Hear Jim’s Red Clay Diary podcast: https://youtu.be/rB38gwWinng
or read his transcript below:
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Life, actually…
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A PROPOSED DAY WORTH LIVING
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My days on Planet Three are divided between what-ifs and wishful thinking.
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What if?
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What if I could re-live that embarrassing gaffe and this time comport myself correctly? Too late or too impossible to bid time return, but seldom too late to watch my step next time.
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I wish.
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I wish I were more adept at handling life’s crises. But wishing doesn’t accomplish much, in the real world of orderly time-passage. Doing is the only way to make wishing seem real. So I will wrangle the next crisis with more aplomb. I will Do Better. I wish.
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Thoughts like these seep into the cracks of the day. For instance:
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It is important to feel someone else’s pain. Makes me a tad more human. More humane.
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But I also know that feeling someone’s pain doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to do anything about it, do anything to lessen their hurt. Might be I’m too lazy. Maybe I realize I’m unskilled at helping anybody else out, much less myself.
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It takes a lot of what-ifs and wishes to come up with a solid plan for doing the right thing, the helpful thing.
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We are an imperfect species in many ways. Just look around. But strangely enough, we are also such a beautiful species when we once in a blue moon actually do something healing or helpful or unselfishly honest. A puzzling and peculiar fault of character.
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So, Bub, you’re so pontifical, tell me how you would make things better? First time I’ve ever called myself Bub.
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Assuming the duties of creation:
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If I were in charge and required to improve the human species, I would try injecting more compassion and empathy into our DNA. In addition I would toss in a pinch of willingness…willingness to not only care, but to take action, to carry out our caring impulses. To make kindness and civility key ingredients. I would decrease the number of hurtful words and rants that damage so many of us.
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Take politics and piety away and you might be left with honest interaction.
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To sweeten the recipe, I just might throw in a tablespoon of calmness. And a dab of willingness-to-forgive.
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Bake moderately and savor the newborn fragrance and peace that make a day worth living, worth remembering
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© Jim Reed 2023 A.D.
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