Possibility pt. II

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities” ~ Terry Josephson

Sometimes it seems like life opens in an infinite and exponential way - revealing truth, mystery, and life. It may be hard to spot at first - something small, something seemingly inconsequential - but if you are really looking you may find something. True, it may not be what you are looking for, but maybe you really didn't know what your "answers" look like. Some come disguised as tests of faith, tests of self-esteem or even simply another question. Perhaps you weren't looking with your eyes open - isn't this almost as bad as not looking to begin with?

What is possible once you have convinced yourself that ANYTHING is? Does it take letting go of the thought that there are some things that aren't possible in order to truly embrace the possibility that anything can happen and everything is within your reach?

Is that naive?

To think that I can do anything is almost like believing that some man is coming on a white horse to sweep me off my feet. Oh, and he is a prince (of course) with so much money that I save all of the whales manatees and otters in the world. In fact, I can build them a tank all their own.. or maybe I'll just purchase the oceans and then I can have ultimate control over them. Might as well just be empress of the world.

If "Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities" as Aristotle suggests than we are to believe in the possibly impossible. But I can't even comprehend what the difference is. If it is impossible isn't it by definition improbable - in fact possibly even BEYOND improbable.. like.. IMPOSSIBLE!? IT may be unlikely but it's at least possible, yes?

What does it mean for something to be possible? Perhaps this is at the heart of Aristotle's argument. I am not sure I honestly have a good clear idea of what it means to be possible. Eek. What does it mean?!

Love,

M

Possibility pt. I

“The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.” - George Bernard Shaw

If we stop to think about it, much of our time is spent responding to the actions and desires of others. I've heard and uttered the phrase "Just going with the flow," and when I've said it I usually have found myself temporarily paralyzed by something "outside my control". I think perhaps this is how we cope with unpleasantries such as failure or unfortunate circumstances. Illness, disease, disaster, catastrophe - and these words are all relative, subjective, up for personal perspective and interpretation.... as is anyone's perspective or interpretation :-) Could it be that in order to rationalize our lack or action and and/or lack of control or even understanding we surrender ourselves to the will of others, of a god or a parent or a lover? Do we "Go with the flow" because honor, dignity and pride lie within one's ability to "handle" a difficult situation? And can we even call the decision to wait, to react "handling" anything - or is it merely a way we pass responsibility over the outcome onto another and thereby release our precious self image from any further damage?

Is this wise? Is this a coping mechanism, an instinct necessary for survival? Is it more human to analyze, investigate, fix, maintain control - or it is more human to step back, hand over the reins and say "I will simply take it as it comes"? Which one truly opens more doors, provides us with more choices - better choices? Does a life of action ensure we reach our objectives or merely close off the majority of the other options?

I can argue either side of this, so I find myself completely confused. Through our action we do indeed block out a significant portion of our options and yet by making the decision to walk a particular path we open up what lies a few steps in - those things we cannot yet see. So what is "right"? IS there a right? I like the idea of alternate worlds where all possible potentialities exist and each possible pathway is chosen. I feel some sense of beauty and awe in this idea and yet I wonder if it isn't my mind attempting to make me feel just in my choice - whatever it may be... that it is not final and that I can stop worrying about what would happen IF ONLY since it IS happening, just to an otherworld version of me who may or may not be as happy but is most assuredly a different person for her experiences. Maybe Deja vu is merely the shared experience of an event by two or more or these otherworld personas... maybe we aren't even the "main character".

Love,

M

The sun in shining

But the ice is slippery!

It's a beautiful day - get outside, point your face to the sun. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and remember how majestic this world is.

Nothing will make you feel as full and hopeful.

Love you,

M