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Icelander
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A LIVING CHALLENGE
#11357078 - 10/31/09 11:46 AM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Some times I have used the word "warrior" around here and others have used it to mean something different.
It's a loaded word for sure. But it doesn't have to be imo if we take it to mean a tendency rather then a permanent state.
I really like the way Castaneda's character of Don Juan uses the word.
"A warrior takes his lot, whatever it may be, and accepts it. He accepts what he is, not as grounds for regret but as a living challenge."
What a great way to look at things. No more whining, no more blaming, just taking the challenge of making the best of the life you have.
I don't think anyone will ever do this perfectly and to think that one must be perfect is a major reason for doing nothing.
Life can be very hard indeed. Unfortunately that's reality. I have found the only weapon I have to defend myself is taking what comes as a living challenge. And imo that's what makes one a warrior. If only for a moment at a time.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Chronic7
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357107 - 10/31/09 11:53 AM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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I feel that a 'Warrior' is one who is not afraid of life but faces every aspect of life with the attitude 'Bring it on!' Whatever it may be...
In a way we are programed with fear, so it will arise time to time & we wont say 'bring it on!' We cower in fear... But thats great...
As without the fear first arising we can't face it & break through it You can't really be a warrior if your not pushing your mental boundaries...
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Icelander
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Chronic7]
#11357133 - 10/31/09 12:00 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Here's another little quote I like.
"The basic difference between acting like an ordinary man and a warrior is that as a warrior one takes everything as a challenge, while as a ordinary man one takes everything as either a blessing or a curse."
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Ahimsa
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Chronic7]
#11357192 - 10/31/09 12:13 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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When i conquer myself and change my habitual reactions to life's situations, thus avoiding having to feel and face any emotional hurt there may be within me, then i am a victor, a warrior perhaps in the battle to free my potential as a human being, no longer being attached to old behaviour but ever regenerating myself, ever new, ever living, ever challenging.
May we all come to know our purpose on this planet by finding ourself as an ever changing expression of wisdom and empathy in action. Whatever that may mean to you...
Happy Halloween....
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Icelander
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Ahimsa]
#11357223 - 10/31/09 12:17 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Here's my experience. It's a daily challenge to change lifelong behaviors. Today I may do it and tomorrow not. The warrior, imo, just keeps at it.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Chronic7
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357424 - 10/31/09 12:54 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: Here's another little quote I like.
"The basic difference between acting like an ordinary man and a warrior is that as a warrior one takes everything as a challenge, while as a ordinary man one takes everything as either a blessing or a curse."
It depends on the context, if 'challenge' is playful its all good if its taking everything as a heavy challenege, like a 'problem' then thats way to heavy for me, brother
if like the chinese or japanese (i forget) challenge is the same as 'opportunity' then thats excellent to me thats warrior is taking challenge as opportunity
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Edited by Chronic7 (10/31/09 01:03 PM)
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357430 - 10/31/09 12:55 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Pardon me if this is too personal. Say the word and I will delete this post. Now I have little idea of the challenges that you have or are facing, but here is what I do know:
You are a homeowner - and I believe your house is paid off.
You live in a quaint, low-stress town surrounded by wilderness.
You are doing what you love - training dogs.
You are healthy and fit.
You are retired with enough funds to carry you through.
You have a wonderful lady in your life.
You have plenty of time for meaningless activities such as posting on The Shroomery almost daily.
All of this does not seem very challenging to an outsider. It is not as if you are starving or fearing for your life or living on the streets scrounging thru dumpsters for a cold, half-eaten Big Mac. I am sure there are self-created problems (as we all do), but having all of your basic needs met and living in a near idyllic setting doesn't seem to be an obstacle-ridden path requiring great fortitude and courage.
I am not being smart-ass. Just curious as to what I am missing.
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Chronic7
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OC challenges are all mental
the dude eating the big mac out the dumptser could not feel hes being challenged at all
the dude whose rich & chillin could still be challenged within his mind
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Chronic7]
#11357467 - 10/31/09 01:02 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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So if I hit my head with a hammer and then I stop, I have overcome a challenge?
The Shackleton crew ('The Endurance') stranded in the arctic for almost two years, now they was some boyz that faced real challenges.
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Chronic7
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said: So if I hit my head with a hammer and then I stop, I have overcome a challenge?
your certainly mentally challenged if your hitting yourself in the head with a hammer!
:ireallycantbefuckedtofindthatemoticonrightnow:
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Icelander
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That's all surface shit and at your age you should know that.
So I know something about you too.
You live comfortably enough
You make enough money self employed that you don't need to work for anyone else.
You are healthy and fit.
You have plenty of time for play.
I know you well enough to know that doesn't by itself make you happy or content. I think I know that you have many emotional challenges that make living a challenge.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Chronic7]
#11357505 - 10/31/09 01:10 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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You make that sound funny, but how many westerners do that with food?
A zillion books on diet and health, running and biking paths, several gyms in every town, and people struggle with weight. It is not complicated. All of the factors are known.
How is 'fighting obesity' different than hitting oneself with a hammer?
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Chronic7
Registered: 05/08/04
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said: You make that sound funny, but how many westerners do that with food?
A zillion books on diet and health, running and biking paths, several gyms in every town, and people struggle with weight. It is not complicated. All of the factors are known.
How is 'fighting obesity' different than hitting oneself with a hammer?
Exaclty, its all in your mind
Its obvious, eat healthy & exercise, but people stuck in their minds We've all been there & are there, to an extent
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rebus_minus
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Post deleted by rebus_minus
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357562 - 10/31/09 01:22 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
That's all surface shit
Perhaps, but it is physical and substantiatve. A starving kid dying of AIDS in war-torn Africa can adjust his attitude - maybe - but cannot 'think' himself out of the real-world challenges presented by his situation in the same way that a person with self-created or culturally-created issues could.
A person not having his basic needs met, (food/shelter/companionship/purpose) must spend most of his time and energy struggling to obtain them.
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OrgoneConclusion
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Quote:
You are missing that he arrived there by making progressively more skillfull choices to carve out his own reality
Perhaps, but the inverse is not necessarily true. The person who lost everything to a tsunami or hurricane or stock market fraud or illness did not necessarily make bad choices.
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Icelander
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said:
Quote:
That's all surface shit
Perhaps, but it is physical and substantiatve. A starving kid dying of AIDS in war-torn Africa can adjust his attitude - maybe - but cannot 'think' himself out of the real-world challenges presented by his situation in the same way that a person with self-created or culturally-created issues could.
A person not having his basic needs met, (food/shelter/companionship/purpose) must spend most of his time and energy struggling to obtain them.
Good points. Surviving malnutrition has noting to do with being a warrior. That person will never have to face those challenges. I'm talking about the emotional challenges most of us well fed softies face. Being a warrior of course wouldn't apply to someone brain dead either.
Maybe some in war torn and starving conditions can think their way out of that situation or at least not be a total victim of the situation. We really don't know who does what over there and who makes it and doesn't and how.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357623 - 10/31/09 01:30 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
So I know something about you too.
You live comfortably enough
You make enough money self employed that you don't need to work for anyone else.
You are healthy and fit.
You have plenty of time for play.
You forgot to mention my Dodge Viper (trading in for an Audi R8), my huge drug stash, the penthouse suite - and the hookers; oh yes - the gorgeous Vegas pros.
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: A LIVING CHALLENGE [Re: Icelander]
#11357651 - 10/31/09 01:34 PM (14 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
I'm talking about the emotional challenges most of us well fed softies face.
As am I.
The housewife agonizing over whether to paint her kitchen robin's egg blue or arctic blue just does not seem like a warrior to this reader merely because she overcame her obsession with finding the perfect color.
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Icelander
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and that you live with your mother. That's got to be good.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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