Alexandersmap

    Tag: Confucius

    • The Constant Meeting

      “They must often change who would be constant in happiness and wisdom.” — Confusius

      “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” — Heraclitus

      Every day brings change. Things will never be the same again. The river and we are forever rolling through changes, and we may discover something different with each encounter. To be happy we must eventually recognize change for all it offers, not just what it removes.

      That these wisdom nuggets are so cliché doesn’t make them any less true.
      Quoting a couple of philosophers who both lived at the same time in history 2500 years ago offers a clue.
      Change will happen to me and to you.
      So embrace the idea of change happening”for” us and not “to”.
      [sorry, I couldn’t help myself]

      To be happy and wise in a life, one must be curious and interested. Each change of state is unique. Each day has something to offer. Stop trying to hold back the flood and learn to paddle, that we may float across our time more easily.

      We are here, this is us, tomorrow will be as different from today as yesterday was. We are constantly meeting change. Be polite and say hello.

    • The Only One

      “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we have only one.” — Confucius

      Blame it on autumn, or maybe the series of life events I’m currently passing through, but it feels like life is starting over again. Every moment we’re fully alive offers that opportunity of course, but stack enough stuff on the scale and the balance tips enough. Enough for what? For whatever is next in this one wild and precious life, as Mary Oliver so vividly put it.

      This is it, last time I checked, so let’s make the most of our time together. Double down on adventure, take calculated risks more frequently, do the “one day” bucket list things in this time bucket while we have the vitality to experience all it might offer. Defer deferral for a [real] change.

      So stop wasting time already! This is all we have left. Practice active savoring in this one and only dance through life. We can be co-conspirators while the rest of the world marches on thinking there will always be a tomorrow. Let’s not waste a second on such illusions. Seize what flees.

    • Living the Second Life

      “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

      This might be the most Stoic quote ever attributed to Confucius. Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius or Seneca danced around this same concept: Life is short, we only have today, do something with this gift. Words, really, until you truly realize it… and live accordingly.

      I’m well into my “second life”, but for me that hasn’t meant dropping everything and sailing around the world. I have friends doing that and believe me, there are days when I’d like to. But I’m deep into the life I’ve built and living means something different to me at the moment. Last night I watched another close basketball game as my son’s team pulled out an important win. He’s down to his last four regular season games in his college career and it’s not lost on him that one way or another there just aren’t many more opportunities to play left for him. And he’s rising to the occasion, playing meaningful minutes, playing big and being a leader on the court. It meant another late night of driving for me, but I wouldn’t want to have been anywhere else in the world.