Michael, you're right. That's nature's Law of Parsimony, isn't it. Anyway,
imminent
death is not a way I'd particularly recommend for changing one's outlook on and
living
life. I am an avid supporter of Ghandi when he said that we humans' noblest
virtue lies
not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake
ourselves. But,
if we want to change the world, we have to start with ourselves; we have to
choose or be
helped to choose to be the change we wish to occur.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier
http://therandomthoughts.edublogs.org/
Department of History
http://www.newforums.com/Auth_L_Schmier.asp
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
(229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\____/\ \/\
/ \ \__ \/ /
\ /\/
\ \ /\
//\/\/ /\ \_ /
/___\/\ \ \
\/ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains \ /\
_/ \ don't practice on mole
hills" -/
\
_____
From: Michael Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 11:22 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: RE: [tips] hypothetical: Elizabeth vs. Randy
While impending (shortly) death may be the greatest teacher in valuing life,
time, and
experience, I don't think one need wait that long!
It is possible, after a fashion and perhaps almost as good as the teachings of
imminent
death, to really consciously choose to value life moment by moment, experience
by
experience--living mostly in the now. (Buddhism may have something to say about
that).
I actually just got Randy's book (and haven't viewed the lecture) and so
haven't read all
of it. Although he may have a 'simple' view of human nature, it's usually the
simple and
the direct which often has the most meaning when it comes to important things
like how
does one live?
It is also the simple and direct which works when faced with tremendous stress
(e.g.
combat, self-defense in fighting for your life), not eloquent, grandiose
theories of
action. This is, I think, paralleled in life.
Perhaps we are more simple than we give ourselves credit for!
--Mike
--- On Mon, 7/28/08, Louis Schmier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Louis Schmier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [tips] hypothetical: Elizabeth vs. Randy
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 28, 2008, 5:47 AM
Michael, why so apparently clinical. In your comparison between
"analysis"
and "lecture," are you denigrating the value of a "lecture?" Why couldn't
Pausch's
"lecture" be the result of an articulation of deep reflection, if that's a more
acceptable
term than meditation, and a willing to share? Maybe you have to stare the Grim
Reaper in
its face to understand for his words not to feel "touchy-feely." They touched
me, for I
understand. Having come literally within a hare's breath of dying one year ago
this
coming mid-September--and somehow having survived that massive cerebral
hemorrahage
unscathed-it does give you occasion to pause and reflect on the meaning and
purpose of
your life and on life in general. For me, it somehow makes every moment vivid,
every
happiness more luminous and intense. It has developed a hunger that is also a
form of
joy. I find that having walked through the valley of the shadow of death has
enlightened
my life-and changed my toward life and death. Each day I awake, I realize that
what I
choose to do with this one day is up to me. So, I make a resolution to
consciously greet
this one and only day I have with a resolving "yes," that I will not live in
the shadow of
pessimism, cynicism, anxiety, and fear, that I won't let the gift of this one
more day
pass as a blur and merely mark it off. Instead, I will live, love, laugh, have
fun, and
enjoy to the fullest throughout this one more day given to me--as it if were my
last and
as it almost was on that fateful September 15th-with no guarantee of tomorrow.
Now, if
that be Pollyannaish, so be it. Beats being down and jaded
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier
http://therandomthoughts.edublogs.org/
Department of History
http://www.newforums.com/Auth_L_Schmier.asp
Valdosta State University
Valdosta , Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
(229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\____/\ \/\
/ \ \__ \/ /
\ /\/
\ \ /\
//\/\/ /\ \_ /
/___\/\ \ \
\/ \
/\"If you want to climb
mountains \ /\
_/ \ don't practice on mole
hills" -/
\
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