Esprit De Escalier

Bodhisattva and Compassion

The problem with changing anything that happened in the past is that you’d likely wind up impacting the present. I try not to look back at situations in the distant past, mostly because there really isn’t anything you can do about them. I also believe that directing energy to re-experiencing your past can eat at you, preventing you from living right now and hampering your growth as an individual. In my opinion, regret is a pernicious bugger once you start entertaining it.

That being said, when I was younger I was quick to judge and even quicker to react. Any relationship could and often would end on a pet peeve or tiny slight that I’d turned into a character condemning indicator. Once the mark was written it was written in stone and I would sever all ties permanently. I realize now that those traits or reactions come from a defensive outlook. My reasoning was that in quickly eliminating individuals who could potentially hurt me, I would escape the possibility of greater harm once trust was established. Unfortunately, for me, I failed to recognize that there is value in putting yourself out there, working through issues with the people around you and learning how to build strong relationships through the an occasional failure.

If I could go back in time and change something in my life, I would change my approach to relationships to one based on compassion and leave the stoniness for those who really deserved it.

Posted in Writing

Peaches
The scent of peaches reminds me of taking long afternoon walks in the summertime with my grandfather. He lived on Peachtree Street, which was in fact lined with peach trees, and by August the air was completely overtaken by the smell of ripening peaches.

My son
There isn’t any other person in the world who can make me laugh louder, smile broader or drive me crazier than my child.

Running
Endorphins! Well and also the complete solitude of running while the rest of the world is still asleep; nothing but the sound of my shoes hitting the trail while I try to spot the constellations in the sky and avoiding the occasional critter. It’s the one time that I truly feel part of the world. .

Conversations
I so enjoy having in depth intelligent conversations with people. It doesn’t matter if we share the same view point; in fact it’s often better if we don’t. I appreciate the dialogue and the occasional challenge.

Affection
It can save the world!! Don’t believe me? Go hug someone right now!

Yoga
Nothing I “do” can put my mental self more in tune with my physical self than yoga. I’m instantly internally aware and externally absent at the same time and content to become lost in the process.

Cupcakes
Frosting!

Gaming
A great game will have something to fit every mood and there are times in a persons life where a little pwnage makes it all OK.

Companions

The process can be daunting but if you stick it out through the rough patches you come out the other side with a bond that just makes life more enriching. There are few things in more comforting than knowing someone and being known by them in turn.

Painting
It’s one of the few thing that I do just for the pure selfish pleasure of it.

Posted in Writing

Martian

Walking to work one morning a pickup truck slowed down as it passed me and quickly pulled over to park. The driver jumps out and runs across the street towards me yelling "Miss! Miss!' and cuts in front of me, blocking my way. Completely out of breath he blurts out, "You won't believe this but aliens visited me last night and told me that they would take me to their ship for testing tonight unless I get the most beautiful girl in the world to go out with me and you are by far the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Would you go out with me?"

Fortunately for the aliens, I was married at the time.

Posted in Writing