The Catalyst

Hello Everyone,



Good versus Evil. Yin versus Yang. Cowboys versus Indians. Life is defined by conflict. Some would suggest life IS conflict. We have so many clashes of ideals it’s hard to choose a concrete philosophy to live by. We constantly have to pick sides. One of the major conflicts we have to settle is whether we want to be happy or do we want our life to have meaning/purpose. Some think that you don’t have to choose between the two. But like trying to be single and married at the same time, you can’t have both.
Contrary to popular opinion being happy isn’t hard. In fact it’s rather easy. The secret to being happy is to focus on the present. “Sotori” is a Zen term loosely defined as “attention to the moment”. In a world full of distraction it can be difficult to zero in on what’s important. As humans, we tend to worry about things we cannot change. No matter how much I pray and put anointing oil on my legs, I’ll never be taller than 5’11’’. Spending too much time daydreaming about being taller is a waste. It would be much easier to accept my height and move on. Society has taught us that we should fit into a certain mold. We ALL need to go to college. We ALL need to go to church. We ALL need to be heterosexual. Unfortunately, not all of us fit into these pre-made molds. Some of us get persecuted because we accept ourselves “as is”. The majority will get mad at the minority because they’re having more fun. It’s entertaining to see what lengths people will go to in order to be accepted by the mainstream. We send overweight kids to “fat camps” to try and rewire their brains to make them endeavor to be skinny. Others send their kids to sexual reorientation camps in a blind attempt to make our gay brothers and sisters straight. I’m no psychologist but I think it’s impossible to make someone something they are not. Only Jesus could turn water into wine. Life has taught me that you can’t make a person happy, especially if they choose to be depressed. To be happy, all you need to do is focus on what is going on right now. Focus on how good it is to be alive (as opposed to the alternative). Be thankful you have roof over your head. Remember that you have a child that loves you unconditionally. Sure, he/she may never make the honor roll. But your child is like your hometown sports team. You don’t love them because they’re good; you love them because they’re yours.
Many people wander through life struggling to find purpose. This is an admirable ideal. But wanting to find purpose can be a never-ending story. I say it’s “never ending” because when looking for meaning you have to focus on your past which cannot be changed and your future which hasn’t happened yet. You constantly have to examine and reexamine your life combing through mistakes while rationalizing their consequences. Despite what you’ve heard, it is possible to reap what you DID NOT sow. Don’t believe me? How about kids who get molested by adults? These children get violated with no provocation and to say otherwise is Panglossian*. It is possible to experieince an effect with no probably cause. With that being said, only YOU can give life meaning. Sure, we go to prophets, psychics, or whoever else will charge you for dreaming but they can’t give you real purpose. They can’t give you real answers. They can only speculate on a future based on whatever façade they can paint to keep your money flowing. To me, if a person can truly read the future you should only have to go to them once. You usually know the answers to the questions that plague your heart anyway. Most of us know the answer before we even ask the question. “Should I stay with him/her?” “Should I start my own business?” “Should I quit or persevere?” Be honest, you already know and your mind is already made up as far as what you’re going to do.
These paths that I’ve presented to you are merely two of a more complex decision-making map. Some would say that the road less traveled is the way to go. I wouldn’t be so sure. A lot of times the road less traveled is a hint that maybe that particular path is a dead end. The hard way isn’t the only way to learn. Sometimes it’s good to learn from others. The Bible reads “there is nothing new under the sun”. I take this to mean that no matter how unique we think we are there is someone somewhere who has tried what we think is an unprecedented idea. Some have failed while others have succeeded. It may have been easy for some while difficult for others. The race is not always won by the fastest person. But in order to win you at least have to finish. The road less traveled, though difficult, may be shorter. However, taking the path of least resistance is probably more enjoyable. It’s up to you to decide what’s best.


“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable or strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Francesca Reigler


The All-American



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*Word you’ve never heard…
Panglossian /pan-GLAH-see-un/ adjective - marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds: excessively optimistic