Questioning Losing, Choices, Peace, Change, and Life

 

“I guess I think of lotteries as a tax on the mathematically challenged.”

-- Roger Jones

Would you buy a reverse lottery? I.e., if you hit the jackpot, you would lose your life and lesser such punishments down the winning scale. Would you be as happy as winning the jackpot if you manage to 'lose'?

Only if I’m suicidal, which I’m not.

How does everyone plan on enjoying 2023?

I woke up this morning. This feat tells me that the enjoyment has already begun in earnest. The alternative to being on this side of the dirt still sucks. I plan to continue waking up for the next 363 days, at minimum. If this runs contrary to someone else’s plan, bring it. Just saying.

Why is it impossible to change people's minds before turning one year old?

Would you really know what you’re doing at one year old? I suppose if you peed on someone they might think twice about having kids. 

What life lessons are counter-intuitive or go against common sense or wisdom? For example, being loud and obnoxious is surprisingly useful/effective most of the time.

Suicide strikes me as a life lesson that is counter-intuitive and goes against “good” sense and wisdom. “Common” sense isn’t that common anymore, but even common sense would probably decry suicide. 

 How do we let go of our attachments and desires?

Undesired death. If you desire to let go of your attachments and “desires”, you’ve already failed.

“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”

-- Steve Maraboli

What do you think about taking revenge?

I don’t. I have enough on my plate without having bad karma climbing up my back. Karma needs full attention on the target of your revenge, it doesn’t need to deal with you as well. Let it go.

How can you help someone struggling with this kind of challenge in life?

I’m sorry, but you haven’t defined the kind of “challenge” in life.

I'm 18 years of age, what can I do every day to achieve greatness in the future?

If your priority is “greatness” you will never be happy. Prioritize true happiness, always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances and you will have achieved greatness in your personal life. Be selfless in all you do, and be the light for those in darkness. Starting life wanting is a premonition of what life holds for you in the future. Be truly happy, love, live, and foster friendships. “Greatness” will find you, in one form or another.

Should I regret leaving a toxic environment that happened years ago?

Why? It was toxic. There should be no regrets on your side. The regrets should be with the person who created the toxic environment.

People say that I'm a leader in my studio, but I'm only in third grade. Should I still take the chance to be a leader?

According to “people” you already are a leader. So you must be already taking the chances, unbeknownst to you. The best leaders are usually those who have no idea they are leading. They enter pandemonium and take the reigns of leadership simply to bring order to chaos.

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What motivates and inspires you in life?

Happiness. I’m never as motivated and inspired as I am when I’m truly happy, and if she has a great set of legs, that helps.

What are some things one can never regret doing?

Being alive. You can regret the choices and decisions you make, but, being alive is the only way you can make them right.

Learning. It isn’t that you make bad choices and decisions, it’s all about what you learn from the experience that matters in life.

Doing. You don’t learn unless you do, anything, for better or worse. Doing is the way we learn, and making mistakes is the best way we learn. 

How do "good" and "bad" people differ, as children?

As children, they differ in what they choose to learn from the parenting they are exposed to. Children are born without sin, and then they get exposed to us.

What are signs of pride? What is the difference between pride and being proud of all the work you have done?

Going by the definition: “Having an excessively high opinion of oneself.” I will add to this, especially if you brag about it to everyone around you. Being proud of all the work you’ve done is a good thing. It’s when your ego takes over and makes you think you’re so much better than others, is when the issue takes hold. One needs to learn how to be proud, yet, humble.

 How can I manage the guilt of not regretting something I know is wrong?

It depends on whose wife it is.

"I see it all perfectly; there are two possible situations - one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it - you will regret both."

-- Soren Kierkegaard

Do successful people regret their college choice?

My son has a very “successful” life that has nothing to do with his degree.

As a creative person, what's the education you wish you have received throughout your childhood?

Any topic that deals with creativity. Woodshop was one class in the day. Creativity requires a steady stream of creative juice, so you know which path you’d like to travel. I might have chosen to stop at many points of interest, just to dabble, before making a choice… or two.

Why do people want to go back home after college instead of moving somewhere else permanently?

Their parents let them.

Is it bad to always want to buy things for yourself?

It seems to me they would be like a person searching for happiness. If one thing makes you truly happy, why would you want anything more? I think we need to make the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of our circumstances, or what we can afford to “purchase” in life. 

If we don't know the answer to a question, does that mean the question is meaningless?

Do you mean, as opposed to us being ignorant?

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

-- Mark Twain

What are some of the best ways to find inner peace?

I found that meditation and making the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances, help in so many ways for me to find inner peace. Plus, I have learned to totally ignore assholes and the League of the Perpetually Offended.

I have around 200 entries on a giveaway, and about 3000 people have entered it. I really want to win it. What are my chances of winning it?

15 to 1.

If someone from 100 years ago was accidentally sent to 2023, what would they think about our world today?

It would depend on what part of the country they were from, what city, man or a woman, gay or straight, free-thinking or a tight ass, democrat or republican, citizen or not, ethnic background, etc., etc., etc. This is not an easy question to answer.

Is the saying true “perspective is reality”? Why or why not?

Perspective is an individual’s reality. Whether their perspective is valid, or true, is another question. But, for them, it is their reality.

Is good luck the lack of negative happenings or exceptionally good things happening?

If you believe in “luck” then it would be the lack of negative things happening. Luck has more to do with your knowledge, wisdom, choices, and decisions. If you are experiencing “good luck” you must be exercising all of these to the “nth” degree.

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What was one of the things that made you decide it’s enough?

My divorce. It made me swear off marriage. I have found that “living in sin” has lasted almost as long as the marriage, and I’ve been so much happier.

What’s the biggest test of your life so far as of January 2023?

Shadow, my 18-pound cat, my bestest friend, had a kitty heart attack, or a stroke, and died in front of me at 3:30 in the morning on January 2nd at the ripe old age of six. He will be sorely missed. 

What is the relationship between fear and illusion?

Fear will help to keep you safe from the illusion that you are invincible. 

Was there ever a time when you stopped living for others and started living for yourself? What made you decide to make that change?

I stopped living for a wife that admitted she never loved me and started living for myself. One would think this selfish, but living for myself means I can be selfless at the drop of a hat, without the worry of repercussions. How great is that? 

What is it about you that remains the same despite change?

Everything and nothing. “Change” is the only true constant in the universe. Learn to deal with it or vote to change it. You can walk away from it, but change will happen with or without you.  Better to be involved, even if you're not.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

-- Lao Tzu

What has to be the stupidest superhero weakness ever?

Kryptonite? Really? The science for this is really a stretch, even for a kid.

What do you do if you have a hard time finding self-love and people who love you?

Self-love is a choice you have to make, so make it. If people don’t love you, find another crowd to hang with. Life isn’t as tough as we choose to make it. Make better choices and decisions. It is really that simple. 

Is there anything that questions can't do?

If an answer is sought, they help to expand knowledge. If they are ignored, not so much.

What's your final message to your 2022 self?

You made it through another year and woke up on the other side, Congratulations! Now, let’s work on 2023. Any day on this side of the dirt is a fantastic day! Revel in it!

What do you understand today about your life?

As I approach 70, my life in this existence is coming to a close.

"I've followed you on many adventures...but into the great unknown mystery, I go first... Indy!"

-- Wu Han

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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