For millennia, humans have belonged to large groups. It gives them a sense of security, a sense of belonging (and fitting in). However, doing so may not offer real security in the long run. People belong to their separative religions, seperative countries, separative political parties, etc. However, these groups, by their design, tend to create conflict and fragmentation in the world, rather than wholeness and true harmony. Instead of thinking and pondering for themselves, people tend to let so-called “leaders” tell them what to do and how to react. People often react like lemmings. Then the world gets more and more insane, like it is now.
One might say, “Belonging to my country and religion makes me feel good.” Feeling good has nothing to do with it. That “feeling good” may be the result of propaganda and clever programming. Or one might say, “My country will protect me.” Countries are manmade and limited, and they tend to contribute to friction and wars. Sticking to some manmade concoction run by a fanatical leader is anything but safe; sticking to divisive countries, political parties, and groups invites war and deterioration.
What i write here will not likely encourage someone else to fundamentally change. Most people stick to what they were programmed/conditioned to adhere to. But, fortunately, there is an intelligence that goes beyond “fitting in” and “belonging”; such intelligence transcends fear, mindless borders, separative ideologies, fanatical groups, and mediocrity.
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I think having genuine loving relationships with humans and animals allows us to become the best we are as long as those relationships encourage development of self and that differences can be incorporated into one whole (animals are great at this – they teach unconditional love) Everything in our culture seems to be anti – human to the extreme.
Yes, Sara, loving relationships are key. We can only truly have loving relationships if we go beyond the psychological division that separates us from so-called “others.” But society often tends to teach us hand-me-down, antiquated perspectives that nourish competition and separate egos.
Tom, I’ve spent the last few years unraveling the man-made from pure truth. This isn’t the answer if I attempt to define truth and all the filters that make it so. I simply practice goodness and give thanks that I am alive. Richard
Great to read, Richard, but be very careful. Goodness is not what is practiced. It’s too dynamic, too alive to be practiced. But sometimes semantics do not convey what you are really feeling or doing. And yes, giving thanks that one is alive. At the age of 75, yes, thankfulness is certainly occurring… so i can relate to what you are saying.
That plump bee is about to get happy.
When we’re really young, we don’t know any better; when we are teenagers, we don’t want to be different from the rest of the crowd, but when we are adults, hopefully we know our own mind and course.
Tom, I know you like Walt Whitman and I am enjoying this “Rewind” feature from WordPress where we revisit our old posts from this date. I had a post years ago with a Walt Whitman quote … I went back and got it to add to my comment because it is perfect for your post (in my opinion anyway):
““Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.” ― Walt Whitman
Yes, Walt Whitman was read by me while in High School; parts of Leaves of Grass were required reading. Back then, i was impressed by it, but did not realize how much it influenced me (to be independent and to think beyond society’s primitive conditioning). And later in life, I read in one of his prophetic poems:
“You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.”
Yes, no one else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. That road is you. That road is the whole world (which you are not something separate from).
My high school education was not too special Tom – we never read anything of substance, believe me. I must have seen this quote and included in my long-ago blog post.
I hope we all can keep our heads on straight and be free thinkers as we mosey on through the rest of our days.
Chances are, Linda, that we will continue to stay balanced and whole… and continue to cherish precious nature. And nature is resilient. It will always bounce back after catastrophic events.
I was very lucky in high school, to have some very caring teachers who presented precious gifts to us like Walt Whitman and E.E. Cummings (though i didn’t fully realize the significance of it at the time).