Questions of Happiness, Rules, and Useless Knowledge

 

"It is better to have useless knowledge than to know nothing."

-- Seneca the Younger

 

What do you think about the quote, "Entrepreneurs average 3.8 failures before final success. What sets the successful ones apart is their amazing persistence."? Do you agree?

Yes! They have come to understand that failure is simply another opportunity to learn from a mistake.

Do you think that almost all problems come down to money in the end?

No. Almost all problems stem from poor choices and decisions. Some of those poor choices and decisions concern money.

How far can humility get you in life?

It has worked for me.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

-- Rick Warren

The configuration of the planets is going to change everything in our lives. What do we do? Are we waiting for the destiny that has been decided for us from the beginning?

Your destiny is what you make of it. The planets are simply another aspect we have to consider.

What is the best way to be mediocre?

Sit back and let the government make decisions for you.

Without any counseling method from expert people, how did you manage to handle everything you've been through by yourself?

Honesty. When I ask why things happen, I have to be honest with myself that it was due to some choice or decision I made. The moment I try to shift the blame, I know that I am not being totally honest. Life is all about choices and decisions we have to make. If we make good ones, we have good consequences. Bad ones… well, life can suck.

"Physician, heal thyself: then wilt thou also heal thy patient. Let it be his best cure to see with his eyes him who maketh himself whole."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

When should you walk away from a problem and when should you try and fix it?

When the other person won’t let you. There are times when trying to shore up the dam is overtaken by the immense pressure built up by the water behind it. The best fix, for all parties involved, is to evacuate the town, to simply walk away before someone gets hurt worse than they already are. It can be easier to pick up the pieces and start over than to die fighting a battle you just can’t win.

What task can never have more than 1 person doing at a time?

Piloting a one-person glider. Everyone needs to pilot their own.

What are your main strengths, and why?

I can judge a situation fairly well. I’m able to walk away from a no-win situation before it becomes a pissing contest, if not from the onset. I rarely take the bait, it defeats striving to be happy always.

“Accept yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, your truths, and know what tools you have to fulfill your purpose.”

-- Steve Maraboli

How would religious people’s lives change if they discovered that God does not exist?

They would be forced to live with no real expectations, other than birth, taxes, and death. Whoo-hoo! For some non-religious spiritual people, however, there is always an expectation of another life after this.

Does everyone in the world get skid marks in their underpants?

If you wear underpants, probably so. I would think it might be less for those who wear boxer shorts, however.

When does avoidance work as opposed to facing something head-on?

Stepping off of the tracks when the train is coming.

“Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable.”

-- R.D. Laing

What useless piece of knowledge can you pass along right now?

I’m thirsty.

What’s something you really want to do but can’t?

A few “who” come to mind, but not a “what” I can think of.

What is a rule in life that no one knows?

That to be truly happy is the first rule. Everything else is supposed to flow from that.

“Prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away. I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them.”

-- Mark Haddon

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