I love this for a couple of reasons and am happy for you that you had that nice satisfying encounter.
I was flummoxed several years ago when we visited a son in college, said he could bring a guest with him to a planned dinner out, he did, we had a nice evening, and he reported later that she had only commented about us that "your parents seem pretty serious." I hadn't felt like it had been a serious evening, but I definitely started a process of reflection on what kind of temperament I actually have as opposed to what I imagined I have. And I concluded: I'm pretty serious. LOLOLOL. I think you have hit the nail on the head when you connect your tendency to sometimes overfocus on the negative or the possible negative because you want to make sure you have all the information, or consider all the angles, or are prepared for multiple possible scenarios to at least a small degree. I do the same! Not out of wanting to be serious, but because I find it *interesting.* And constructive.
Meanwhile, I love riding the bus because of the many little serendipitous brief exchanges with people it allows to happen. Many of them charming. And not related to the bus but one of my favorite events of 2022 occurred when I finally conceded that I'm never going to play the old guitar someone gave me in college and I've been hauling around ever since. And I took it to Goodwill to donate. A smiling attendant greeted me as I stepped from the car holding the instrument, reached for it as I started to hand it over, pretended to strum it and said something, laughing, in half English-half Spanish about "Cielito Lindo." I said, "Yes! Of course" and started singing the first verse of the song. He was surprised and happy, started playing for real, and I walked around to get in the car, singing, "Ay, ay, ay, ay." We waved to each other, I drove away, he carried the guitar into the building and I was singing Cielito Lindo the rest of the day.
Thanks, Andy! My limited knowledge of Buddhism emphasizes the same, the impermanence. This quote you cite makes the point so clearly. Thank you fir remindupipus all. Also, we visited ‘our booth’ at Galway Bay Tuesday night, both of us saying we missed you two and our many dinners. Your side of the booth was obviously empty but Bud had a new kind of Irish in your honour. I think it was Mouth. 😏
I was recently reading a book on Stoicism, which is not quite the taciturn philosophy I had believed. A key point is to periodically take the time to remember that everything one has could be swept away in a moment. The intent of this "negative visualization" isn't to be gloomy, but to help us take joy in even the small things we have, to avoid taking things for granted as we so often do.
Encounters like the one you mention are wonderful and invigorating. I recall many years back coming to the conclusion that when someone says "how are you" in an offhand greeting, all spirits are lifted by responding "I am Excellent! (Awesome, incredible, etc.)" as opposed to responding, "I'm OK, I guess." Small things, but important. I forget that sometimes.
Hope you and Bud are both feeling excellent, awesome, incredible, etc.!
I love this for a couple of reasons and am happy for you that you had that nice satisfying encounter.
I was flummoxed several years ago when we visited a son in college, said he could bring a guest with him to a planned dinner out, he did, we had a nice evening, and he reported later that she had only commented about us that "your parents seem pretty serious." I hadn't felt like it had been a serious evening, but I definitely started a process of reflection on what kind of temperament I actually have as opposed to what I imagined I have. And I concluded: I'm pretty serious. LOLOLOL. I think you have hit the nail on the head when you connect your tendency to sometimes overfocus on the negative or the possible negative because you want to make sure you have all the information, or consider all the angles, or are prepared for multiple possible scenarios to at least a small degree. I do the same! Not out of wanting to be serious, but because I find it *interesting.* And constructive.
Meanwhile, I love riding the bus because of the many little serendipitous brief exchanges with people it allows to happen. Many of them charming. And not related to the bus but one of my favorite events of 2022 occurred when I finally conceded that I'm never going to play the old guitar someone gave me in college and I've been hauling around ever since. And I took it to Goodwill to donate. A smiling attendant greeted me as I stepped from the car holding the instrument, reached for it as I started to hand it over, pretended to strum it and said something, laughing, in half English-half Spanish about "Cielito Lindo." I said, "Yes! Of course" and started singing the first verse of the song. He was surprised and happy, started playing for real, and I walked around to get in the car, singing, "Ay, ay, ay, ay." We waved to each other, I drove away, he carried the guitar into the building and I was singing Cielito Lindo the rest of the day.
Life is good.
Thanks, Andy! My limited knowledge of Buddhism emphasizes the same, the impermanence. This quote you cite makes the point so clearly. Thank you fir remindupipus all. Also, we visited ‘our booth’ at Galway Bay Tuesday night, both of us saying we missed you two and our many dinners. Your side of the booth was obviously empty but Bud had a new kind of Irish in your honour. I think it was Mouth. 😏
Would have loved to be with you both at Galway Bay--and we will be again!
I have learned myself over lo, these many trips around the sun. Don’t always like me but am learning to catch myself. Ay ay ay ay, cielito ......
I was recently reading a book on Stoicism, which is not quite the taciturn philosophy I had believed. A key point is to periodically take the time to remember that everything one has could be swept away in a moment. The intent of this "negative visualization" isn't to be gloomy, but to help us take joy in even the small things we have, to avoid taking things for granted as we so often do.
Encounters like the one you mention are wonderful and invigorating. I recall many years back coming to the conclusion that when someone says "how are you" in an offhand greeting, all spirits are lifted by responding "I am Excellent! (Awesome, incredible, etc.)" as opposed to responding, "I'm OK, I guess." Small things, but important. I forget that sometimes.
Hope you and Bud are both feeling excellent, awesome, incredible, etc.!
Andy