More Quasi-Wisdom From the Semi-Ancient Pie Hole

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

-- Socrates (470 BC-399 BC), philosopher

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

-- Aristotle (385 BC-323 BC), philosopher, polymath

(What? Philosophers... I am so confused.)

If you try to accomplish something and put your all into it only to fail, was the effort still worth it? Wouldn't it just be a waste of time?

It is only worth it if you learn from the experience. Failure is the best way to learn, but we give it a bad stigma. Never let anything you do be considered a “waste of time.” Everything we do here is in preparation for what comes next. The bad, the good, successes, and failures, all prepare us for our next existence. Learn to be happy always!

Is it moral to pursue anti-aging (living to 150+ years)?

Yes! There is nothing immoral about extending life in order to pursue truth. If nothing else, extended life will allow us to learn more and give the least of us a chance to catch up. The only thing I can see immoral about it would be if it were reserved for a specific group and not available to all. It will give all of us a chance to have a few careers and learn so much. It will also redefine “life in prison” for the criminals among us, and marriage... for some others.

What was the singular decision you made that, if you had chosen otherwise, your life would be completely different?

Marriage. Nuff said.

“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), philosopher, cultural critic

Is it all worth the effort?

Are you alive? Then, yes! It is absolutely all worth the effort, the “all” being the beauty, flavor, aroma, senses, and everything else life has to offer. Even the drama we invite into life has a purpose in teaching us something about this life. Welcome, my friend, to another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in life!

Why does everything I create feel meaningless?

You begin the question correctly when you ask “why?” Why are you creating it? Is it selfless creation? Or, are you creating it to garner praise from people who don’t appreciate what you create? I’m an artist in acrylic paint. I dabble in space art and have several paintings hanging in observatories in Europe. Am I good? I am my worst critic, but some seem to think so. But, I didn’t paint the canvas to sell the art. I painted them for me, for my pleasure. That someone else thought them worth having was a little extra.

When you create, begin with humility. From humble hands come the greatest creations.

Do you like life? Why? Why not?

I absolutely love life! What’s not to love about it. Any day you wake up on this side of the dirt is a good day! The alternative simply sucks. We should all learn to be happy always, even in the face of adversity. Smiling pisses off the “League of the Perpetually Offended” and that tickles me so much I just smile all the time. Adversity and failure are lessons we all need to learn, and they are the best ways for us to learn. Once we understand they’re simply lessons, it is so much easier to deal with them, rise above them, and move on down our path. Be happy always!

“Everything is irrelevant but this: to embrace life. To feel it. To savor it. To love it.”

-- Marty Rubin. author

Do you know I or you could rejoice all the time even when facing difficulties or challenges?

Wake up each and every morning thanking God for the gift of another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in life. Difficulties or challenges are simply lessons we must learn to move on down our path, and failure is one of the best ways we learn. If you fail, don’t be upset. Ask yourself why you failed, and then figure out which choice or decision you made that caused the failure. Do not shift blame! That game will do nothing but hold you back. Own your major part in the choice or decision you made.

Would you rather, have £100 per week or 70 million now?

Money can’t buy me happiness. Go figure. I’m retired and doing fine with social security. I live a simple life, have friends and family, and still have my health. I strive to be happy always and life is simply marvelous!

When is or does a given thing like thinking turn into or ever become a talent?

When a given thing garners awards or earns you money, showing that other people recognize what you do as a talent. Or, you could just recognize, for yourself, that what you do is a talent, unless you need that validation from others.

“You are unique. You have different talents and abilities. You don’t have to always follow in the footsteps of others. And most important, you should always remind yourself that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing and have a responsibility to develop the talents you have been given.”

-- Roy T. Bennett. author

What is the living philosophy of your life?

Keep drama at arm's length and be happy always!

What are some tough situations that require you to be creative and use your imagination?

Survival situations. Military intelligence gave me the opportunity to go through survival training. Given nothing and in the middle of nowhere, you have to be creative, use your imagination, and think out of the box if you’re going to survive. You can’t approach survival like a short term endurance test or winter will kick your butt when it shows up. Better to approach it like you’re going to be there for a while.

Who do you thank your lucky stars for?

My mother. Without her I wouldn’t be here, alive, healthy, and approaching 67 years of age.

You’ve acquired much wealth through hard work. How do you feel about leaving it all behind for someone else to enjoy who didn’t have to work for it?

My father had to ask this of himself. His answer was, he worked hard for everything he had. He stayed out of debt and made good investments. He left the bulk of his properties, ultimately, to the local animal shelter; a sizeable amount of money. He felt you need to earn it to appreciate it. You need to try and fail and try again, in order to learn. Giving money away is like supporting welfare. There’s no incentive for anyone to try. People grow to expect others to do for them instead of earning their own way.

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy--to be followed by a dictatorship.”

-- Alexander Fraser Tytler Woodhouselee (1747-1813), judge, historian, professor

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.