I recently picked up a Philosophy book in the bargain section of a Borders and as I've been reading through it really got me thinking. And I thought I'd take this opportunity to really share a few of my views, ideas and how I've learned to experience life, most of which I've come to realize this past year. I hope that you all will do the same or that this will spark some thoughtful discussion.

My point of view on life is a simple philosophy and that we must try to reach full consciousness (of ourselves and the world) and transcend peace with harmony to all those around us, live life but be mindful of others, and seek purification through spirituality. I may sound foolishly optimistic but I feel that we need to better ourselves for the greater cause of our family, friends, society, and most importantly ourselves. Considering recent and current events the current state of the world we're living in, it's obvious that there is a great need for change. The revolution begins within ourselves bettering ourselves and becoming more knowledgeable about life, society, cultures, politics, spirituality, etc. Only then can we make a difference. This doesn't mean that you have to run for president, but it could be something as simple as sharing and opening the eyes and minds of others, helping each other gain greater understanding, and in turn, paving the way for a more tolerant, liberal, progressive society favorable for change.

It's also important to appreciate what we all have. We get so used to living and planning for the future -- what we have to do, where we have to go, who we have to become -- as well as, the past -- what has happened to us, why it happened -- and we lose ourselves thinking about things that can't be changed rather than learning and making the best of our experiences and applying it to the here and now! Being realistic, it is important to plan for the future and learn from the past, but it is crucial to understand who or what we are! By sitting still and living in the present, we can live each breath with mindfulness only to realize that we are all alike, yet different in our own individual way; regardless of background, race, sex, religion, orientation, education, income, style, religion, mentality, sign (if you're into that sort of thing) and most importantly, way of life.

On Myspace I realize that there is a lot of phoniness. We portray our best qualities always talking about what we have or about "who" we "are", yet we block out our negative side. But who am I to judge! I mean, who wants to share or learn about our bad qualities? Like the yin and yang, we have both good and bad but through it all, we've learned (hopefully) and we decide to continue living and improving. I'm not perfect, I've been wrong. I have lied to my loved ones, I have hurt my loved ones, I have retaliated out of anger, I have bad mouthed people out of ignorance, I have judged, I have stereotyped, I have taken the easy way out, I have made fun of people, I have wished ill on others, I have lusted, I have been selfish at the expense of others, I have done wrong when knowing better. But I have admitted to my wrongs and realized that i am human, that i can return good for my wrong doings. Remember that forgiving is love and loving yourself first begins with forgiving the most important person, YOU. So I have forgiven myself, and learned from experiences (just like I am learning this very minute more about myself). The first step to fixing something with ourselves is realizing the problem then changing it. And just as important as recognizing our faults, is forgiving the faults of others and offering guidance as necessary.

Peace and Love to all. Appreciate what you have now, savor it, before its gone!




What do you all think? Or share some of your own thoughts/philosophy. Let's make this the philosophical thread of CB!

Wow, not a response yet? I hope it's cuz you guys are typing out long thoughtful responses!

It's a CB REVOLUTION!

hmmm interesting this is, but we share some common ideas.

Life should not be portrayed as an idea to be taken advantage of, as you can see some people live a harder than life than others do. Appreciate what you get, appreciate what you already have, cherish those who cherish you. sometimes I think as living life as an oppurtunity, as a chance to appeal to a life that the life before us couldn't have. Though I wish for a world full of happiness there would be unbalance in this world. I learned alot growing up without a mom or dad thats not there for you, though you would think i would be resentful and relentless but im the opposite, I learned responsibilites, rights and wrongs , and how to make better decisions. There are many ways to exprience life, going through hardships i found it better for me to understand situations and to understand others. you develop a new kind of chracter, thats wise and bold. so my philosophy of life is not to take it for granted. Enjoy every moment, live life to the fullest. If you can waste time trying to make other people happy, then why not spend time finding your own happiness. Patience.

..

Thank you for sharing!

I think that's what makes people so interesting, the fact that we all come from different backgrounds and walks of life, but at the same time we all have the same lessons to learn. Its definately humbling to keep in mind that members of your family from previous generations and others who are less fortunate due to circumstances that they can't control work hard in hopes of having the same freedoms and opportunities you have now. Appreciate what you have and make the most of it, rather than sitting idle and complaining about what you don't have (especially the material things). And it's the understanding of what's going on in the world outside of your home, your realm, that helps you to understand other people and gives you the ability and desire to help others and make a difference. Only then will you find full happiness... finding happiness and contentment within yourself and happiness through the gift of giving. Yes, it's not enough to make yourself happy... full happiness comes from finding purpose for your own life in helping people and contributing.


I see you KC!

Hi Roxy, did you see me stylin on you?


I remember when I was younger I was so unappreciative of what my parents had done for me. I used to ask for alot until I got a job. After that I realized how hard my parents had to work to make me happy. So I learned to be content with what I had from then on, and I hardly ask my parents for anything nowadays. Everytime I think I'm going through something harsh I always take the time to realize that someone is going through something much worse, which makes me feel truly blessed. I eat, while someone is starving, I have shelter, someone doesn't, so I really can't complain.

Wall of text crits you for infinity damage...you die.


Hehe, I think that life is like a box of chocolates! You never know what you're gonna get. Except for those colour-coded chocolates...damn those chocolates to hell!

Its funny that most of us don't realize this til we have to support ourselves! Spoiled brats some of us are!



Yeah, now they actually tell you which chocolate is which underneath the lid. So you can find out what you're gonna get if you're curious enough to look. And, lol, if you want to continue this metaphor... well... now there's all these new technologies and discoveries and advancements or whatever that allow people to alter the natural (or original) order of things such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence and what not. Not that this is a bad thing, but some people prefer the mystery of life and would rather put their hand in the box and take what they get. *shrugs*

PRETTY!!!!11oneelveenty

I dont like snakes. Life is good and fun. Would you like some cheese?

Cheese increases your life span by 10 years. Eat cheese people...

Awww... but what if you're lactose intolerant?

lol cheese is awesome !!

maybe you should eat health herbs roxy =]

xquizit, just curious, which philosophers are you studying?

glad you're still around btw.

Haha, I'm not really lactose intolerant. I'm just asking on behalf of those who are. Poor people.


I've been studying the greek philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in depth and I'm now studying the main philosopies of the Roman world (epicureanism, stoicism, skepticism, and neoplatonism). I really like Plato's Allegory of the Cave but the rigid political views posed in The Republic, not so much, lol.

And thank you.

I've been reading a little Plato, Kierkegaard and Locke. Also St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

I'll write a much more bigger response when I've got the time but...

Is it "weird" that you can agree to two philosophies that contradict each other? Because sometimes I find myself doing that.

Yeah, but which two philosophies are you talking about?

Agreed. I like Plato's ideas but I also like the priciples of Epicureanism. And Epicureanism says that you gain knowledge through your senses and encourages the pursuit of pleasure while Plato says that the world of senses decieve you and inhibit you from finding true happiness. I guess you can agree on any two contradictory philosophies but postulate your own to create a balance between both ideas. Or perhaps you apply different philosophies to different situations.

I often lean towards cogito ergo sum. Then again, I consider myself a bit on the cerebral side (for better or for worse).

Having said that - Part of the problem is that we think too damn hard. Not enough of us just live. I'm fortunate in that I have a child. I might not have thought that initially and it hasn't been easy. My son didn't speak until he was in his 4th year. He was diagnosed with autism when he was two and I knew at that point I was going to learn a lot from him.

I learned to read people's expressions. Understand them not only via what they say, but just in how they are.

I had more to say, but I'm being beckoned (at work)

Hehe your trips to the book store always provoke you to post here, don't they?

Completely and utterly agree. Ignorance is, in my opinion, the root of most societal problems, especially in our country.

Blahh. I hate that, although again, this is what our society gears us towards. It's so.. scripted: succeed in high school, apply to and enroll in college, acquire your degree, move on to your desired profession, purchase your perfect house, get married, have kids, die. There's never time to think about anything else, really, or, at least, it doesn't seem so. If that makes any sense.

Actually, I came across a guy's MySpace where he listed a buttload of his negative qualities. I found it interesting, considering the fact that, as you say here, everyone displays their positives to the world. Mrm. Kind of off-topic. Hehe.

Ooh. I used to read up on Locke a lot (I was an LD debater), as well as Kant. Mrmm. Recently, I've read Aristotle (mostly because of an AP Euro project, but I still found it intriguing nonetheless).

[this is going to be long. :X]

well... life. i've tooken it for granted a few times. i never really appreciated the things i had in life and i know that im wrong for doing that, but im trying to change it. i never really appreciated what my parents did for me. i always thought that they tried to bitch at me for everything that i do wrong, and they always expect me to be perfect. i know they were just trying to help me. i've did some pretty f**ked up shit in my life, but i really can't just turn back time and erase it, but now that i had done those things, im learning from it. i have to know that if you do something bad, there will always be a bad outcome. i used to be a little spoiled brat, you know? =X but i guess that's how everyone used to be when they were little kids. [well at least the ones i know]

i've started to realize that im very lucky to be given a life. i've been seeing a few babies being aborted because of people who dont use abortion, or people who have been murdered. im very very lucky that i have a family, shelter, food, and clothes to wear. i take these things for granted and abuse it. i abused so much things, that i didn't realize that one day, it CAN be all gone. i just wanted everything that i could get. yeah, i always wanted all of the things i have now, but now that i think about it, WOW i spent a whole crap load of money on things that aren't really useful at this moment. so i guess i wasted all of that dough on things that are useless, when i could have just wasted it on something that was useful and will always be useful to be, in the present, and the future.

yup yup yup, i was a spoiled brat. i wanted this & that, but i've starting to open my eyes and notice that i was taking advantage of my parents. they do so much for me. they work 10-14 hours everyday & i never talked or appreciated them in anyway. i always wanted them to give me things that i wanted, and that was enough to make me happy. but right now... im not happy. i just wanted them to be there, and to love me. i did things so that it will get their attention, and to pay more attention to me, but now im starting to think, they're out in that world making money for me and trying to get me materialistic things that i dont need. all i needed was them by my side, and to care for me, and be there for me. i used to always think that they were just there to bitch and bitch and bitch about me being imperfect, but they just wanted what's best for me, and i feel pretty damn stupid that i had all those fights with them and ignored them, and acted like a little bitch, and i regret it, but i can't turn back time and take it all back. the only thing i can do, is to change myself.

i'm just SO glad that i had a great loving family, and great loving friends, shelter, food, and clothes. i now know that im not going to take things for granted and take advantage of things, but they may not be with me in the future. i know i've thought about suicide, but why end your life like that? just live life the best you can, keep your head up, and smile. im going to try to overcome my obstacles one by one, and i wont be defeated. :)

Hard times and obstacles suck but everyone of us encouter them. They build your character so do what you can to get through it then look back, reflect, change, and move on.

^ keke yes. :)

It's true. We worry too much about the future and the past that we forget the present! Life is short and temporary. Thinking about the past and the future blinds us from what's really happening. And it's evident in a lot of things. I'm sure it isn't harmful to think about the future and the past every once in a while but to be constantly living in them, you miss out on a lot.

Which reminds me of the movie Click. Despite what you ever think of it as a movie, it does teach a really good lesson.

God, I never make sense.

Thoughts.. And views on life in general.
Mmmm, you bring up quite a intense subject.

Life is a lot of things, good and bad,
beautiful in some aspects and horribly ugly in some.
I personally cherish it greatly for all that it is.
Sure the bitter bits of it makes it so unbearable at times. But
overcoming it is what makes the sweet parts of life so much sweeter.

Overcoming obsticles set before us, enduring the horrors,
feelings the warmth and joyed for our successes
while shedding tears for the failures and losses.
We take so many twists and turns before meeting our ends..
I believe the insane amount of possibilities
we can shape our life into is absolutely mystifying.

As for my life. I know how often I crumble it up,
bitterly curl my lip in hate as I curse at it for its many flaws and the
many mistakes I'm responcible for making
with the opportunities and choices I was given..
I would most definantly be lying if I didn't say I was a brat
that expected the world to fill in the every whim of my selfish desires.

Perhaps I am still that brat, but as time passes by I'm slowly changing.
With this change, I try to be a bit more considerate, a bit more wise.
I try to open my eyes a little bit wider,
take in the glory which is just LIVING.
Ahahaha the only issue with my new view on life now
is how enchanting it appeals to me so that I am often
left behind in the dust from my admiration for it.

Looking back at what I wrote for this topic.
It all seems like horrible attempts at poetic nonsense. I apologize..
It's just so hard to explain one's views on a subject with mass importance.

I life.

Thats one thing alot of people don't have is that they don't realize what they do until it hits them hard. Life all depends on how you endure it, what you make of it, and how you decide. I dont believe in tales where life has already set a fate/destiny for you. I think that's wrong, alot people base their life living among the words of others, while individuality is not a factor that people live upon on. live life the way you want to live life, bad or good the decisions on you, like alot of people say, they have goals, acheivements they must accomplish, in order to that you have to learn how to make right decisions, think outside the box, and stand out. People may not notice it, but thats another way to determine on how you live life, with a positive mind. You can be young, and take life granted, take people for granted, and obtain chracteristics that pisses people off. thats a life not everybody enjoys. and thats not a life you'll end up liking. life is not about materials, or stuff you get, like xmas is not about the presents or the money, You can't be greedy with life, nor selfish, but grasp it and understand it. Theres alot of shit in this world you can learn from, it all matters on how you interpret it.