Questioning Choices, Wisdom, Change, Etc.

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

-- Albert Einstein

 

Does anyone make decisions with a coin?

No, and those that do have already lost. A “coin” is not informed. If it were informed it would be able to give you more than a simple “chance” that what you do will work out. Whatever information you possess is infinitely more useful than mere chance. If you make a mistake you can own it, people will see that you have ethics. If you fail from flipping a coin, people will see you’re an idiot incapable of making the hard choices. Better not to be heard blaming a coin for your circumstances.

What's your unconventional path to success?

Happiness! Even if you don’t succeed at your task, you will certainly succeed in life if you always strive to be happy.

How do you create something without external influences?

I don’t really think you can. I can paint a star system by putting canvas down and simply painting, but I’ve seen the stars, so they are the external influence. I’m not certain you can find something that has been created that there wasn’t a reason for.

"Be selective about your external influences. Your multi-dimensional brain is influenced by everything you see, hear, read, smell, touch, feel or say." 

-- Brian Tracy

Which school of philosophy should be joined to become wiser, happier, and most resilient?

Zen and Tao philosophies worked for me, and then I began reading the ancient Greek philosophers.

What's more likely to carry you into doing your very best at a job (and even being the best) for a long period of time? Naturally, developed good life habits, or a burning desire/passion? If you had to pick one or the other which would you choose?

Enjoying doing the job, so “desire/passion” would fit the bill. Good life habits will keep you banging away at it, even if it isn’t fulfilling. I’d rather enjoy what I do.

What life event made you change your habits?

Basic Military Training (BMT), changed bad habits and solidified who I have become today. Of course, I went through before they became the “kinder, gentler” military, which explained the issues with their new recruits.

To quote from the Air Force website: “Your career in the Air Force officially begins with Basic Military Training (BMT). It is a challenging experience both mentally and physically but will ultimately transform you from humble recruit to confident Airman with the skills and confidence you need to excel as a member of the U.S. Air Force.” 

And, as it turns out, in life, as well.

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

-- Lao Tzu

Is the "break the limits" principle applicable in our life? If so, how to apply it?

I thought I was happy for the longest time, then I made a conscious choice to strive for real happiness. Real happiness was so much more than I thought it was. It incorporates tolerance and understanding, as well as smelling the roses and walking barefoot in the sand. Real happiness is something you learn to share selflessly.

I went beyond the limits I had placed on my definition of happiness. I have no doubt we can “break the limits” we think there are on love, friendship, and so many other factors in life. To begin, we must make the conscious choice to be more than we are and then “break the limits.”

The adage "don't put all of your eggs in one basket" means to not put all of your efforts/hopes in one area because one might lose everything by doing so. What specific events in your life were a hard lesson to heed this warning?

Investing in the stock market. I still tend to invest in what I know, so I’m heavy in a couple of sectors instead of spreading my investments out. I’ve been bitten a few times due to this.

Is it possible to live only as a philosopher today?

If you live off the kindness of others, live in a “welfare” state, write philosophical books, or teach philosophy. I’d be willing to bet homeless camps are rife with self-proclaimed “philosophers.” Some of us prefer employment, however.

“Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.”

-- Albert Camus

What are some golden rules to remember once you reach 18 years old?

Read, learn, fall in love, work hard, strive to be happy, stay out of debt, all lives matter, and socialism only works until it runs out of other people’s money. 

Why does my boyfriend keep beating on me?

He’s your boyfriend, that doesn’t mean he possesses a sense of morality or ethical behavior. But this brings up the more important question: Why are you still with him when there are real men who actually know how to appreciate and treat their love interests?

What do you do when you feel foolish?

Laugh at me. We all do foolish things, so it isn’t something to be ashamed of. I choose to find it humorous and invite others to laugh along with me. My father’s biggest fault was that he was never one to admit his faults. I have so few faults, I choose to wear them on my sleeve.

"Childhood has its own way of seeing, thinking, and feeling, and nothing is more foolish than to try to substitute ours for theirs."

--Jean-Jacques Rousseau

And the short answers are...

Do you regret getting her pregnant with your child?

I don’t regret either child. I regret the woman, however.

If you see a stranger crying on a bench, do you approach them or keep walking?

As a person of faith, I approach them to assist, if possible.

What is it like dating someone with low self-esteem?

An early evening.

What things other than needing the paycheck will keep a person in a thankless job?

Masochism, or no other options.

If I choose to know in my heart that I am not a child, then later I chose to be a full-blown child, what does that make me?

Wishy-washy. Oh, and not very mature. 

"Short answers seem like you don't care even if you are trying to answer. I get the same flack for my short texting." 

-- Rob Zombie

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 volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com