Celebrating Human Weeds

I was flipping through some old notebooks and came across this snippet. It’s not a long essay, it’s not cute nor clever. It’s just a chunk of thought I wanted to share.

Woohoo.

The point of writing anything down is… well, pointless.

There’s too much already.

I say, if you can’t read everything that interests you, read nothing.

If you can’t travel everywhere, stay home.

If you can’t have all the money, have none.

Be extreme on the end of the spectrum that is within reach.

Broke, sedentary, without ambition.

Is this Zen or Tao minus the spontaneity? Maybe it’s something to meditate on. Maybe it’s an existential crisis. (This is from over a year ago, we’re okay, thanks for asking.)

Life? We don’t ask for life. This isn’t a new or particularly sharp observation. Weeds don’t ask for life. But weeds can do nothing and still live. If we do nothing, we die.

Can we be born and just exist?

No.

Unless we join a monastery and give our inner and outer lives to an invisible man/woman/diety (in the sky).

Weeds can just be born, chill and serve/fulfill their destiny.

We humans have to put forth effort even though we didn’t ask to be put in this situation.

If you have kids, sooner or later they ask (or yell) Why did you bring me into this world? I don’t want to work to pay for a car and rent and food over and over… this is stupid.

Is there a human weed?

Someone born who has to do nothing yet lives long and true to their nature?

I’m glimpsing something but as I try to write it down it escapes me.

Lao-tzu says:

The Tao is something blurred and indistinct.

Hmmm.

“Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

― Lao Tzu

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.

If you are anxious you are living in the future.

If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

― Lao Tzu

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

― Lao Tzu

“If you understand others you are smart.

If you understand yourself you are illuminated.

If you overcome others you are powerful.

If you overcome yourself you have strength.

If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.

If you can act with vigor, you have a will.

If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.

If you die without loss, you are eternal.”

― Lao Tzu

“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.”

― Charles Bukowski