not recall ever being less—though we fear being less, and are afraid to be unwhole, deathly afraid. It is the worst thing possible, to become less than we are now...to no longer be one...and to lose our way, or our people, or our sense of being. What a terrible thought, to be outside. It must be death out there...or very nearly death. But then, there are those who are outside. Those strange people from somewhere else with their other ways. And their other clothes. And their other ideas so queer and unusual. Just what do they think? And why do they act so, and what strange ideas do they believe. Those others...on the outside. And why are they here? Don't look at them. Hopefully they will move on and not remain. This is our place, with our people, and our ways and clothes and ideas and beliefs. We are not for them and they are certainly not for us. Those others on the outside. Young Jimmy asked us the other day how we know that we are right and if the others are wrong. I knew that this would happen... Why did those others have to come and bring their damn questions. I never thought such—not often at least—when I was young, and I never asked anyone if I did. Jimmy spoke up because he was talking to that boy at school from the others, his friend who is not one of us. It was him who put Jimmy up to this, or at least who invited our Jimmy to question. Where to go now? What to do? The only ways from here are in or out: In, leads deeper into where we now are, to a more insular and contained place than our current certitude provides. We become more sure and more together and tighter in our ways, and our being, and our beliefs. We become these things by blocking out any void where the outside which we fear may come in—by clasping arms still tighter onto a shrinking nucleus of community who think like us. And there are less of us now than before—those who would not insist being gone. We may never see Jimmy again. Out, goes away into the seeming void of what is not what we know and want and practice and share and love. Out is the setting aside of our world to try on another—or at least some part of another world—to see how the others move and live and get by so strangely adorned with foreign ideas. Out is also the going alone with few such possessions accepted of others, and making efforts to create new ways from what can be found along the way, or made up through reading, thought and conversation. And so, we look at the others and the others see us, and we each turn away muttering "strange". But our young ones are perhaps less certain, muttering less, or with only feign conviction. And some will not stay—though most remain—and will choose out rather than in, and become others who are outside from us; their sin though being greater, because they once knew we are right.

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I'd stay where I am, like those before me, and those who are now with me. It is the smart thing to do. To settle down with work, and buy a home, and find a special someone to help fill the home with memories, and children perhaps to help pass the time. I will work, and I will rest, and we will laugh and smile and sometimes cry. And we will grow old and help parents to pass while sensing our own passage to come. And we will call this life: a good life, a well-lived life, an enjoyed life—our life. The risk of goingAnd the risk of stayingIn both directionsThe scale must tipI'd go where I will, like others before me, and possibly alone—at least for now. It's the smart thing to do. To move on and find work where I can, and live where I will, and make memories with those along the way, with children perhaps to help to pass the time. I will work, and I will rest and we will laugh and smile and sometimes cry. And we will grow old and help others to pass while sensing our own passage to come. And we will call this life: a good life, a well-lived life, an enjoyed life—our life.

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I've always been one to notice the hole in the fabric of humanity, where one may press through a finger to the place outside. You can peek through such a hole...though there is nothing to see due to the brilliant ambient backlight of where we now are, and the rush of smoke-like familiar air which flows out past us through the hole into the apparent void—smoke-like, for the congestion of countless generations breathing at once and through time, the stale air of expired speech and laughter, and the crying out at birth, and the guttering last utterances of death; molecules of atmosphere kept in through closed doors and lashed windows and heavy curtains drawn tight. But still, we can peek through the little hole in where and what we are, and see out into the darkness outside, and know there is more. A clear road at night— To a lighted city down below Companions along the way Streetlights, Conversation, A place to rest and eat... A break in the trees— Into the dark woods above No one, No light, No talk, No place to rest or eat...And if we wiggle our probing thumb the hole then gets wide, for no shutter is real once we elect to say no. And now we've two fingers through, and then three, and now our hand; though we still can not see, it is too dark, and very cold—or is that heat?—and the wind falls now with a mad, whistling rush of vacuum drawing our dear something into void. Has down now become out? Is it gravity pushing the wind? Will I fall through?

You will not fall. As though the opening is now large enough to leave if we choose, we nevertheless always remain without some force of will first deciding to go. There are shapes now beyond in the dark, and something moving with stealth among what may be trees. And a strange sound perhaps in the distance, very far. There is no road or trail out there in the beyond, no place to go, nothing to see, and no one to show us the way. But you've come this far now... You've opened the way. Will you step through to where no promises are made, let alone kept? And no friends are found, let alone made? Nor warmth, or light of life even, let alone desire? The Path of Wildness is easy to find The course of a stream Leaves blown in the wind A beast's track through the brush And the direction of our first inclination

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I have long dreamed of a nice, personal room where I can work. A little office at home where I can set up a desk and chair and my stuff, a retreat where I can go and close the door and work on the things that matter to me. But now, I do not need that place—as nowhere is satisfactory for my work. My work can now be done no place better than here. And nothing is needed. My work requires no place and no thing, and no time even—as my work is now always being done wherever I am, and is always complete, whatever I do. I once kept a small chair Below a desert bridge, A good place to sit When I began my work— But now, I do not need that chair My work being complete Though I am ever workingAnd so, I'll go back now into the desert to the bridge where my work began. And I'll recover that folding chair kept stashed in the rafters. And I will open it, and place it on the sand where I do, and maybe sit in it again and look out fifty miles across the desert sands, and remember how this was once my place to work, my personal room, my little office in the deep shade below Route 66, the place where I came to begin my work, and where I now work always, wherever I am, whatever I am doing, and whoever I may become. I never needed that chair, nor that bridge, nor that desert; just like I never needed a little personal room where I could work, or any office at home where I could set up a desk and chair and my stuff; no retreat where I could go and close the door and work on the things that matter to me. My work is now begun and complete at once and always wherever I am. Whatever I am doing. And whoever I may become.

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The Great Indifference exists wherever we are not distracted by ourselves. It is the substance of the universe that isn't—not empty space, but space devoid of us, or the projections we make of ourselves onto a universe that is mostly not us. But not just us, but what is alive, and living, or which once did live—as even a corpse suggests life—or the things we've made and evidently utilized to our end. Anywhere life can be detected in some way, so in that place the Indifference is masked and pushed back and away. We are very good at not seeing this nothing we do not want, as we do not need it, and it helps us not at all—our lives not bent on philosophy, but rather living for the sake of being alive. Our practical needs are never met by a speechless mind—though such vision can fill us in other ways. I will turn my head,To look over my shoulder,Into the place,With draws no attention—And I will,Attend.And when I turn around to look, none will look with me, and if they do, then I may not have looked at all, for what we see together then is little different—only slightly less—than what we were looking at before; just one another, ourselves, always us. We may as well simply close our eyes and sing to ourselves a comforting lullaby. And when I turn around to look and none turn with me, then I must be looking upon a moonscape; a desert in fact, and one of very old stones, and very worn sand which once was very old stone, and wind and heat or cold, and dark nights and a blazing today. And I should be nearly naked and always exposed—even when clothed—always exposed. And with no mind to any comfort. And no mumbling lullaby. For now, fairy-tales are done. And when I turn around to look and none turn with me, and I see before me a moonscape of silent stone and blowing sand and hot or cold and dark and light; an elemental maelstrom of grinding reality and near and potential death; and I harden then my own heart—realizing at last that none exist who might harden it for me—and I take my first halting step from the crowd onto the impossible peneplane of deep time where I might now walk alone, and I take another halting step—the voices behind me already becoming dim—and I continue to move. Now, maybe, I can begin to see... The Great Indifference is the cosmos unmasked of life, devoid of apparent meaning, departed of justice, or purpose, or care, or consciousness or even love. It is the universe as it mostly is—without us—and our vain projections of self. Can you look upon it? Can you even find a place where such vision can be seen? And what if you do see? Can you then go on? You can... And better than before. For the promise which is a lie has been broken. And life is now your own to live—to go on, and turn back towards the others, with more sincere and honest eyes, and a heart which can never be broken, and recognition of promises never made, and no false expectation to be fulfilled. Just a simple and short life to now be lived; an earnest endeavor to warm ourselves and one another with companionship, kind words, innocent laughter, and deep restful sleep between days understood as so few...so brief. A brief time to truly live, in spite of the Indifference which does never live.

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There is so much to occupy the time of life. So much to do. So many people to know, and love, and pass the time together with. One thing after another, from the age of understanding on, we pass our days one thing after another, and then dream ourselves busy when asleep - no rest then even from the incessant work of living. In fact, we would not live if not for this busyness, our kind would surely die and fall away. So, it is important, this work of making life productive in some way; important to us all, and part of what we are, and why we live, and thrive even. So many of us, so busy being - and remaining - alive. But is there more to life than living? I speak so much,So I mustn't hearThe deep silenceBut, there isn't more to life. At least there doesn't seem to be more. And this too is a good reason to work so hard...so that we mustn't find this fact out. But the seeming fact that we are alone and without absolute direction is a false problem - in fact, it is an opportunity. For, instead of the universe being constrained by imposed absolutes of life, and justice, and purpose, and meaning, and even some sense of immortality; we instead occupy - briefly - a wilderness of boundless frontier on every side; a place without footprints of any sort; where no others have found or roamed or discovered or loved; a universe for us to make and call home - though we must be up to the task of making it such; and not just through our industry and invention - which blinds us to ourselves - but also through our willingness to cease our distractions for a time, to turn our heads towards the night, to stare out into the darkness, or close our eyes to invite the dark inside, and hear the deep silence. This is the calling of the poet, and the artist, and the sage. A listening where there is no muse to hear speak. A watching where only physics puts on a show. A speaking where our words explore less than distract. Action to the same end. A good life of purposeful moments of finding, and sharing, and reflection, together with one another, of where we are and what we have found. A purposeful life of sincerely contrived meaning forged from a universe which does not care. A life of individuals come together to form friendship, and family, and community and kind. A good life. An honest life. Undistracted days from now until now is nevermore.

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For what reason is temperance a virtue? Why do the sages live in austerity, and the desert fathers forsake the world, and the poet love their solitude, and the saints give up their lives? Is it because consumption is recognized as a distraction? That when we do eat of the world we make it less, and our vision and senses become blurred with the feast of life and gluttony makes us filthy, sleepy, and sick. But we do it anyway, we join the feast, because we neither care about the world as it really is - wishing only to get through this life to the other side - or we prefer the feast of living as a simple end in itself, like the pleasure of warm company in a snug home where the door and shutters and drawn and lashed against the storm smothering the world outside. Let us then make more noise and become yet more merry - more wine and food! - until the sound of wind, thunder, and rain without cannot be heard. In such a way - with such distraction - may life be passed. I will keep my hand at my side, While my want, wishes me to partake. I will hold my tongue, Which desires to speak. And my mind will be kept silent, Though someone within, Does ceaselessly speak.For myself, I will not be so detained. I will not join the feast, though I know there is no better use of time than simply passing time. Strange thing that - that the thing I do not want is as good as the thing I instead choose to pursue. But this very understanding is the actual end I am after; which is affirmed not in the company of friends; but out there in the dark, and in the night; out there where there are none to comfort or hold my hand; out there where strange things prowl in the wet and the cold, and hunger demands reality, and fear sweeps back the feign curtain of pretend forevers and a one day eternal peaceful sleep. I will not remain inside while the darkness goes on so without. I will lower my hand now from the table, I will hold still my wagging tongue, and I will refuse the inner voice which does not fail; and I will step away and go out the door to discover the storm and the night and the cold and the wind and whatever else might truly be real. And so I will deny myself some morsels of life distraction; not because these things are bad; but because these things are not, to me, more true.

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It is not easy to not watch someone else struggling with life. I am not referring to not seeing them struggle, but not watching them do it. Seeing is to observe and note a fact, to then add it to our catalogue of what is true; something to remember for the purpose of influencing and perhaps altering our coming decisions and actions. Seeing someone else struggle is necessary if we are then to help them in any way, as awareness is prerequisite to informed action. Watching though, is to play the role of a spectator; to stand at the sidelines for the purpose of enjoying what we observe, to pass the time at someone else's expense, witnessing their joy or suffering - suffering usually - as a distracting relief from our own. Watching gets us, and others, nowhere; it is voyeurism and should be avoided by all means. Seeing always precedes watching, as awareness is always first-person as our consciousness must take in what is happening around us if we are to respond to the world. Maturity is in the moment of recognition that we have seen enough, and we turn our eyes to our own business, having noted the fact of what we have observed without engaging attention beyond the necessity of seeing, to watch then for the sole and entertaining sake of watching. My eyes light upon a scene; Someone else's business and pain. I note what I see, Take in the essential facts, And then turn back to my own life— Always ready to help, Never willing to gawp.And then we move on to other things. And we remember what we have seen. And we adjust the course and trajectory of our lives in small ways which may offer relief to those who we know now are hurting. And our lives becomes helpful perhaps, and a blessing even, by virtue of our informed, constrained, and decided action. We become actors then rather than audience. And life is then maybe made better for our ability to both temper our observation and to consider our action.

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Words are like clay in the hands of a potter, who might pound together a rough cup and offer it "here!" as an implement of utility. And so the course word cup might be useful, something to drink from and quench a thirst. The cup then is an instrument of the base end of work and living, not an end in itself as the thing our lives might strive for: beauty, understanding, rhyme and meaning even. Language as life is reserved then for museums, and the highest, darkest, and dustiest shelves of the library marked Poetry, Literature and Classics. Language as life is like a range of mountains seen in the distance, beautiful to behold from far away, something great to be sure, climbed by some, perhaps one day by me - but not today. But the classics are here and within easy reach of our tongue, through the careful attendance to what we say, and the reserved application of our speech. An economy of well-chosen words is as beautiful to behold as a great stanza. This is especially true when just a few words can convey deep meaning, as in these simple lines from Basho: The old pond;A frog jumps in—The sound of the water.I wish that my ordinary speech might take on the character of a humble arrangement of flowers at the kitchen table: simple, unimposing, lovely to behold, revealing of the unseen optimist who has left us something worthwhile to discover and enjoy. An economy of wordsAssembled,Arranged,Shared,Like fresh flowers On the kitchen tableWhat a worthwhile use of time— To hold my tongue until I have something true and helpful to say, and then to say it with just a few, carefully selected words, and then to withdraw again to the silent attendance of life.

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In his book Walden, specifically in the chapter titled "The Ponds", Henry David Thoreau describes the seasons and moods of Walden Pond as well as the nearby White Pond and Flint's Pond. In the passage quoted below, Thoreau communicates his experience and sense of the rudderless passage of time while reclining in a small boat which he allows to drift with the breeze over the extensive surface of Walden (a "pond" which measures a half-mile by a quarter-mile across). The experience - to borrow Henry’s own vocabulary - might be described as "singular", which word perhaps falls short of capturing such a worthy life milestone. In fact, when I visited Thoreau's grave in Concord many decades back, the poet in me wondered - as I looked upon his headstone marked "Henry" - if the essence of this, and his many other such experiences, perhaps lingered with the man still, whose mortal remains were at rest, decomposed there below my feet; memories like gemstones taken to the grave within a closed fist, to outlast the stuff of the mortal who does soon become earth. So too, perhaps, does the gem of Thoreau's living experience of drifting across the pond bejewel the memory of his lost mortal remains, as a most precious lingering gift, a treasure imparted of words, from the treasure seeker to anyone who might pause to read of what he had found: I have spent many an hour, when I was younger, floating over its surface as the zephyr willed, having paddled my boat to the middle, and lying on my back across the seats, in a summer forenoon, dreaming awake, until I was aroused by the boat touching the sand, and I arose to see what shore my fates had impelled me to... -Henry David ThoreauLikewise, have I drifted over my own pond - in the desert, at night, when I strike out from Siberia ghost town towards the empty hills and mountains to the north. My open eyes are soon shut by the dark, which depth is deepened by my reluctance to use a torch, and my eager willingness to become lost. I wander then into the wastes for half a night, turning here and there where I may, or must, or do, without the knowledge that I have changed way. Still air draws me forward like vacuum, while breezes and gusts push me along with whispers and words rustling of night. My feet are lost almost from the first, crossing places I may not know, feeling warm stones with my soles, stumbling often, falling forward into new lands I fool myself are familiar, until my thoughts move away from caring where I am - and I just walk on further into the dark, guided by nothing, my ambition nothing, my destination...nothing; until fatigue takes over and I lay down on the sand to sleep, a deep and dreamless sleep of further progress into night, finding places where no memory can return, lying cold and alone on the sand covered with stars and an infinity of dark. I find myself then where "my fates had impelled me to", ashore somewhere I'd never hoped to be.

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Morning is a time to remember the people in our lives. If not our very first thought, then at least after we are fully awake. Recall each face clearly in the mind. Where are they now? What are they doing? How might their lives be getting better these days, or what challenges do they know, and how might we help? And if possible, send them a brief message, a simple "hi" along with some words to greet them when they awake, a reminder that you care, and are there for them today, no matter the distance. My first thought at dawn:My people,Their circumstanceAnd well-beingMy first words at dawn:My people,Their circumstanceAnd well-beingSituations tend to resolve themselves in proportion to our well-being. And knowing others care, and are out there for us, and want to be our people, expands our wellness like friendship fills a room with warmth. And even if we must die today, our people help to catch - if not arrest - our fall, and we go down with hands upon us, and loving faces remembering life, and the memory of companionship briefly lighting our way into the night. And so, I remember my people each day at dawn. And I think about their lives, and their circumstance, and their well-being. And I consider what I can do to help. And I then offer a word or two of greeting - no advice, no request - just a simple greeting, and reminder that I am here for them if needed, and that I care, and that I am thinking of them today, like I did yesterday, and will again tomorrow. And then I get about my work for the day. The chores and tasks I will do to make today a good day. A good day, for myself and for others; those I remember...and those who I don't even know.

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Such a long hike to get here, now. The place where I set out from is invisible beyond those distant hills, a memory of setting out from a fine place into the wild. Why did I ever leave...for this waste? Why does every young person depart Eden into the east? We all go because we must, not due to exile, but because innocence is Original Sin. We are born with a failed compass pointing deep; directing us from the admonitions of fathers and mothers towards distant places seen shimmering against the desert horizon - places far from here, anywhere but here. And so we set out, hardly prepared; to walk at midday, confidence our only ration, youthful strength a feign, withstanding shelter below the sun. And we walk then alone into the open; emerging, maybe; broken and torn some years later where the mirage is found to be a dune of sand. Our garments are tatters, our face sallow and strained, our confidence replaced with fear and understanding - the remembered awareness of our fathers and mothers - and so we sit then beside some thin, trickling oasis, whispering "home" and vowing never again to roam. Looking back,I can see betterThe uneven groundAnd dangerous footingWhich the foresight of youthDid fail to revealBut to some the journey has still just begun. We look back towards our footsteps lost in the blowing sand, and we smile faintly at the revealed brevity of each moment so far passed. Our torn garments remind us of the folly of cherished things, and the memory of our loved ones - now so far removed - caution us to never assume companionship is forever. What a journey this has been...from that place in our youth to this seeming waste. How much we have lost along the way which we did never need. How well reduced the burden of excess and superfluous self, what a lean and fortunate mortal we have become... Where to next for the well broken traveler? Into which new horizon will they tread? How much less might we become along the way, and what more might we leave behind on the road into night? What a good, unseen road. Such a worthwhile passage of life.

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I keep forgetting - fooling myself, really - that I could be in any circumstance other than the one in which I find myself now. It's fun to imagine that I am in control, and can really guide my own way in any truly independent sense. This illusion is important if we are to keep up the game of life, and participate as though we have much - or even any - say in what we are and then become, or what story is told across the course of our lives. We do have the power to decide for ourselves during every moment we are alive, which fact is the cause of such confusion, only we cannot have made any choice ever other than what we do make. Yesterday,My way led me to today,Like today must yield tomorrow.So too,My every moment,Into the next.Ours is a prison of consequence: a universal consequence of great precedent set into motion long before we were born. And we are just the biological levers of action being swung by great, inanimate forces beyond our control. We acquiesce by virtue of illusion, pretending to drive our own lives as though we can make any decisions other than what we do, regretting our seeming folly and proud of our success, wondering if we could have done better, and planning indeed to be and do better. And maybe we will be better for the lesson of our mistakes, and become satisfied over improved ends, and credit ourselves improved also - forgetting all the while that though we did indeed decide to become better, we could then never have chosen to become something worse. Our lives are only seemingly our own. Our ends less something we possess, as much as fulfill on behalf of everything that has ever been or occurred from the beginning until now. Our pride of purpose - and independence - are an illusion, as is the sense of our life course being in any real sense our own; for while we each do have the power to decide, none of us can ever make any decisions other than the ones we did actually make.

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Our personal nature is our most visible evidence that our will is never fully free: as how many forces of my personal being - my interest, my bias, my education, my want and especially my Biology - do conspire to steer my way? I am forever giving heed to the demands of my constitution, and can never quite say no to the man who I really am. My nature is...The footsteps I must still take,While fooling myself into thinkingThat my footsteps are my ownLikewise, do you also acquiesce to your own nature, now and yesterday, and tomorrow, too! Becoming always just what you are, or what you must next be because of just what you now are. Never something else. Never what you are not, and by extension, cannot become. And so, I will begin each day with a brief catalogue of my own character and capacity to live. And I will think also of those with whom I should today engage, and of their character and nature. And I will playact for a moment in the circumstances of today's living, and remind myself what I should expect of each place and event - for circumstance and things have their natures too - and in this way, become better prepared for what may likely be my life today; prepared, warned and tempered by the recognition, understanding and acceptance of our natures, and of the way things are likely to be, when our lives meet, and we come together to live. And in this way I live a more deliberate and honest life. Not a life of resignation - though there is some of that as well - but of recognition, and of the opportunity to react in our own way - and give way in our own way - and live well, always...each, in our own way.

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I expect my consciousness is a connect-the-dots affair; a consequence of some trillions of atoms gathered and enlivened through the energy of our nearby star; energy cascading down pathways of chemistry from order towards disarray; assembling matter along the way into blood, muscle and bone; energized by a consequent force called life; driven by an emergent awareness of environment and self; to gain the upper hand on living; to stay alive and carry on; to know something of myself and of others; to even celebrate life and fear death - a consequence of some trillions of atoms. A lattice of empty space Born, alive, and living. Consciousness, Somehow emerged From a lattice Of empty space And so, I'll go on thus alive and aware for my fourscore years and change. I'll do some things along the way which the lattice of atoms suggests I should: find a mate, make a baby, do some work, write some words, and perhaps reflect upon the sun setting into the sea. And then the energy will stop. My lattice of atoms will cease their assembled action, and fall to pieces, and go their separate way - trillions of tiny pieces, broken and scattering, with no record or memory of their past work, just trillions of little bits jostling away into a darkening night, Brownian motion always, at every level, the slowing movement of frozen energy grown colder still with the passage of life. And these thoughts I will remember as I begin now another day. And tomorrow, I will remember these thoughts again: as a reminder of what I really am, and really am...not.

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I took our sick dog Ollie to the doggie E.R. yesterday. The visit was a costly, though worthwhile expense, for Ollie's sake, as well as the deep and meaningful satisfaction of caring for someone you love...whatever the cost. It is a sensation which presses hard on that part of ourselves which desires purpose and meaning in life, which needs are suddenly evident and met in the opportunity to help relieve the suffering of someone we love, or even someone we barely know, or even a stranger - as beneficence cares less for relation than the opportunity to care for and simply relate. The good feelingOf caring for my sick pet,Pursues the circular purposeOf being cared for by my pet...And as I cared for my sick dog, I fulfilled my end of an unspoken bargain between us: a compact of well-being wherein I promise his care in return for my own, which contract Ollie fulfills every day of his life as a member of our family. I kept my end of the bargain in keeping Ollie well through medicine and the care of a skilled doctor, while he helps keep my family well through his companionship and presence in our home. So too, the pursuit of the well-being of others, which is an activity which is challenging, and painful, and costly in many senses of the word, though also rewarding in reinforcing the mutual agreement of social creatures to be there for one another through good times and hard, to care for our sick and dying, to live seemingly for one another, and to pursue together the shared and common purpose of a more universal well-being.

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I have such a small and precious set of values - objectives and principles to guide my life. So very few. Each one is precious to me, as an object and guide to better living. I found these along the way of life, ideas begun with someone else long dead, passed to me through example and word of mouth down time. I found these precious things laying about within the books I have read, and the admired actions of others which I have seen, and with the consequent ideas I then made my own with perhaps just a little repair, polish and shine. And now I carry these small values with me always, like a worthless, precious treasure clasped close within the mind, as like a handful of seashells found while walking along the beach. And I demonstrate these things to others when I can, carefully, through careful words, considered actions, and especially my willful and decided inaction - as what I choose not to do is often the greatest illustration of what I hold most dear. Values are like shells collected at the shore Reflective of preference, And want, And carried in our hand While walking 'till sundown Dropped at last, With the arrival of night Or possibly passed... To those who will walk another dayAs a father, I have tried to carefully show my grown child these things which I have found and now carry. I have shown her these by the way in which I walk, and how I talk, and also when I neither walk or talk, and instead simply allow my eyes to express my considered, willful effort and intent. And if I have done these things well, then maybe she now carries some of these small treasures too, like a handful of her own found shells by the sea. Maybe she knows a little better now how to step well where the stepping is difficult or unclear, or how to say more clearly what might be most helpful to be said...or when to remain quiet, when she understands that silence alone is sometimes simply enough.

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BOOK READING - Going Alone - My god is a Little God

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I'd made the foolish mistake of venturing into the desert further than I should on a day when I should not and past the point I should never have gone. The result was delirium and that touch of clarity which is always the consequence of realized error and a bit of rest and reflection upon the near miss of a well-lived life. #GoingAlone

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This chapter is the core and centerpiece of Going Alone, as it describes the route and adventure of The Anxiety Hike, where the places and characters of my book are described and met.

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This is my first attempt at an after midnight book reading... I read aloud an entire chapter of Going Alone from beneath Route 66 in the middle of the desert. While reading, I was bombarded with flying ants and other nighttime insects which were attracted to my light. One particularly large and colorful desert grasshopper made repeated attempts at scaring the heck out of me by flying into me from the dark. The reading went well, despite some wind noise from the blustery desert night. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't wondering what might be out there in the dark under the bridge with me watching me while I read. It's interesting what the mind can do despite the reality we've nothing much to really fear. #GoingAlone

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This video is another attempt at an audio format for Going Alone. My original plan was to record this chapter beneath the writing bridge at Siberia, though the wind was so strong this last week that I could only find refuge behind the tumbled wall ruins of the ghost town railroad ticket office. There's more ambient sound in this recording than I'd like, though perhaps the added sounds of Siberia add some welcome atmosphere?

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This video will become chapter two of the audio book version of Going Alone. I chose to record the book out there in the desert, at the bridge where I wrote the tale, to add atmosphere to the telling of a story which only deserve to be told in solitude.

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A project for this summer is to create an audio book format of Going Alone. I struggled for a bit trying to create a small studio setting at home sufficiently quiet for the job. At last I realized that I had a perfect studio out there at Siberia beneath the Writing Bridge. Here's chapter one: Introduction. I like the quiet of this place - perfectly still - with the only sound of interruption being the periodic passing of cars overhead on Route 66 and the long rumble of mile-long freight trains passing beyond the ghost town to the north. I'll endeavor to record the entire book here before summer heat begins to wane.

My name is Kurt Bell and I am delighted that you have taken some time to share a little of The Good Life with me. I'm available on social media at the links below and can be reached via email at softypapa@goingalone.org Going Alone is an independent approach to living, uncovering what is real, and making peace with the facts of what is true no matter how the truth makes us feel. I upload at least one video a week for this series on my YouTube channel. The Good Life is a formulated plan of objectives and principals designed to help us live a more virtuous life in accord with sound reasoning.

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The Path of Wildness is easy to find... It is the course of a stream, and a beast's track through the woods; leaves blown in the wind, and the direction of our first inclination. I've trekked this Path so many times now in my life that the dark and shadowy places are become less fearful than familiar, less ominous than curious, and always the way I know I must go should I desire more of life than merely living. My name is Kurt Bell. You can learn more about The Good Life in my book Going Alone. Be safe... But not too safe.

Path #Wildness #GoingAlone #TheGoodLife #softypapa

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November 23 2019 Dear Eric, The very first principle I identified for The Good Life is something call The Path of Wildness. I happened upon this idea while living in Japan and exploring alone in the deep and empty mountainous wilderness of the Japan Southern Alps. Hiking far off-trail and without maps or compass I'd sometimes find myself confused about which way to go... It was then that I'd enlist my reason to assemble the facts of my circumstance: the appearance of the landscape, the position of the sun, the flow of water and maybe the sound of cascades suggesting dangerous waterfalls. I'd then sit for a bit and take in these facts to give them a good think...allowing myself five minutes or so to assess and decide my next move. Often, I could not make up my mind as there were too few quality facts to decide upon, or my fear of being alone in such a strange and remote place might be muddling my ability to think clearly. It was then that I'd employ my instinct to help me make up my mind...I'd listen to what my gut feeling was telling about the direction I should next go to make my way either deeper into the wild or to find my way back out. My gut wasn't always right, though it did serve as a useful tiebreaker when my reason was stymied or the facts simply could not support a better-informed decision. I use this principle often now in life whenever I cannot quite make up my mind. I assemble facts, allow some time to think them over, and then listen to my gut to help me decide finally what I must do if reason alone proves insufficient to the task. This long night hike in the desert one-week back reminded me of those experiences in Japan which drew out from the principle I now call The Path of Wildness. The Path of Wildness is easy to find The course of a stream Leaves blown in the wind A beast's track through the brush And the direction of our first inclinationDesert journal entry: November 15, 2019 Past years journal entries are rife with seeming hyperbole regarding the quality of desert night hiking during November. Last night’s solo adventure enlists no hyperbole in describing the experience as magical, sublime and even mystical. I left Siberia ghost town on foot well after sundown, wearing just my shorts, my lucky blue hiking shirt, and a light fleece sweater. The nearly full moon was playing peekaboo behind high cirrus cloud-cover, requiring the use of a flashlight for the first hour. I could navigate then by turning off the light and gauging my place by noting the black silhouette hulks of the dead volcanoes I’ve come to know here. Eventually, the moon came out from the clouds for good, and I put away the light to hike like a cat in the dark. When my eyes had fully acclimated to the moonlight, I could see clearly every rock and bush around me, along with all the landscape for two-hundred square miles. An utterly empty landscape of humanity - save me...and I was a poor representative. Eventually, I crossed over the Edge of Deep Water, I walked by very near the Black Volcano and by 1:00 AM I’d arrived at Campo #1 (all place names from my book). I was pooped. Yet, I was elated. By now, I was in shirtsleeves and the diminishing cold was starting to make me feel mortal once again - for the walk alone, without light, through trackless desert night, had been like an experience no human should know while still alive. That experience was what heaven should be like should such a place be real. Fortunately, it’s truly possible to have such experiences, which well deserve the name heaven, even if the name is only a dream. Such was my solitary night hike last night in the desert. Truly, November is heaven in the Mojave Desert.

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Emotions are a curious thing to ride upon. They jump and jostle and jolt and then rest, before picking up again and tossing all about. As a young man, I wore my emotions upon my face, and my actions and reactions were a sure giveaway and barometer to whatever inner circumstance I was enduring. Like a private season and climate of the mind; at once halcyon and pleasant with sunshine and cool breezes, while changing like day to night to darkness and rustlings in the night. Storms of feeling could appear suddenly, bringing thoughts and words like thunder and rain. With age, these seasons have tempered less than become better borne; though in fact there is less tempest to the day's troubles when the day is regarded as little more than a brief and ephemeral flash and glow upon the face of an eternal darkening night. For with age comes a better sense of mortality, as our footsteps grow weary from walking long, and we perceive a nice place for a last camp some distance off in the foothills of that dark mount. Never mind the fact of snow flurries passing before the face, or lightning flashing far off upon the silent peaks, great fury and tempest to be sure, though at such a distance as to render the voice of the storm mute. So too, your own still voice despite whatever fear may be growing within. Age has granted you a mute voice, and a mute face, and perhaps even a mute mind should such a thing be sought for along the way from birth to now. And when the camp is reached, and our preparations for night are complete; we can then sit there upon stones and in the wind beside whatever shelter we have found. And if we are bold we will kindle no fire and consume only the simplest of whatever rations remain. We are alone now at this camp - even if someone else is with us - we are alone. We know now that we've always been just one in this passage along The Path of Wildness, a journey from nowhere to nowhere in what we now understand was the course of a single dawn leading to a singular nightfall. We will not survive this coming night. Our camp will be utterly gone when the sun rises upon the others. A few will remember us for a time. And in another time none will know our name. And still, upon these vain reflections, our voice, face, and perhaps even our mind remain mute. Such a good end. To return without complaint, or voice even, to the empty from which we once did emerge.

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The arrival of the Corona virus (COVID-19) is an opportunity to exercise the Stoic virtue of Apathy in the face of what we cannot easily control. Worry over our own illness and death gain us little beyond heightened vigilance and caution. But once these are reasonably achieved, there is no need to linger long on excess worry which gains us nothing more but anxiety and emotional pain. But, how can I stop thinking these thoughts? How can I stop worrying so much? These inner words and fears seem sometimes utterly beyond my control... There are a few things we can do to make things better: Talk to someone. Talking really makes a difference sometimes, especially when we share openly, precisely what causes us so much worry. Getting it out may feel like weakness, though in fact such sharing helps us to see the thoughts more clearly in the light of open conversation. If you don't have someone to talk to, then reach out on-line to your community that cares. And if you don't have such a community, then you are always welcome to share your thoughts https://www.goingalone.org/meetup (here).

Get out. I find it helpful to remove myself from whatever circumstance I'm in when the anxiety strikes. For example, I'm particularly vulnerable in the mornings, between when I wake up and when I first start to work (about a two hour span of time). I find that taking the dogs out for a nice hour-long walk during this period helps, a little. At other times, I find that going out for a drive can do the trick, especially if I go out with my wife. But even going out alone is often much better than lingering at home with my worry.

Apathy. This tactic is the hardest, yet it consistently yields the best results. When I'm feeling bad or worried about my current circumstances or future related to COVID-19 (or anything else), and if I'm feeling strong, I might them try my hand at reminding myself that the virus is largely outside my control, that there was nothing I could have done to have prevented the outbreak, or the spread, or even my own possible encounter and consequence of meeting the virus beyond the safer behaviors and life tactics (like social distancing and wearing a face mask when out) which I have already adopted.

It doesn't always work reminding myself that I'm largely incapable of stopping COVID-19 on my own, or even saving myself if I were to contract it and become sick. But what a worthy thing it is to try to calm my nerves through sensible actions, and sensible observation of the facts, and sensible recognition of what is, and what is not, truly within my control. So, I try. And I reckon such action Stoic in nature. A disciplined observation of my scope of control, and then setting aside my worry for that which I can do little or nothing about. I'd remind myself of the danger If I didn't already consider I'd already exercised my best escape

Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/covid-19-and-stoic-apathy (https://www.goingalone.org/post/covid-19-and-stoic-apathy ) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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I might go out Into life, To see what is there, And then return in peace. Or, I might stay, Seeking peace; Wondering always... What there is.

There's always that question of what might be found if we go out into the world, if we quit what we know and take on what we do not. But then, what would we miss of what we have when we seek for something else? I imagine there is goodness in staying put. There is comfort in remaining where we are familiar, and in the place where we are known, and where we seem to know. That's the rub right there... The thinking that we know. That's why I choose to go - not for adventure, nor for change, or for fortune, fame or even the sweet savor of what is new; but to avoid the dangerous https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.distraction (#distraction) of believing that I know. I don't know. And I want to remember always that I do not know. So, I'll go out...and I'll see what is - or isn't - there; and I'll return in either peace, or confusion, or stark terror - or maybe I won't return at all - and I'll do so for the sake of the mission of not knowing; for the blessed knowledge and remembrance of just how ignorant, frail and weak I really am. That's a good way to live. A Stoic going out. A Stoic returning home. My name is Kurt Bell. You can learn more about The Good Life in my book https://www.amazon.com/Going-Alone-Life-Courage-Independence/dp/1973267144/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=going+alone&qid=1568686399&sr=8-3 (Going Alone). Be safe...but not too safe. https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.time (#Time) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.life (#Life) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.limits (#Limits) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.war (#War) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.mission (#Mission) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.maturity (#Maturity) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.fortitude (#Fortitude) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.distraction (#Distraction) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.path (#Path) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.dividend (#Dividend) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.ulysses (#Ulysses) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.risk (#Risk) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.adventure (#Adventure) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.uphill (#Uphill) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.swim (#Swim) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.arena (#Arena) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.stoic (#Stoic)

Going Alone: Be safe... But not too safe

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It is so easy to get caught-up in the illusion that our lives are our own, self-guided affairs. That we have much or anything at all to say about the course of living we take, or the decisions we make, or the end we one day must become. Our only seeming will is the turning of the rudder of this frail ship of being. Yet, the dear irony is that every movement we make to the right or the left was the only movement we could have ever made in that very moment of choice. I cannot prove this. Yet, I know it is true. I hold our lack of free will as a despicable matter and point of faith. The larger fact of universal machinations beyond our will suggests we are merely action and reaction within the context of all that exists. And yet, we tell ourselves that we have some choice and say in our lives. And we do...only the choices we make are the only decisions we could have ever made. An interesting example of this phenomenon of seeming will is when we "decide" to break our current life in favor of a new life. When we quit our job, sell our house, say goodbye to friends and pack our things. We then load up the car and embark away from the routines we know; towards new routines we must find and somehow make our own. This is a scary thing to do. A very frightening thing, indeed. That is why most never do it...and instead go on through life convinced the living they know now–and have seemingly mastered, so well–is also a life which they have some real power over. They do not. We do not. We only make decisions: decisions we could never not make. Our every choice through life is exactly the only choice we could have made in that place, moment, and circumstance. Free will is only a very convincing illusion. And so, we go then into our new life... There is some fear perhaps as we make this change. Maybe a lot of fear. And for a few weeks or a month or more we fumble with our new place at work, and our new home, and all the new names we should learn and remember and the new ways of the people and the new living we have assumed as our own. This experience feels like travel. Like a sailing journey upon the sea. Yet, our hands can hardly hold the tiller at times for the tossing new waters. The still, quiet, and seemingly deep waters of our old and well-known life are now just a near - and possibly dear - memory. Now, the waters in the new place churn. Now, the new life becomes like a storm and - at times - a maelstrom of confused and demanded decision. Yet, even these decisions always hold just one answer...the answer and choice we do - and must - then make. Who tied the captain to the mast? And how does he thence guide the ship? I would never suggest we let go of the rudder in any weather. For, some steering is needed if we are to survive and thrive. Yet, in a sense, our guidance through these new waters hardly matters. We will survive or we will sink. For, we are each then Ulysses tied to the mast: giant waves rising before us and a Siren song beckoning from sharp rocks. Sunlight bursts then with promise through cloud-break, lighting distant, saving still waters. Or the sea grows dark with nightfall, and cold with the approach of some awful end. Or dawn appears just now and warms our stubble cheek with another promised day. Through it all, our bodies are bound to the ship's solid mast. Through it all, our good and guiding hand holds the steering tiller. We are secured to our fate while seeming to own our path and way. Yet, we can only turn the tiller where we will. We can only guide the ship from where we have been to where we will go. We can never be what we will never be. We are Ulysses tied to his mast. Hearing fated calls and watching the storm of our choice. Making through to clear waters or going down now smothered in the sea. I'll ride like Ulysses today and again if tomorrow may come. I'll hold tight the tiller while the ropes bind me hard to the mast. I'll make the turns I will...knowing they are the only turns I ever would or could. I

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Sometimes, we decide to go forward. Sometimes, we leave behind what's safe and sound and settled and seemingly good. Some of us do this to better ourselves and our situation, others because there seems no other option; maybe some make the change in order to satisfy others, or the expectation of family, or society, or because it's what someone our age should do. Still others may do so for the sake of adventure and for the chance to move when sitting still no longer satisfies or has become dull or without challenge. But, for whatever reason we move, for whatever reason we decide to up-end our current life and change to another living, we do so with the hope of something better, a desire that what is new is somehow more of the thing we want, or seek, or long for. But where is the value in such movement and life change? Where is the deep value of making new life from old living? Our new life may be hard. It probably will be very hard, indeed. And there will likely be moments - many perhaps - when we question our decision and ask ourselves "what have I done?" But these times will pass, they will come and they will go, and we will soon find ourselves in our new lives, once more settled and alright. With new places of our own; a new home, new friends, another position, new expectations and fresh frontiers. These are all good - or perhaps they will one day seem good, after we're fully settled, or after this new life adventure is done and we reflect from the vantage of a yet more distant life setting - but what is the heart and marrow of what we've done in terms of value? Where is the deep dividend of this change we've wrought upon ourselves? The shadow dividend Is what we lose Through the act of moving onThere is something to be gained in what we lose from the process of life change. It's a dividend of sorts, realized from our investment of courage and action and movement, a shadow dividend found not from the gaining of something new, but from the loss of something which once was, or which we once had, or which we once did, or thought, or a way in which we once lived. This shadow dividend is the dark exfoliation of that excess of self which once girdled our lives like the spare-tire of a middle-aged man's gut, or the cluttered garage of the hoarder who discards nothing, or the gossip who collects the secrets of others like sordid jewels to put to no good end. We gain when we lose these things we do not truly need. We become something more and better for their loss. We are made new for the breaking away and falling off of what we find we do not, or should not, need. We are new then for the becoming of someone who leaves behind the self they should never be. The shadow dividend is found in the lessening of ourselves to just our most vital, necessary and sustaining self. It is the reduction of a man or woman to someone who is better for being less, and smaller, and more slight, and less here than simply alive, and good, and sound. This is a value in moving on. The leaving behind of what we should never need.

My name is Kurt Bell. You can learn more about The Good Life in my book https://www.amazon.com/Going-Alone-Life-Courage-Independence/dp/1973267144/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=going+alone&qid=1568686399&sr=8-3 (Going Alone). Be safe... But not too safe. https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.shadow (#Shadow) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.path (#Path) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.wildness (#Wildness) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.goingalone (#GoingAlone) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.thegoodlife (#TheGoodLife) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.softypapa (#softypapa) https://www.wix.com/search/.hash.kurtbell (#KurtBell)

Going Alone: Be safe... But not too safe

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November 13, 2019 | Dear Eric, I sometimes—often, in fact—indulge a little too much. The temptation is so innocent a thing...just another slice of pizza, just another size up of my sweet blended drink, a large when a medium—or better still a small—would do... It's such as small sin, is it not? Such a tiny thing... But then I sit there afterwards, slightly bloated, or zipped up on too much sugar. Or, I'll feel the consequence in a few days when my waistline resists my belt and I need to tighten out another notch. It's a battle I can never quite win—this press to resist and consume less, to take a smaller share of whatever portion is offered to me, or whatever portion I decide I want or even need. Though I know there is some prize in saying no, especially after the deed isn't done. Though I usually decline that more worthy challenge and reward in favor of some delicious, invigorating, stimulating moments now of munching and sipping and, of course, the sweet distraction that these distractions bring. But maybe there's some virtue yet to be made of this excess? Perhaps there is something good to be done of too much? It's actually not hard to turn the spoiled stuff of our weakness into the wholesome substance of virtue. For this transformation is accomplished whenever we recognize what we have done, and accept the consequence we suffer now, or the suffering to come, and then decide that, though we previously failed to restrain our hand, or mouth, or wallet, or libido, or whatever, in our former decision to consume too much, we can now play a secondary option of bearing well the consequence we have brought upon ourselves by virtue of our intemperate want. Goodness is ours now, as we groan through our tummy ache. Virtue is at hand, as we examine our drained bank account. Peace is close within sight, as we fess up our indiscreet folly. And though it may not feel very good in the moment of our rising; the fact of our choice now to rise—and the willful exercise of such strength—in standing from our fall...to totter upon our own two feet in the bare and open wind, is sufficient reward itself to not erase our past excess, but at least to make the living of such indulgence something worth living after all. The distraction was seemingly good. Though the bearing well of recognizing the consequence of our unworthy distraction is something much better. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/stoic-poetry-bearing-well-the-pain-of-gluttony (https://www.goingalone.org/post/stoic-poetry-bearing-well-the-pain-of-gluttony) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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November 12, 2019 | Dear Eric, I recently added a new principle to The Good Life which I call the Principle of Public Speaking. The idea is to always imagine that anyone about whom I am talking is beside me, overhearing everything I say about them. In this way, I hope to enlist the normal courtesy and good manners we mostly all follow in not speaking ill or untoward of anyone to their face. Mostly, this strategy works; though sometimes I forget my plan and gossip about someone in ways I hope they never hear. It's an imperfect objective to never gossip about others, though a quite worthwhile aim to improve and strive towards. Mostly, I think we gossip for the usual reason... Well, it's a usual reason for me, at least; and I'm becoming suspicious it is also the usual reason for you as well...for all of us, in fact. We wish to distract ourselves with life. We distract ourselves with the busyness of everything that occupies our mind: We go to school, and work, and make friends, and engage in fun and games and intrigue and drama and watch TV and clean the house and go shopping and take a nap or a walk or play with the dog, or raise kids and create a home and plan for retirement and then get old and perhaps pine for our youth and mull over regrets and how things could have been and tell ourselves of the better life to come when this veil of tears is done...and then we die. All the while we're distracting ourselves from the nothing which looms around our everything. We pretend with our many ways of living that there is no nothing behind and not supporting it all. We imagine we are not indeed floating in space; supported by no force other than gravity, which pulls inexorably towards a center of mass which is our planet, and then another center of mass which is our galaxy, and then still further centers of mass which are the galaxy clusters beyond. All aims ultimately ending within the incomprehensible depths of a galaxy cluster black hole. A mystery to be sure. A fact also to be sure...that if the universe is designed and tuned for anything...it seems to be designed and tuned for "the creation of black holes." Not us. What the hell do we make of that? These facts are almost incomprehensible... What do we make of such a place, such a home, such a purpose? I don't know... And so, we tell each other stories, and we live our lives, and we go to school, and then find a job and take a lover and get married and make children and save for our future and our security and enjoy amusements and we get on with life. And we also talk about one another. We share gossip about our co-workers and our family and our friends and the people we see on television. And thus the time passes by so soon... A lifetime of living and talking and gossip and distraction. Time passes until the end draws near and we hold our rosary perhaps to count beads - another distraction - until our breathing becomes so labored that we must drop the beads and simply look into the eyes of those who love us and who have come to distract us—and themselves—in our last moments with thoughts of love and togetherness and forever. And we then die and go out like candles with no further need of distraction or any other thoughts. At last we cannot avoid or distract any longer...as the thing we sought not to know is now the very thing we have not become. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-principle-of-public-speaking (https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-principle-of-public-speaking) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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November 6, 2019 | Dear Eric, I'm very good at being wrong. It's a knack, kinda. And I'm often wrong on the same decision more than once. That's a real talent of sorts—not a good talent, but REAL. Being wrong once, and then again, can really drain us of our resources, not to mention our confidence and resolve. So, maybe it would be better if I stood less firm sometimes on my resolutions? Perhaps I should be more willing to step down or away from an aim when the wind begins to blow in another direction? Though something about this doesn't sound right or ring true to my sense that life is something of a fight which we must engage towards worthy ends. But what if those ends prove not worthy? Or simply wrong? The risk it seems is that we may step away from a worthy aim. The risk is that we might give up too soon for fear we might fail in our pursuit of something good. How do we then prevent giving up virtue? The key is to clearly examine our goal to discover if it is truly good. For even if the aim is wrong—maybe not the right thing to do in this moment, or in this way—then as long as if it was a good thing to try, then the pursuit was worthwhile, then we were indeed engaging our time and energy and resources towards worthwhile ends. So now, when I endeavor to begin some new campaign of life I'll ask myself less if what I am about to do is the right thing to do, and more if it is a good thing to do. For then, even if I fail I will succeed. And if I discover later that this thing is indeed not good, not of virtue, not in the pursuit of the well-being of thinking creatures, then I will stop at once, and direct my time, energies and resources towards better ends. And I'll do so without much regret for lost time, wasted energy, or expended resources; as I am always one who seeks at least to use these well, even if I don't always quite get it right. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-good-reason-to-change-our-mind (https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-good-reason-to-change-our-mind) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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November 4, 2019 | Dear Eric, I've noticed a new trend in my thinking and writing... I've been coming upon the theme of fire often. Not fire, as in burning fire, but fire as a sort of symbol and emblem for the need we have to come together and keep back the night. It's a curious thing this community we seek—this community of warmth. I guess I really shouldn't be surprised though, as we humans seem to like being together. I think this is because when we are with others we feel more alive than we do when we're alone. Maybe this is why we like to die in the company of friends and family—or maybe friends and family simply prefer we die with them? As there's warmth and comfort around the glow of one-another. But, there's also a denial of sorts, and a distance of a sort, and a seeming refusal to face straight and plain what is... I think this is one reason we form friendships, and one reason we join clubs, and a reason to align our ideas and our actions, and our clothing, and the look of our yards and even the gods we say are true... Just imagine a world otherwise... A world where every man and woman was a culture of their own. Where each of us held sound-seeming perspective of our own view; the result of our own lives, and the bias of our unique biology, upbringing and experience. Would such a system work? Would a community of such individuals succeed or fail before it even got started? I don't think we can know...as I don't think we have the ability to live such lives en-mass. It seems we can only do this by ones and twos and ones again. Only sometimes do people appear among us who wish to live away from the fire. Maybe it's a fluke in their nature? Maybe they—we—are broken in some way? Those of us who are not attracted to the fire so much, and who would rather wander away into the cold and the dark to experience...the cold and the dark. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/to-experience-the-cold-and-the-dark (https://www.goingalone.org/post/to-experience-the-cold-and-the-dark) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 31, 2019 | Dear Eric, It's a neat trick to neither lament nor attempt to remember the lives we did not live. For we all walk strange roads in our minds sometimes when our current path becomes rough or confused. It's tempting to reflect on the ways we could have gone instead of becoming now so seemingly lost. But what mastery to reflect little or not at all on imagined lives, no more than to be remembered as a cautionary tale to inform reason ahead of our future way. I'd walk always today just where I am now. And walk tomorrow from where today's journey takes me. Never wanting to be someone else, or someplace else, or to be doing other than what I must or should or what necessity or the pursuit of virtue demands; all the while remembering my still better self and adjusting my aim towards that more worthy mark. And so, I'll live truly from day through day. I'll live well in the life that I have yet to live. There will be no pining for past lives never lived, or a current now only imagined like a dream, or some tomorrow which truly could never be. There's always room for a true tomorrow. There's always a place for a better next sunrise. Though only if we arrive at that place via the contented journey starting with now. Full blog post: https://youtu.be/oj2btFUqyhY (https://youtu.be/oj2btFUqyhY) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 30, 2019 | Dear Eric, Both joy and suffering can yield the same sweet harvest if we know how to winnow the chaff from the grain. For there is good grain in misfortune. A very sweet grain, quite wholesome to consume or to just acquire or possess, or to even see even, or to simply know that it might exist—that alone is sufficient sometimes to take in the harvest, the knowledge that misfortune may bear us good fruit. Oh, but what then could not be a blessing if all is an opportunity to gain sustenance in life? This is the paradox of the Stoic mind; that all roads may lead to good. But maybe paradox is not the right word - though it seems a paradox from the more conventional perspective of good and bad fortune. How can both be one? It's quite easy, in fact. As perceived misfortune becomes good fortune when we learn to bear it well. We are blessed to be ill when we can maintain our balance by sitting down when dizzy. We make fever into something good when we close our eyes to wait in peace while our body rages in heat towards either death or recovery, and we wait quietly to accept either end. And pain even becomes like a teacher when our outward appearance and attitude displays sameness through pulsing ache and relief. Each downward arc of life brings us into an arena more challenging and worthy than every upward blessing combined. For what opportunity is there is good fortune, but to enjoy and become more easily content? We recline still further into our warm pillows, resting in peace behind locked doors, buttressed and safe with full bank accounts, enjoying the lively chatter of those we love who now share our goodness and make of life as though this living were forever. There is not even the howling to contemplate from such secure and wondrous living. What a place! What a blessing! I'm in no way suggesting we should seek suffering over peace and security. I'd never wish or want that for anyone. I'm only suggesting that all is not lost when things do eventually go wrong, as we might call it. For there is resolve in rising from the pillows, and there is attendance when the door lock is removed, and the chance for determination and hard work when the bank account is emptied, and introspection and reflection on what is true and important when the lively chatter has ceased, and we must face what may be real of both life and death. And understanding when the howling draws near and we've nothing to buttress a defense and must walk or stand alone out there in the wild. Now, it's time for a blessing of another sort. Now, it's time to stop counting our vain blessings of good and to instead see the blessing of goodness. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-blessing-of-goodness (https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-blessing-of-goodness) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 29, 2019 | Dear Eric, I'd like to tell you the tale of my falling, and my recovery. It's a good tale. And most of us have such a tale. Sadly, yours is largely just a story of falling; and there's not much lesson in simply going down, save perhaps as a cautionary tale to those who might likewise stumble. Though I know you'd argue this point with me if you could. But my point is—you can't. When we fall and then rise we tell a story of up and down. It's a good tale. A worthy account. And fine instruction for the young, setting out and making ready for their own stumbling journey. But what of the account of our time on the ground? Isn't that something worth sharing as well? The well-defeated know how to linger well in their defeat; as they've nearly given up; or they have given up—and are ready now to wait out their suffering until either life is done or the universe adjusts its orbit to somehow make things better. They are done...or nearly so. And such defeated simply rest in their fate like stones tumbled to the valley floor. Maybe there will be more to the journey if a flood comes to carry them further down the valley? Or perhaps soon the earth will simply cover them up with dirt for the long end underground... Either way—onward or downward—the well-defeated are ready. Curiously, such giving in to the onslaught of life reveals some quality of Stoic virtue—though the defeated may hardly feel like philosophers while lying bruised and battered and possibly in pain upon the ground. Though there is some virtue in facing the fact of our having been—or still being—pummeled; and that only death or change await, and that it might be time to simply wait out our suffering in some silence and resolve - resolve to go either on or accept our end, and to be alright with either path - though we'd prefer to go on, though we'd prefer not too suffer more, though we know it may be time to simply still the mind and the body and the tongue while the seconds tick on loudly in our ears. Maybe someone will offer us an aspirin to ease the pain? Or maybe a blanket to keep back the chill? Or maybe a hand up off the ground? But if not, then I'll lay here for a piece and consider my ample good fortune in keeping quiet and still. I'll exercise virtue in the midst of my fall through silent anticipation of either recovery or the end. Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-blessing-of-a-good-defeat (https://www.goingalone.org/post/the-blessing-of-a-good-defeat) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 28, 2019 | Dear Eric, When we are young there are many who hear; though as we age there seem fewer to listen. There is something about the ripeness of youth that draws the attention of life; like full and lustrous cherries hanging heavy on the rich bough of a cherry tree, ripe and inviting, drawing what is living close with the promise of energy, vitality and the nourishment of what is new. And this is good, as the young have very important things to say... They tell us about what is now, and what is next, and they offer promise to carry on after us once we are too weak to stand and walk on our own. The young are the vital link between ourselves and a future we will never know. And so, we listen to what they say, and we watch what they do, and we celebrate what they are and promise to someday become. This is a good thing. It's good for our species to look forward. But the old have words as well...and sometimes even something to say, and their own time to speak; though their language may be less attractive than the ripe words of youth. For the old speak like acorns dropped from an ancient gnarled oak tree, peppering the ground below our feet among the autumn leaves. It's easy for such words to become missed, like a cool autumn wind passing by our ears, or an acorn covered up by a cloud of tumbling leaves. We are too distracted by our desire to get to and remain in the sunlight. Let us get out from under this old tree's great shade. Let's go out to the meadow there in the sun—as though the summer has just passed, it's a fine day nonetheless—and though we may not find cherries out there in the meadow, we'll at least be under the sun. So, though we may have something to say in our old age, we'd better speak up while we are young and there's anyone yet who cares to listen. And though it's true our young words might be folly, it's good practice to voice opinion and hear response while others are still curious about what we might wish to say. And if we keep it up, we might then arrive still sooner at a place where our words resound with some real experience and meaning, and those who did previously listen might still linger to hear our more, and our better, and our words which drop like shaken acorns from a tree blown hard by the coming winter winds. Words which might be tangy or acid to taste—nothing like the sweet cherries of youth—yet which perhaps might nourish if gathered, stored and prepared with care. These are the words of a well-lived life. A life which perhaps began speaking with the interesting promise and folly of youth, and finished with something more permanent and sound to last through the night. This is the Season of Philosophy... A time of life to speak what we've beheld as true. Before we pass forever to the oblivion which is seemingly also something true. Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/old-voices-command-small-audience (https://www.goingalone.org/post/old-voices-command-small-audience) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 27, 2019 Dear Eric, Nice try, that... Though maybe you will have the last laugh. But I think you left us on the promise of wishful thinking... You wished to live on. You convinced yourself so completely of life after death that you hastened to death to prove your point. Maybe now you are smiling and giggling from afterlife at my doubt and folly. Maybe you will get the last laugh. Though you sure did get a short life. Sometimes it seems we need an extra set of hands to use in covering not only our ears, but our eyes as well. Anything to not see death coming. Anything to quiet the sound of our footsteps on the way to the gallows. By some estimates our species has had roughly one-hundred and fifty thousand years of sentience to prove the point of life after death; and so far the best we've come up with is faith, which is no better than wishful thinking. I think the case has therefore been made. Along with the evidence of dissolution. And the curious memory of not being, which we can each easily recall when asked to think about our potential existence before birth—that utter, timeless empty we recall of the long past before we were here, which reason suggests is the same future we'll know after we're gone. There's no good reason to think otherwise. Oh, but there's faith, and there's tradition, and there's songs of hope and big buildings and a wise man in robes who shakes my hand as we leave church on Sunday. And there's the service beside the grave and the hopeful faces. Surely, all this isn't just contrived for our comfort? Why...who would write such a big and impressive book if the story within the book were not true? Answer me that!?! I'll answer with what I know. That the universe is mute on the subject. That the stories and songs and speeches and tears are our own. That nothing in nature says otherwise. That the stars shine just as bright or dim over a baby as a dead man. That none have truly ever returned. That our stories are our own, and are in conflict with one another, and vary by culture, and with the context of various group consensus. That what is common and true is our near universal love of life and dread and fear of death. We wish to live on. We're desperate not to go. And so, we keep the stories. And we whisper prayers. And we cover our ears—wishing perhaps for an extra set of hands to cover our eyes as well. Won't you help me cover my eyes, too? Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/covering-ears-and-eyes (https://www.goingalone.org/post/covering-ears-and-eyes)

My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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The Path of Wildness October 20, 2019 Dear Eric, I've an opportunity to exercise what is perhaps my earliest principle - The Path of Wildness: The Path of Wildness is easy to find The course of a stream Leaves blown in the wind A beast's track through the brush And the direction of our first inclination In particular, I've been offered a chance of new work in a new city. I know this routine well, it means a new life; or rather, a new chapter in my one and only life. Yumiko - my wife - knows this routine also, as she's been my partner in all but one of the many chapters we've so far shared. But should we do it - assuming the offer comes through? Should we give up our current safe and sane - a quite wonderful safe and sane to be sure - for the doubt and challenge of what is largely unknown? I've done the math and the figures show nicely in favor of going. I learned that I must work until age 67 anyway, something about the way Social Security is set up, and so this is the same if we stay or go. And though my prospects at my current job are good if I stay, they aren't bad either if I go. It's safer, I think, to stay. As I've developed a reputation and many connections of trust and appreciation built of hard work and a dedication to doing good. Sure, I can build these again in the new place, but that's a lot of social capital to give up. But on the other hand, it may be wise to spread myself a little more around the public-sector community of Information Technology (my field), should hard times come and I need or wish to leverage connections for a new situation. But I'm not young. I'll be fifty-six with my next birthday. But yeah, I'll be fifty-six... How many more adventures have I got left in me?? And then there's my wife... She seems keen. I think she'd like a change. Heck, we'd both like a change. Not that this life is bad, but because we both enjoy change. Change is the thing we both love. Living many lives in a single lifetime is our hobby. It's the quality that brought us together and propelled us through our life together to date. We both know we'll need to settle at last. But in the meantime...do we have another adventure yet to enjoy and partake? I suspect we do. This is the gut feeling which I'll address shortly. What I've just done there...that paragraph above...is the first part of The Path of Wildness. It's the exercise of evaluation, of collecting and assessing the facts of the case and the options ahead. It's looking at what is real and making an honest case for and against, or towards one option or the other, to the right or the left, or whatever decision might be made...or not be made; for not deciding is also an option, though maybe a very dangerous option. Can you live with yourself later if you do not decide? If you withdraw from the challenge of worthy life consideration, will you then find yourself haunted later with the echo of "what if?” Surely, that's a risk. Surely that's a fact. It's that risk - the risk of avoiding risk - which we attempt to assuage through the bold treatment of options just ahead of the life we might - or might not - live. And so, I'll step boldly - perhaps with shaking legs - upon The Path of Wildness and make my choice. The Path of Wildness is easy to find The course of a stream Leaves blown in the wind A beast's track through the brush And the direction of our first inclination And now, I've assessed the facts and I know better the reality of the options before me. I'll be darned if the way isn't clear. Even if the way is clear, it still isn't clear; as there is doubt and suspect and worry and possible regret huddled nearby whispering among themselves in the shadows of my fear. Muss muss goes the gossipy voices... Muss muss they seem to say, while shooting me convicting looks and glances of forecast blame and accusation. "Speak up!" I shout at them, which only makes the skeleton-thin figures retreat further into the dark. "Be damned, I know you may be...

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October 19, 2019 | Dear Eric, I write these words now almost twenty years to the day since I completed my story of you and Joe-Bob, sharing the impact of your living and dying upon my own life. Your example, in fact, derailed my life; as I am confident I would be a quite different person now if not for the experience of knowing you both, and watching you live and choose to exit life together on account of principles which you held and which I could not then understand—which perhaps I still do not understand. Just as I do not understand the principles which others also hold dear, such as the religious, who hold values which sometimes rest upon a foundation of something they call faith. This approach of belief and values based on faith is alien to me, and seems lazy, and dull, and an easy way out of the harder challenge of attempting to understand. Just as the structure of reality which you and Joe-Bob maintained as real was—and remains—alien to me. And yet, like the religious, you had set-up an entire plan and project of your lives together based on that alien reality which you maintained as real. This was the thing which struck me then... The idea of building a life model upon which we might base our living and apply value and meaning to our decisions and actions. Such as the decision you made to follow Joe-Bob into death, a decision founded upon principles which—regardless of what I might think—provided both of you with a sense of meaning to your lives…and your deaths. Your lives had purpose. You had a reason to live and to die even. You had something larger than yourselves to strive for. And this is what others also seem to gain from their own endeavors at organizing their lives around a plan, and perhaps a story, and maybe even a fairytale which may do no more than comfort and seemingly keep the believer safe from the night. The night which is real. The night which must always come—and against which we might build a fortress of comfort, despite the fortress not being real, or of much substance, or of much truth. For the fortress need not last any longer than us. The vain fortress is welcome to fail after we are gone. Our stories need last no longer than there is someone to remember and relate the tale. And so, after the death of my friends I decided to set out to create and tell a story of my own. A story which must be based on truth. A story founded on what I take to be real. My story would tolerate no comforting nonsense—as I’d prefer the dark and the night and the cold, if this be true, to any artificial light, or day or warmth which may be false, and which might only distract and keep back the night and the sound of the howling out there further than I might ever have courage to go. I resolved then to not keep back the dark, and to go—alone—into the dark, and to not take any light, or flame, or anything of comfort, and to stay longer there than perhaps I should, and then to come back and consider, set down and tell the story of what I’d found—or hadn’t. A story which I maintain as true. A story of my Going Alone. And of The Good Life I now attempt to live. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-plan-of-life-and-death (https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-plan-of-life-and-death) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 18, 2019 | Dear Eric, Why bother waking if only to then rest with our eyes wide open? Are there not better ways to improve the world than as an inanimate living corpse; reclining and at ease while daylight surges overhead and necessity demands a helping hand? Sure, we need our rest. But is it not better to sleep long and full by night to then rise and engage long and full by day? I'm not suggesting we never rest—but only that rest be found in its proper season and in such a way as to be in harmony with nature and the judicious and modest use of our time. I did not rise this morning for ease or leisure, but to spite my lack of ease or leisure. And what if I've no chance of leisure, despite my fatigue or sense of having earned a rest? Well, what then better way to couple resolve with the fact of necessity, or our current circumstance, to then form virtue of worthy action, words and outlook? Such a blessing to work when we must, despite our desire to rest when necessary work must yet be done. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/up-before-dawn (https://www.goingalone.org/post/up-before-dawn) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 17, 2019 | Dear Eric, It's not possible to ever fully return from a solitary venture into the deep desert. The mountains, yes. The sea, maybe - unless we go very far off-shore, and, of course, alone. But the desert, far off road, alone and past the point we neither see nor hear the others. No, we can't ever fully return from such adventure. Something of us always remains out there. Well, the something lost isn't really out there, it's simply removed from us and lost the moment it goes away. The something evaporates away into space like water spilt upon hot sand which we think sinks in to the place, but which really simply disappears before our eyes and is gone as vapor. That's what happens to some part of us way out there alone in the desert. We become less. There's less of us ever to move forward. And nothing comes in to replace what is lost—it is lost forever. And such a blessing is the absence. I can hardly share with you the experience. You'd have to lose it for yourself to really know. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/becoming-a-nihilist (https://www.goingalone.org/post/becoming-a-nihilist) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 16, 2019 | Dear Eric, To the best of my knowledge, you never once went truly alone into the wild. But that's no surprise, as few ever do. For Going Alone is something our species rarely does. No wonder perhaps we then take ourselves so seriously... No wonder we sometimes sense warmth radiating from the cold. There are campfires All across this plain Cold lights, warm with life Inviting living Friendship and love Away from the darkness beyond I understand, the darkness beyond is indeed a terrible thing. There is nothing very welcoming in deep night. There are few happy stories to bring back from very pure solitude; only close calls with danger and death and fearful tales of strange sights and noises and ideas. So, why then would anyone ever step even once away from the ring of fire that is the centerpiece of their living? Why leave the others behind for any reason other than to briefly move away in order to relieve oneself behind a bush, wondering while so doing if there are eyes in the dark looking back, and considering briefly our vulnerability out there away from the crowd. So, we then dart back quickly when our work is done and take our place again huddled close to the others with our hands held near the flame. Shouldn't this fire be warmer? Why does the flame somehow produce more light than heat? Where's the warmth? Where is the REAL warmth? But there's talk around the fire, a seemingly incessant warm chatter. There's the heat, perhaps...it's the energy of noisy show and attention and the draw of distraction and trust and deceit and success and failure and the whole lot and production of our living that burns hot. All of this is the source of a sort of warmth we mistake for the fire, which still burns less warm than natural heat should. For should not nature offer us more? Shouldn't the natural world speak plainly of all the dear things we maintain as true: friendship, community, love, peace and forever? How can the flame which we, and our predecessors, kindled and maintain be as cold as the nighttime darkness beyond? This cannot be. I won't have it. I simply will not. I maintain otherwise and sustain my claim with the posture and attitude of certainty. And I back up my position with the substance of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 I don't understand those other things... Those things you keep bringing up about the seeming cold within the flame. Won't you stop talking of that, please. Let's get on with the community discussion. Let's hear the day's news? And what about those Dodgers! Never mind about the flame... What of it? I told you already, I have faith. I don't need any better answer than that. Huddle close to me won't you. I'm cold. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/away-from-the-fire (https://www.goingalone.org/post/away-from-the-fire) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 15, 2019 | Dear Yumiko, Without costumes, and two weeks too soon, we haunted together yesterday the scene and setting of one of our past lives; a place we each once took for granted, or even gave little or no thought to, though it was the setting of our home and our lives then; a pass-through city where we lived a few years in pursuit of another life; a younger life, a less deliberate life of immediacy and excess and searching. We left that place together two-decades back with a fortune and memories, and returned yesterday with only a fortune of memories and something more...a "story" and perhaps some maturity to help us see past the immediacy and excess and searching which once blinded us to whatever current life we could not then live for the fact of our incessant gaze towards something else. That something else is now largely forgotten—not given up, but forgotten - or maybe simply realized as not true, or anything worth being sought. That's it. The old dream—the old dream of youth—was discovered to be quite shallow and almost empty; a straw figure and caricature of how we once thought life should be...must be...the only way we then really knew. And so, we returned yesterday together like old soldiers returning home from a twenty-years war. We walked side-by-side—leading and carrying our small dogs—through the city gates we recognized, and right up through the boulevard into the community of our past neglect. Everything is mostly the same... Though there are new faces to be sure. Faces which were children or which did not exist the last time we were here. Faces which themselves may now see the old dream which we once sought as real. It's still there, clearly, the old dream... Or maybe it's nowhere? Maybe it's only a figment of youth? We are blind to that dream now it seems, though we remember it, and we spoke of it—like the memory of being terribly ill, the fever and the pain and the inability to sleep or rest or to ever feel good or even to know any real peace. Walking these streets together yesterday I could remember all this and more, including the drive and determination—as well as the dawning upset of falsity and illusion—which I once wore like an expensive coat everywhere I went, like a feign reality of determined satisfaction I might somehow make real if I only showed it outwardly for all the world to see. Or maybe the sense was more like smoke-tinted glasses, casting a strange, dark hue upon everything I saw, adding some sense of distance and disconnect to all that was immediate and now. That's it, I think... I could not easily see now then for my want and desire of a future I thought should be true. That want is no more. That desire is passed. I've been to that future and I know better what it is and what it is not. That future was given up for the present—not fully yet, of course, we can probably never achieve that great feat—but mostly. Yeah. Mostly... And this has made a difference. The streets of our past therefore looked the same, as they hardly changed, though we now no longer simply see past them as we did twenty-years back, as we now no longer desire to live someplace imagined, and only wish to live in the place which is real. And so, we haunted together the streets of our past life—though now we are no longer ghosts. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/haunting-a-past-life (https://www.goingalone.org/post/haunting-a-past-life) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 14, 2019 | Dear Eric, What did you wonder over as you walked quietly to your death? I like to imagine you thought of the egg-laying hen which lived out back of your home in Eureka. Joe Bob was gone, and you knew you'd see him soon... All the people in your life were settled with the truth—as unsettling as it was—and you needn't worry any more about us. Your estate... What of it? Not even a thought. But that chicken out back in your yard...the egg-laying hen you both loved; she's one you would have thought over. I hope you found her a new home in time... If not, then you would certainly have been thinking chicken on your way to die. "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.” - Henry David Thoreau But it's our stuff, and our busyness about it all which helps keep back the dark. Not the true dark, we can't so easily forget that; but the immediate darkness, the faint black all around which might remind us that we are alone in this night despite the candles each of us carry and protect. Slight flames, guttering in the desert winds, winds that always somehow blow into the deeper depths of the wastes; blowing in the direction we'd better not go; blowing to where the black is more natural and settled and less easily persuaded to move or to be set aside. It's the stuff we collect and possess which seems to guard us from this wind. And it's our busyness about this stuff which distracts us from what is coming, and what has already come, and what was here yesterday and always. It's the stuff and our attendance which helps us to remember the fantasy that we are not truly alone. I had a thief break-in and relieve me of possessions I hardly knew I didn't need. I'm grateful for what he didn't leave behind. And so, we build our shelter and linger within to protect our little flame; and we acquire things and place them all about to fortify our claims to now and forever. We might even utterly surround our candle with stuff enough that the flame seems truly safe from the wind, and we can fool ourselves that it will not go out. What a game that... Living as though the wind cannot get in. Living while peeking outside through the very cracks and chinks which betray our flame's vulnerability. The wind WILL get in. It's in now, even. How much better, and more honest, and more to the point, would it be to step outside the shelter, or let the structure blow away; to then stand in the wind with just our cupped hand protecting the little flame. How much more honest a life could we possibly live and endure. And such a living... Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/thinking-chicken (https://www.goingalone.org/post/thinking-chicken) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 13, 2019 | Dear Eric, I expect you discovered Stoic principles without knowing they were such, as ideas like these are natural to anyone who honestly consults their reason while life pushes back. And life does always push back... Like gravity it pushes back, always in the direction of down - where down is towards disorder and dissolution and death. Though we can resist this draw for a time; life pushes—or pulls rather—always down towards fact over fancy and change leading to everything one day at an end of all order. It's that end which is the fact—and the thing we make up stories against to go away. Our own end to be sure. We make the fearful thing go away by masking the famine of death with a feast of authentic love suggesting a banquet of forever. Temperance, apathy and an awareness of death: such are the ingredients of a still and quite mind of peace. Like eating dry salt crackers in a desert when nothing could be better. Go away, death! I will remain—forever—despite your arrival. Come take my wife, or my child or my friend, and they too will go on...because I say so. Come take me also and I will live on as well. I'm forever don't you know..? Don't you? So, death takes the wife, and the child and myself. And my story is forgotten like the rest. My forever becomes like the nothing it was before the dream was proclaimed eternal. Just sounds in a void. A few utterances in the sunshine before the light goes out. It's thoughts like this that demand a more honest assessment and truth. It's such thinking which stills the tongue and shuts the mouth and softens the eyes which gaze at our now living wife and child and at all we have. It's the testimony of reason which demands our humble withdrawal from before the awesome theater of night and day and the swimming course of moments moving through indifference. We withdraw our reckless speech and protest and sit instead wherever we can - this rock will do - and summon our family to sit with us. We ask about their day with sincerity while the sky blazes above our heads with too numerous stars to comprehend, all singing entropy like a discordant chorus of fact. Just gazing up once should blind forever the vanity of any one who is wise. And so, we go on through our remaining days. Each day better than the last - come what may—though also quieter too. For what use is there in speech and action or consumption when only the quiet remembers the truth. And so, we are quiet. And so, we remember the truth. This is The Good Life—quiet, remembrance of the truth. Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/quiet-remembrance-of-the-truth (https://www.goingalone.org/post/quiet-remembrance-of-the-truth) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 12, 2019 | Dear Eric, Would you ever have not taken your own life? Though I do not believe in fate, I'm convinced you had no real choice but to die when you did. Sure, it was your choice—yet you could have made no other. This is because free will is an illusion... I could not do otherwise now than to type these words. My desire, opportunity and motive all drive me to do so. This pecking at the keyboard now is precisely what I must do now, though I believe this action was my choice. But now that I know I am not truly free, that the universe mindlessly requires my every decision and action exactly as I make it, I can therefore choose to exercise my motive will in the direction of improved and better actions, which strangely, I had no other real option to pursue. This game of feign control - of deciding, and then doing, and then deciding and doing again, until I'm dead - is the illusion I call my free life, and the false thing I call my independence. It's only that I cannot see very far past my seeming immediate self-management that I gain the false sense that I have some real control. I do not. I am just a result and consequence of thirteen-billion years of action and reaction and action again...on and on through time, like waves crossing a vast sea in every direction and lifting water here and there for brief moments at a time. A leaf floating upon such a sea is never free of the sea which supports and maintains it, and the consequent energies which come together to push and pull and animate its existence. And I too am never free of the great sea of everything from which I came, and now am, and will soon no longer be. I was, am and never will be free. None of us is free. We're all leaves upon a tossing sea. Blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/leaves-upon-the-sea (https://www.goingalone.org/post/leaves-upon-the-sea) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 11, 2019 | Dear Eric, I think we all desire to do well. And by this I mean to not just get by, but to complete our work to the level of satisfaction of a job well done. Only, so often we can't see or remember this aim for the distraction and folly of intemperate living. We get lost along a meandering pathway of unworthy answered emotions; feelings which we hear and hastily hearken to like breadcrumbs carelessly followed into a dark wood; followed and consumed one-by-one until we look up, disoriented and confused, suddenly wanting the safe home we can no longer see, and striking out recklessly in the first direction our panicked mind suggests. It's then when we fail to do well. It's then when we suffer the consequence of our folly in not minding the way; of not looking carefully at the next breadcrumb before us before taking another measured step into the weeds, of not asking ourselves after the worth of such an endeavor, of not providing oversight of our want to consume and to possess and to satisfy the base desire to have. I did not wake today to simply act and re-act But to do well the things which are well And to mind the things which are not When I assess the next breadcrumb as worthwhile; only then will I proceed...slowly...to attend, engage and possibly possess or even consume the object of my determined will. But not without first lifting my head to look ahead at where I am going, not without noting where my next steps may take me, and looking back at where I've just been and considering where I wish to be overall. And if the breadcrumb is shrouded in shadows such that I cannot clearly know where these new steps will lead, then I will engage reason to reflect upon the merit and risk of such a venture—what good or bad may come of going into the dark after such a thing? And if my ruling faculty does then sanction the journey, I may next need to attend my fears, which perhaps plead with me to cower behind current secure ways: "Please, don't go! Don't bring us with you... We'd rather remain here. That thing you perceive in the darkness there—let someone else attend to it. Stay here with us. Stay—or think—just what we now know, and what is now safe, the reassuring certainty of our current certitude." I'll listen to my fears. And I'll give us an honest hearing. But then I'll turn and go—and drag the fearful me along into the dark should the better me decide the darkness a better place to go, and the place where all of me can best do our necessary work. All of me is going into the dark, for good or bad, and for the sake of right. Full blog post URL: https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-job-well-done (https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-job-well-done) My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 10, 2019 | Dear Eric, You not only knew the exact place and time of your death but you indeed even walked there. You went alone. I wonder how quickly you walked to your knowing end... Imagine every day the place of your contrived death. And then picture each step on an inexorable path to that end. Note how the steps slow and become measured. That's a way to walk and live—knowing always where we are indeed headed. With a little luck we'll never arrive at that imagined place. Though we will always one day at last arrive. Does anyone walk quickly to the gallows? Perhaps some will move fast, wishing the deed over and the suffering of knowing done. But we're all walking to the gallows always, only we don't often know how near the end. And so, we forget the journey's inexorable end, and we walk with some ease of abandon. We walk as though we are free, and not chained to a ox-cart moving senselessly beyond our will. And we even run sometimes - like a child at the seashore dashing forward to chase the retreating waves. And then we're caught all at once in the swirling, cold waters of the returning maddened sea, wondering what happened as our last breath fails and the lights flicker out. That's one way to live and then die; to charge headlong through life towards interest, neglecting the fact of the coming end, until the fact is here. Would such a death be a willing death? Could we go willfully to such an end? Or would we die grasping back at the sands and our people upon the shore while drowning down into the deep? Another way is to deny the end. To accept or even make up some tale of forever after life is done; an imagined sequel to enjoy and share with loved ones and the select few who know better than to doubt. And so, we bow and pray and console one-another to pass the days, and grieve the loss of those who go before, who we hope to see again someplace better than here. And thus, we live our lives telling stories of tomorrow, and tales of forever - dying at last in blissful terror and remembrance of what we hope might not be true. And then there is the Stoic way. To walk a knowing journey of the gallows end. To neither delay nor hasten our movement along a winding path with a determined end. To rest well and soon at nightfall, and then rise early next day to start again. To neither smother truth with intemperance, nor ignore with groundless dreams of forever. To issue recognition of our own mortality through measured control of our speech; neither talking in excess nor through superfluous words or much volume or show of knowledge or foresight, but just enough to address well whatever issue is at hand or counsel has been sought. And to share company with others in such a way as to be present and engaged and pleasant without either excess attendance or attention being given or drawn at any time - but to be like a balanced scale resting at ease in equanimity in a crowded marketplace; engaged at times towards useful ends while otherwise simply being. And so, the days will pass; living at once and always in a day. Never expecting tomorrow, while yet preparing for another day. And then the gallows are here... And our footsteps hardly falter... There's a slight push upon our arm as we breathe again, and then step upon the scaffold. Full Blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/prepared-to-arrive

My website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 9, 2019 | Dear Eric, My home was found at last with a school and way called Stoic. You never knew this journey, I think. We both missed it back then. What a difference this thinking and living may have made. The terms of Temperance, Fortitude, Limits, Apathy and Indifference may alone have saved your life. I'm sorely tempted to slip my humble book under the door of the house called Stoic. I wonder if it'll fit through so gaping a crack? This isn't because my story is so much, but that it may be too much. Could I not have said the same thing with far fewer words? Could not a greater economy of expression have conveyed these ideas better? Or more concisely? Or with greater accuracy towards the mark? How can I align my Objectives and Principles with a discipline of which I am such a novice? Should I not instead place my little guide upon some other shelf, or at the edge of my desk or better still into the desk drawer? Wouldn't this be the more modest and reserved thing to do? How much better to answer Stoic principles with Stoic modesty and ways? Perhaps... Yet, I must also answer to my own judgement and call to arms. And my judgement declares my work Stoic. And my call to arms demands I seek alignment with this tribe. And so, I will call my work Stoic. And I will share it as such. And speak of it as such. And live my Objectives and Principles as though they were Stoic objects. And thus, I will live my life and share my story. A Stoic life and story. The story of Going Alone and the story of The Good Life. Blog post post: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&v=Uuah3ynpUmM&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goingalone.org%2Fpost%2Fa-house-called-stoic&redir_token=hkTabaA-COL5iX9vm7eJNp1tw9N8MTU3MjE0NDg2MUAxNTcyMDU4NDYx (https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-hou...)

My website: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&v=Uuah3ynpUmM&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgoingalone.org&redir_token=hkTabaA-COL5iX9vm7eJNp1tw9N8MTU3MjE0NDg2MUAxNTcyMDU4NDYx (https://goingalone.org) My email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 8, 2019 | Dear Eric, And what of the fearful things of this world...? You knew some of these, and yet you fell at the first major encounter of life's deeper danger, and, dare I say, terror. Yes, it must have been a terror to you, though I know you put on a strong face. But yet, you fell. And I know that you were likely stronger than I was then, and that I too might have fallen just the same. I too will fall. And I too do fear. And I will also likely know real terror before this living is complete. And what of it? What's to be done about the fact that life is dangerous, and fearful and even terrible sometimes? One very good thing to be done is to prepare and to stand ready for the fall; to set aside supporting resources and to create a safe place of retreat, and to cultivate family and friends who can help catch us when we fall and who we can catch when they fall. This is humanity at its best... This is society and the bonds which make us strong and resilient and as a species able to weather come what may. Our social manner is why we are still here. It's an essential part of being human to want and embrace and to care for others. We survive in this way - not individually - but as a whole. Humans care for one another. It's how we manage the fear, and keep back the terror and dispel the colder night which is always out there and sometimes swirling close. Be safe... But not too safe It is folly to ignore safe practices and behaviors and to sometimes leave the tribe behind in order to do things and to go places where there is no one to catch us should we fall. Why do some of us do this then? Why are there those among us who willingly let loose the holding hand, who open the garden gate and then step out into the wild? And why do some of us do this alone? And why do some leave no word with others where they will be or just when they might return? Why do we go alone into the scary world? Why do we sneak out of the sanctuary and into the night? What are we looking for out there in the cold and dark and howling? I am one such person. Here's my reason: I go because I am curious. I want to see and discover what isn't here. It's because we don't know all the answers - let alone the questions - and I want to find and ask, and attempt to answer some good questions while I yet have a chance. I want to ask and try to answer questions which I might not even know how to share with you. That's why you can't come with me. Because you and I are stuck with the same questions and answers. It's that safe and sane glue and fabric of society that mucks things up. The same safe stuff which binds and keeps us secure and which also holds us behind the velvet rope of agreement and convention. It's our common bond and concern for one another that reminds us to keep back from the No Trespassing sign. It's what makes us behave well and good and sane when others are looking. And I want to go to the places I'd go if I knew that no one was looking. And I want to think the thoughts I'd think when I have no one to talk to. And I want to ask the questions I'd ask when there is no one to hear and answer. And so, I go alone. And so, I accept that I may fall alone, and that I may face my fear alone, and that I may even encounter terror with no one there to hold me. This is a price we must pay in the form of accepted risk which must be balanced with the life responsibilities we choose to assume. But, what a worthwhile risk. And what a worthwhile balance. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/be-safe-but-not-too-safe (https://www.goingalone.org/post/be-safe-but-not-too-safe) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 7, 2019 | Dear Eric, Every genuine adventure ends in a new life. How many lives can be lived in a lifetime? One is enough...as long as we die alive. I realized tonight that The Path of Wildness has many points of egress yet just a single point of ending. For this reason, I'll walk a little slower tonight, though I know that neither haste nor restraint will make much difference in the end. Death will take me in any condition. For death is the single point of ending of every life story and the doorway is always open. But you can't fit through the door. None of us can. We must leave everything behind, including ourselves. Death only accepts nothing. Death only waits for nothing. Death is nothing. With nothing ahead and everything on hand why not choose the story of adventure while we have a chance? Every next footstep then is a potential start... Every decision a worthy point of departure. What story will it be told in these next moments? What story will we live and share and tell and show our kids? What story will death take from us to fade like the afterglow of embers in life's wake? The adventures of youth may differ from those of older age. Gross impulse and stimulation giving way to measured exercise and restraint—a very different kind of impulse and reward. Experience matters most when we are young, until we've had enough of the novelty and excess of living and turn to discover the more meaningful adventure of discipline and self-control. And then the fun begins, though our face might only rarely belie this sage endeavor. The best times are when the adventures of youth are passed, and when the hard lessons of middle-age are largely complete, and when the final series of options are before us and we recognize our sober opportunity of self-discipline and measured restraint. And we choose then to die well when the time comes so sooner than we'd thought. We choose then, to die alive. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/die-alive (https://www.goingalone.org/post/die-alive) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 6, 2019 | Dear Yumiko, There's investment in adventure which yields return throughout our remaining days. For me, this is wilderness adventure and life adventure and the adventure of the mind. Each sort of exploration takes something from me in the process of living—directed living, living directed towards the outer edges of the territory I know, and the places I trust, and the life which is safe and sane and contented—and then returns something back, usually some time distant in the future, something more valuable than what I gave up, even if that value is less tangible or seemingly real. This is why I always go back to the wild. This is the reason I always return to the mountains or the desert and to adventure. And this is also one of the reasons I married you. You and I are alike in this way, as we both are adventurers. I knew this of you the first day we met and after you told me the story of your coming to America. I knew then that we were kin. I understood that you were someone with whom I could make life itself an adventure. And so, we ventured out together then, thirty-years back, and what a journey it's been... So many places together. So many lives together. You and I agree that when we push past our limits into new life we always lose something along the way, some part of us is expended and consumed by virtue of the decision and effort to step outside the garden gate, to climb over the sheltering wall, to let go of our community and friends and the warm hands which comfort and hold our own—not always forever, not even for very long sometimes, but just long enough to once again get dirty, bruised and bloody and to remember what it means to explore while there's still light in the sky. There is...still light in the sky. We have now before us yet another opportunity of life adventure, me and you. Yet another life adventure. Not my adventure of the mountains and the desert. But our adventure of life itself. The opportunity before us today is a good one - though risky. But we like risky, don't we? Though what a change this would be! A new job—a better job—in a new city a few hours away. The transition would be big. The challenges many. But mostly, it's the challenge of the unknown. That unknown which always warns us to stay back and to close and lock the current safe doors. That ridiculous fear which cautions of risks which are indeed real, and which have already cost us so much—everything perhaps—but which are also the very risks we agree this life is all about. For the return on such investment is also real. And it is this intangible return which we really want from life. We've always desired the splendid return on the engagement of risk - though if we're honest, we've also always appreciated the loss that's always incurred along the way—no matter what the cost. The loss has always somehow been the best, even though it never feels that way at the time. So, do we go again now into life adventure? Is it worth the challenge and the risk? What are we really after at this late stage of our lives? We are not so young anymore—we're nearly empty-nesters—and our most important work is mostly almost done. What's our aim now after parenting besides being good people and living lives which are more gain and less drain for others for the fact of our having been alive? What's next in the time remaining? What's a good use of our remaining time? Besides doing the good things we've already talked about and planned, I think It's still the adventure that we both really want... It's still the return that we're still after—and that cost along the way. The return which always comes later, and which is the fruit and blessing of our welcoming and venturing together into the unknown. It's the thing which comes of going where the road ahead isn't clear; again, into the thorns and across the rocks and through the cold waters into a darkening wood. The cost along the way is what it is, and is something we no longer attempt to...

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October 5, 2019 | Dear Eric, There's a place I go to work. It's way out in the desert - almost two-hundred miles from my current home by the sea. It's a bridge over a flash-flood channel along Route 66 near the ruins of a railroad water-stop called Siberia. I found this place for reasons other than work, by way of adventure, never intending necessarily to return, let alone find work in such a place. Yet, find work I did. Work of a very good and useful sort. Work sifting and sorting thoughts and words and sentences and paragraphs. It's interesting how such a place is an aid to such endeavor; being both a retreat for a focused mind and a catalyst for improved perception and resolve. I find thoughts there below the bridge that might not come to me anywhere else. There's a subtle necessity and resolve there below the road, down in the shadows, in the thick heat of summer and the biting cold of winter, and the halcyon days in-between; a resolve which awakens something akin to necessity and an urgent need to create while there's still time. Time may be the key out there, where it's clear to me we have so little. Made it to the bridge Very nice below Like coming in from a storm Now I can get to work... I always come to the bridge in the same way; first at night, and then again by day. This is because I always arrive at Siberia at, or very near, sundown. And I use the waning hour of nightfall to set up camp and get situated ahead of the dark. I arrive on my motorcycle from the west, riding along Route 66 from Ludlow and always arriving just around 8:00 PM. In the summer, there's still half an hour of sunshine left above the horizon, and I watch the burning solar face dip slowly towards, and then into, the Bouillon Mountains while I pound in my tent stakes, eager for the coming respite from the heat which only nighttime or the deep shadows beneath the bridge can provide. Nighttime or shadow are my only shields and escape from the roasting summer oven at Siberia. Such intensity! Darkness, please come now. Sunlight, please go beyond the hills and give up, for a few hours, your murderous oppression of life. I cannot survive very long exposed in the summer desert. I need the darkness of night or the shadow of the bridge to stay alive. Perhaps this is the reason the writing goes so well then—in the shadow or after dark? Maybe it's the fact and reminder of my quite immediate mortality that causes me to choose my words very carefully after the sun is gone, and fosters the muse that might otherwise never speak. Perhaps this is the reason my muse lives there under that bridge... My grasping, lonesome sanctuary from what is truly real. My front-row seat to the awful spectacle of what is true. My face-to-face encounter with the fact of eternal death. The summer writing at Siberia and under the bridge is borne of the close proximity of death and made buoyant of my own animated will to live. My writing under that bridge at Siberia in summer is the perspective of a delirium of life against a backdrop of the sobriety of death. Summer is a very good season for writing at Siberia, though the heat does perhaps madden my mind and bring out words only a wounded and hiding thing might be driven to think. I also write under the bridge during the in-between months of October and November, and April and May. These are the periods when summer and winter are in transition. And when life is given some chance to rest and come out and live even for a while in the light. The sun is always just passed when I arrive on my motorcycle at these times. And I hear crickets and see the first stars appear and the moon come up all brilliant and cold sometimes over the black volcano to the east. This is a good time. A restful time. A time to remember and love life. A time maybe even to forget about death which is otherwise the desert's perpetual theme and subject of study. I go then to the bridge after dark, and then again during the day, to write like a living...

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October 4, 2019 | Dear Eric, Do we borrow from tomorrow when we live in an imagined better day? Maybe not. Perhaps this is how we make way into that better day? Isn't this what we do when we go to school? Or when we work hard to improve at our job? Or when we have children? Or write a book or tell a story or share a dream? In all these things we are borrowing some imagined future life in order to help ourselves or others begin to live better now. So, it seems we can borrow from the future just a bit. Just a little bit. But the future is an intangible something that really isn't. We can't truly go to or even know what will come until it is here. What's out there, possibly ahead, are just imagined mirage on the horizon which we make real through our efforts of approach. The wavy, shimmering dreams slowly materialize before our eyes as we get close. Others—those who have gone before—may tell us of some worthy dream oasis to be found in the wastes if only we go this way or that and provision ourselves sufficiently—and correctly—for the journey. They caution us to not miss our chance at discovery, warning that opportunity will pass like a desert caravan missing a sanctuary of life. Keep our eyes forward then on the wavy thing shimmering in the heat. March forward towards the dream. The safety of that dream. That place where dreams are real. When we make the mark—when we reach the place we were after, or where we were told to be after—and we've caused the oasis to appear from nothing, from a simple dream into something real—what then of the journey? Did we live well along the way? Were we truly alive while we trudged through the sand in search of this place? Did we neglect the moments of desert travel? What unspoken treasures did we pass by along the way—scattered on the ground or glimmering in the hillsides of seemingly forsaken lands we never thought or knew we could visit—as we trudged along to the sanctioned lands? What mysteries and wonders of living did we bypass along the way, along a course we can never truly retrace, even if we followed our own footsteps back to the very places we once stood? And so, we sit at the blessed oasis and sip sweet water and eat honeyed bread and witness the approved life around us. There are others here as well. Others—like us—directed to this place by sage council of the past. We'll talk with them and compare notes. What a place this oasis is! How splendid we all arrived. It's a pity those out there in the desert. Those who wander still. Those who remain in the wastes. The sun is going down now... Shall we sit together and watch the final rays disappear behind the sand and water? It's good we came here, is it not? We did the right thing, did we not? Never mind... Let's watch the sun go down. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/life-at-an-oasis (https://www.goingalone.org/post/life-at-an-oasis) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 3, 2019 | Dear Eric, I think you could have rested quite comfortably upon a log, or a big rock, or on the sand, or a seat at the college library, or a park bench. This is because you sought your rest only when you needed it. And were glad of whatever device or setting might accommodate your body without too much discomfort. You simply desired to rest. There was a time in my own life when I had seemingly everything. I was just beyond the end of youth and making ready for middle-age, and I didn't have much idea about what it meant to live well, and so I employed my seeming abundance towards making a good show of living well. I made my life into a theater. And I produced a display to communicate to myself and others that I was a successful actor. My first performance was the purchase of a nice home, which I began to furnish nicely. Then, I started inviting people over to see what I had done. That was easy... And it felt pretty good—as long as I kept busy—as long as I didn't have time to think. The production of this show of my life was a good way to stay distracted; a good way to not hear the little voice that was trying to speak to me of other things. I was so busy for more than a year that I could barely hear the little voice asking me what I was doing? But eventually I ran out of space to prepare and decorate. I had put things everywhere. In particular, I had a lot of chairs... Many places to sit Nowhere to rest My show-house had an enormous yard, over an acre of land. And we had a pool. And lovely landscaping all around the pool with fruit trees of many sort. Each day, on my way home from work, I stopped at a big nursery to look at and buy plants for the yard. I also bought chairs—a lot of chairs. I purchased patio chairs, garden chairs, benches and all sorts of antique garden seating which I could place all over the yard. I put these items around the pool, and out in the garden, and next to a big tree and around an especially nice spot at the edge of a hill overlooking a picturesque valley view. The centerpiece for all of this was a quite expensive collection of wrought-iron patio furniture just outside the back door, which I'd arranged below a redwood arbor I'd had built. So many places to sit. Just nowhere to rest. I only remember forcing myself to ever sit in any of those chairs. I'd tell myself to sit down and try a seat out when I first moved it into the yard, though I'd never sit in it again once I had in place and adjusted just so, and had the view from the seat just right, and the position next to the little table to place one's coffee was perfectly set. Done! I was done with that setting and seat. And I'd move on to the next showpiece place of rest. The Stoic emperor Marcus Aurelius was satisfied with "a plank bed and skin" and wrote that "it is possible for a man to live in a palace without wanting either guards or embroidered dresses, or torches and statues, and such-like show" which speaks to not only a simple life, but a life of spartan outward wants; a life in which the satisfaction of living comes less from external display or comforts and more from some inner fulfillment. This was the point I was missing with my show-house of many chairs. For, I had created a personal palace displaying the outward trappings of rest and peace before first cultivating an inner-man of such character. I had no place to sit as I was then incapable of rest. Eventually, I gave up my seats, and my possessions, and my home, and that life. But I kept my family. But I kept my values—as confused and unidentified as they were at that age. And I kept my movement and inability to sit and rest. And I took that restless show on the road, on a Great Life Adventure with my wife and daughter. And I stopped trying to quiet the little man speaking to me from within. I began to listen then to what he was trying to say. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/many-places-to-sit-nowhere-to-rest...

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October 2, 2019 | Dear Eric, What is the cost of yesterday? The cost is now. What is the value of yesterday? The value is maturity—but only when we possess the fortitude to maintain or adjust our course in accord with the lessons we've learned—only if we remember to just glance back sometimes, and not to stare too long at yesterday. There's a quicksand of complacency In every backwards glance There's a giving up of now In remembering yesterday It's not a bad thing to look back... Though looking behind Is never free Imagine a sailor crossing the sea while looking at where they'd been... A man or woman at the rudder of a small boat, adjusting course, while gazing over their shoulder at the past. Look too long behind and they'll not see the rocks ahead until they're ruined and going down. No matter how wonderful the places we'd been, we must always, and soon, adjust our attention forward. We should also plan and chart a course into the sea. We should steer and tack and make our way forward. Even in open water the wise sailor attends their forward progress and sets a watch at every hour and season. Where we are now, and where we are headed next, is what matter most. Our past adventures are no longer any real living, and should only serve as reference and remembrance for the benefit of now and what is to come. I'd remember yesterday always if I had no wish to live well today. I'd linger long in the past only if I was too tired or hurt or done with the present. It's alright to give up when we've had enough... When the journey's been long and we're ready to go lost with the wind while gazing behind at the sea. To wait for the open waters to swallow us soon while looking happily back at where we've been and lived. Or even to linger with our past pain until the great ocean takes it all away. But let's not willingly lose ourselves too soon to the sea through gross mis-attention of the past while we're still fit to sail on. Let's keep our eyes forward with just periodic glances to memory for as long as we desire to go on—and then a little further still for safe measure. Let's save the backwards gazing for old age and our readiness for the end. Let's look back quick now for reference and then turn forward to scan the horizon ahead and all around. There are storm clouds out there and wind. There's sunrise and sunset and fine days and breezes to be had. Look again behind, quick, and then forward and all around. Get up and grab the rope and the tiller. There's time yet to attend the sea. It's time to sail. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/sailing-backwards (https://www.goingalone.org/post/sailing-backwards) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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October 1, 2019 | Dear Eric, Good and evil never crossed our minds; and we certainly never attempted to define these concepts or what constitutes right or wrong. What a good chat that might have been... I only attempted to address right and wrong late in life. I lived all the way into my forties without any sound idea about what good or bad thinking and behavior were. I only took on this challenge when I found myself in need of a definition of life meaning, and when I decided this meaning would be the pursuit of virtue, and I didn't know what virtue was. I decided then that virtue was the pursuit of well-being, which in turn is defined as the objective improvement of the welfare and circumstance for any living thing. I know that this is a very broad definition, though my principle aim in virtue is the well-being of my fellow humans, with an understanding that improvement of well-being of other creatures, as well as the ecosystem as a whole, creates an overall betterment which raises the relative well-being of all life. But what's this to do with right and wrong or good and evil? And how do these two concept-sets differ? What is right is simply whatever makes things better for the many without unreasonable compromise to the well-being of the few. Wrong then is the corresponding opposite and that which makes things worse for the many with unreasonable improvement of the few. Good and evil in turn describe the overt intent of the actor in performing right or wrong behaviors. In this sense, someone who is ignorant of the harm their behavior causes to the many is guilty of doing wrong, while their intent may not be evil. Yet, if they understand the harm they cause yet they choose to do it anyway, then they are guilty of evil. On the other hand, someone who makes the world better by their choices and actions performs right, and is also good if they understand the positive impact of what they do. The pursuit of virtue then is nothing more than seeking first to understand the potential impact of our decisions regarding well-being (right and wrong) and then resolving to make the choices which knowingly make things better (good over evil). Making the decision for right and good often takes work and is rarely easy...though this is the way to virtue...this is how to live The Good Life. We "go into evil" when we first collect the facts we need ahead of an important decision, and then weight and consider these facts in light of the pros and cons and assumption about what will happen if we make a choice. The critical path is the way forward that seemingly leads towards virtue and the improvement of well-being for the many. We "go into evil" if this path takes away from our preference in pursuit of the good. Going into evil begins with ourselves; this fight starts with a resistance to our own unworthy desire and want. We engage the fight with temperance and simplicity and apathy and a decision to do right and perform good in spite of the discomfort it may cause to our own desire or even our own well-being. We go into evil when we choose The Good Life first. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/go-into-evil (https://www.goingalone.org/post/go-into-evil) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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September 30, 2019 | Dear Eric, Looking back now from the vantage point of three-decades, I can see that we both lived and portrayed lives which were rather stereotypical of young men caught up in the atmosphere and experience of academia. What other lives did we know then? What other way could we have possibly imagined? Our demonstrations of living at that time were certainly genuine, as it's no false charade when there's just a single mask to wear. Still, isn't the fact of the mask something of a charade? Maturity beyond the teenage years brings opportunity to change and become the someone we might set out to be; or to become the someone we've settled for; or perhaps the someone we think others imagine for us. Our demonstration of success in this endeavor of becoming is made evident through our portrayal of life by arrangement of the artifacts we collect within the context and circumstance of our living. We decorate and adorn ourselves and our surroundings with outward messages of who we are, or who we want others to think we are. And we use these same messages to remind ourselves to be and become the person of either our settling or of our dreams. This is the life we live...and the life we portray. The life we live Rather than, The life we portray But it's easy to become so hung-up on the life we portray that this effort of display becomes our living more than the life we might actually live. This occurs when the impression we seek to make becomes more important to us that the life from which the impression should be but an artifact. Like a homeowner obsessed with their yard at the expense of the family within their home. Or a student aiming their energies so squarely at a prestigious degree that they fail to make broad use of their time at school. Or a senior citizen who curates the safety of their golden years at the expense of their last chance to live. Such endeavors are energies towards the impression of an end rather than the end itself; and while such work and focus may certainly contribute to the successful achievement of such desired results, their engagement alone should not become the end itself. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/selecting-the-right-picture-frame (https://www.goingalone.org/post/selecting-the-right-picture-frame) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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September 29, 2019 | Dear Eric, Your gaze never once appeared to waver. Was this due to your youth? Was that it? Was it the strength and courage of small age and ignorance that powered your relentless, awe-inspiring gaze? Was it something deeper? I suspect not. None of us has any superpowers to be sure. We're all falling, failing lights in the night sky - brilliant at once and then fast-fading back into deep night. Yet, you put on a good show early on. Sure, it was an authentic display—and I certainly did the same thing, don't we all? But I know there is a deeper and still straighter gaze to be had. But this one comes not of youth but of age, and experience, and the effort of becoming—and not just being—strong. “To go down with the ship" is a saying we use to describe the fortitude of someone who is resolved to carry through with worthy principle even unto death. This trait is a virtue, and one imagined most in those who have lived long enough to acquire something more to live for than life itself. This is something it takes time to genuinely gain, though it is possible to pretend in earnest. Nevertheless, it takes time to gain that deepest of forward-looking sight, that at once sees what is ahead while also taking in the periphery; that sees both the worthy object before us as well as the horrors at either side, and yet hardly flinches in either outward or inward aspect or resolve. A straight gaze A broad perception An object in focus Mature sight then is gained when we both remember clearly the past and maintain the fortitude to stay the path of virtue. We must also enlist reason to help us discern the way and to help us pick our forward course before setting out slowly across the landscape of life options. This quality of character and resolve cannot be easily had in youth, though its appearance can be taught to, and emulated by, the young, and may become genuine with practice. Yet trained fortitude does not become something more until we have the wisdom of experience - borne of honest reflection and the power of reason - to discern clearly where our energies and endeavors should best be applied. This is when our sight become most clear...and when the depths behind our eyes grow still and deep, becoming pools of quiet resolve, seeming perhaps bottomless to those who have never held their breath to swim down during youth, to plumb the darkness below to see—or feel—their way to the seeming bottom. To lift handfuls of cold, grainy sand from below. And to know that there is no such thing as bottomless, or forever, or eternity—just the now that demands our attention, and which draws our gaze towards its quite worthwhile and always immediate present. The down which we can never clearly see, but yet which experience and resolve cause our eyes to make the clearest attempt to perceive. Full blog post: https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-gaze-that-is-straight (https://www.goingalone.org/post/a-gaze-that-is-straight) Website: https://goingalone.org (https://goingalone.org) Email: softypapa@goingalone.org

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September 11, 2019 Dear Eric, Nihilism's bad rap may stem from the idea's consequent necessity of doing something about it. As recognition that life has no apparent meaning comes with no ready answers whatsoever. We're left alone then to either stew in despair, or resolve to create meaning in spite of the fact. The former option is unattractive, while the latter option requires very much work. It's no wonder then that nihilism has such a bad name and reputation; for it is a dead-end alley which becomes our existential end or from which we must climb with great difficulty to escape. No wonder few choose this path... How much better to select another road, a seeming ready-made high-road to paradise, crowded with our friends and family and others who believe. Who wouldn't select that other road - or one of the millions like it - for the mere price of our credulity? Nihilism isn't deathAnd it isn't despairOr giving upOr futilityOr neglect...It's just the realizationThat life has no apparent purposeAnd so,We must make some purpose up!Make some purpose up... As if that were easy. But really, it's not too hard a thing to do. There are many models out there to look at - schools of thought, philosophy and religion which have given the matter good consideration and have produced premise, treaties and dogma to communicate what their perspective considers "good." Study these and bring on board the best of what you find. And then live... And while you live take care to learn from both your success and mistakes, and begin a catalog of the best of what you find. These will become your principles. Your own rules to live by in spite the universe offering no such objective guidance beyond mere survival and procreation. And then live your life by the seemingly virtuous rule of law you have formed. Live your law and be always first to criticize your law. Share your principles with others. Ask their opinions regarding soundness, justice and virtue. Be eager to hear and attend all criticisms of what you have made. Prepare not to respond first in defense, but let your initial words be utterances of gratitude to the person who has challenged your belief. And then ask questions seeking your own clarity - really strive to understand what your critic is saying. And then depart to think. Go away to ponder if your challenged principle is truly unsound. And if not, then discard it utterly to the rubbish heap of failed virtue, or modify it if adjustment might salvage perceived virtue. And then go on through life with your improved understanding. Always grateful to those who help us to see better. Always willing to change our minds, our ways and our ideas to better suit reality and the pursuit of what we decide constitutes a well-lived life.