My "Self"
Yesterday's discussion flushed out an impossible age-old question: What is self? Can you lose yourself? Is there really any true, enduring intrinsic self to speak of? My feeling: Don't try to quantify the qualitative or you'll end up a mathematician- or worse- a psychiatrist!
I'm not sure what self is, but I think I have a pretty good idea about how it is expressed. A forensic map leading into our skulls and souls can be found through our preferences, acts, desires and what makes us happiest. They are the ontological footprints of our impermanent being. In light of my current saga of self re-discovery, I thought it might be useful to me, and perhaps of passing mundane interest to you, to list a few personal loves. So, in the spirit of Julie Andrews (OMG- did I really just write that?) here are a few of my favourite things:
I'm not sure what self is, but I think I have a pretty good idea about how it is expressed. A forensic map leading into our skulls and souls can be found through our preferences, acts, desires and what makes us happiest. They are the ontological footprints of our impermanent being. In light of my current saga of self re-discovery, I thought it might be useful to me, and perhaps of passing mundane interest to you, to list a few personal loves. So, in the spirit of Julie Andrews (OMG- did I really just write that?) here are a few of my favourite things:
- Philosophy and epistemology; critical thinking; Buddha.
- Loving kisses and hugs from children. They can't fake it. Ever.
- MUSICS OF ALL SORTS: But mostly groovy ambient and world musics; modern jazz; hard core, loud, raging metal and tongue in cheek, smart ass punk; real rasta reggae; salsa.
- Sex and all that it entails - academically, physically and spiritually.
- Drugs of all sorts in responsible doses.
- Belgian ales on cool, rainy nights; hot sake on cold wintry nights; sweet and red or light fruity bouquets on hot days.
- Prolonged, strenuous exercise in sweltering heat.
- Stupid humour. Really stupid clever stupid fucking humour. Especially when it helps you laugh in the face of death.
- People of all socio-economic, phenotypical and cultural description.
- Language- foul, foreign and flowery.
- Selfish attempts at selflessness.
- Heart-felt back scratching and light tickling: To me there is no greater form of physical pleasure.
- Heated or gentle conversation between sensitive, intelligent people.
- Gender and the exclusive languages and unique ways we use to bond with women and men.
- World cuisine, especially with complex ingredients and spices and fragrant, strong flavours.
- Rock sluts!
I could go on forever. Well, until I die at least. To be continued...cross your fingers.
Labels: Philosophy
posted by K-Dough at 1:01 PM
23 Comments:
Quite a post.
I would agree with you on most of the except for tickling;) Oh and I am quite selfish too. Just something I learned that I needed to be.
Have you tried your hand at poetry? You have the capability.
Joanne- so you're into METAL and PUNK, and ROCK SLUTS too? Never woulda guessed!!! :P
I have written poetry for years actually.Hmmm, maybe it's time to publish some here?
You're sweet.
I'm into ROCK SLUTS too.
I think you should write a poem about ROCK SLUTS.
LC- why thanks. I think I shall and I promise to post it TOMORROW!!
I can't wait!
I hope it has the words "suck" and "it" in it.
Indubitably.
KD, thats a list to live by. I am a firm believer in happiness, artificial or real... both are equally valid.
If only everyone realised they are just like each other... it would make things much simpler.
It is a great list, k. I'm not so partial to rock sluts, but you know I have a special fondness for drummers.
Pam- I think drummers are covered under the Rock Sluts tag, don't you?
(There's that gender bias showing its ugly, over-make-uped, moustached head!)
JC: Too true!!! The simplest things in life are the only units that we can truly measure the joy of our lives by.
BTW- re: hapiness. A good friend of mine an I were recently talking about how people in our society rarely exhibit the signs of a happy culture. Go to a third world nation where people can barely subsist. Those people are fucking happy because they are closer to reality.
We live in fragile bubble of false hopes.
Good on you K-Dough
For what it's worth like most folks I've had periods of introspection in my life. Usually at the end of something, like someones life or a significant relationship. When you step back and look at yourself and observe the importance that you attach to your life and compare that to your insignificance in terms of time and space then the whole deal can appear to be quite absurd. Re-focusing on what I love, trying to live in the present and accepting the inevitable end of my ego are strategies that I have learned to employ so that I can continue to enjoy my life.
Shorter version
Life's a piece of shit
When you think of it.
So always look on the bright side of life.
twee tah tah toot tah tweety tah.
Rock Sluts? Were they Muppet characters?
A lot of us are too damn busy to be happy, and I was guilty of this until recently. Age has taught me to enjoy that sweaty hug from a 12 year old after a soccer game or a beautiful afternoon sitting in the yard with friends, because that's about all there is, folks. Enjoy it now, because it might not be around tomorrow.
Late on board. Great list.
Here are a few recent faves on my list:
- My little girl waking up on Saturday morning, realizing she's at her Daddy's house, and running into my bedroom, crawling beside me and saying "I'm so happy I'm here Daddy" before we both sleep in for another hour.
- playing my rehearsal drum kit in the basement...by myself, with no band..with a click-track machine going through my headphones, and suddenly hitting "the zone" That strange place where I can do something very simple, and it's inexplicably "me". Then it winks at me, and hides again.
- Cooking dinner for my wife (the best cook on the planet) and having her eat every scrap, and say "wow. That's a keeper."
love your examples Leather.
guess the click stuck after all the torment it caused way back when huh? sick bastard!
K, I said I would agree with most, not everything;) I don't mind a good back scratching or music and people from all over the world. I am selective about what I eat. I like hugs and kisses from kids. Haven't dne any kind of drugs. I like humour. I like having conversations on all kind of things with my best friend.
I love being alone at times when there is no one else around to interrupt me.
I hate cheaters, users and slackers. Can't stand any of the three.
And I would love to see some of your poetry.
LOL. It's a great rehearsal tool, K-man. Keeps you rock solid. Instantly exposes your bad habits and forces you to correct them.
(It's also something you have to be able to do effortlessly, or you'll get fuck-all studio work.)
Joanne, so great for you to drop by again. You won't find any cheaters, users or slackers here!! (Just a bunch of raunchy old men....)
It's certainly the raunchy old men that keep me coming here!
I must be old- I'm listening to Howard Jones right now! WTF?
Ah... Howard Jones. Memories of the 25 year old drummer for one of the tier 1 bar bands on the Gordon circuit who had the same mini-ponytail hairdo as that European only release in the mid 80s who wore more makeup than I did but did anyways when I was 17 and thought it was funny when he broke into my locker at school and left the black lace garter belts in between the social studies text books.
No... but I had drinks with another very very funny evil blogger tonight. Not as funny or evil as me of course.
or me. there can only be two!!!
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