Were you someone else before you were you?

[VooMan]

CJ, I am happy to say that you and I seem to think along similar lines...

In recent years I have begun to read about various people and religions. I certainly don't claim to be an expert at anything, but so far in my travels I have found hinduism to be something that makes me say: "yep, that's how I feel..." I agree with you though, that humans and their interpretations tend to screw things up. That's one of the reasons I no longer consider myself to be a Catholic. Too many bizarre rules and regulations, and more loopholes than the IRS tax code. LOL

Something I read about Native Americans that I found fascinating was their respect for all living things. Before they would cut down a tree, they would ask it's permission. Sure that sounds crazy to most people these days, but I admire that. If they felt it was okay to cut down the tree they would thank it for the warmth it gave them (from the fire), and of course they would sprinkle the ashes on the ground to nourish the other plants and pray that the tree would become something more than it had been when it was a tree. The same goes for the meat they ate. When they went on a hunt they would thank the animals for the nourishment they provided, and they used every last bit of the animal for something useful. To do less would have been disrespectful. I admire their perspective...

Maybe this is a copout, but I try to get what I can from everything I read. I take the things that I feel apply to me and I discard what doesn't feel right. I don't think there's anything wrong with material posessions, but then again I would never sacrifice my principles in order to have them. If given the choice to screw people over and become a millionaire or be true to myself and live an average lifestyle, I'll take the average lifestyle. It's just the way I am... (and the example I follow from my father).

My father is one of the people I admire most in my life. He was a doctor for all the right reasons. He wanted to help people. He was an absolutely brilliant surgeon, but he only operated when there was no other option. He had a great bedside manner and told half his patients to "get outta here" and not pay him. He was true to himself for his entire career and never gave in to the trappings his colleagues strived for. While they all drove Mercedes Benz, etc... and were in debt up to their eyeballs, my father drove a Plymouth Duster and spent time with his family. He could have made lots more money, but to him spending time with his wife and kids was more important than anything else. He was never really accepted by his colleagues, and when he died only one doctor came to pay his respects; his doctor... I was most proud to see however, that the funeral home was packed to the rafters with patients. Word spread fast about his passing, and I heard story after story about what a wonderful man my father was, and what wonderful care he took of this person and that person...

I try to model my life after him.

Wow, this was a pretty long winded post for me, and I don't normally talk about these kinds of things so openly. Most people would think (or now officially know) that I am an oddball. I try to balance the bits I feel to be true with the bits that don't make sense by living my life according to my own code of beliefs, and by following what feels right to me in my heart. I don't live according to one specific philosophy, I just live according to the gospel of Voo.