There is something refreshing about returning home after an absence of any length. The initial sensation of pure familiarity slips stealthily into the realm of my conscious thought. My mood undergoes a rapid change from unhappy exhaustion to blissful wonderment at the simplicity of recognizable surroundings. Suddenly, my mind is no longer troubled by the constant input of new information.
Funny aspects of everyday life can be greatly appreciated after returning home, such as the familiar width and steepness of stairs or even the sound of the washing machine in my own house. I am amazed at how such a subtle change differentiates between a house and a home and how these subtleties vary from person to person. One particularly amusing variance, at least in my mind, is the ease of achieving a "normal" temperature from the faucet in the shower. Silly details such as this can make a slight but very noticeable distinction between that which is tolerable and that which is truly comfortable.
As you go about your day, think of several characteristics of your home and family that set them apart from other places and persons. Rather than ignoring the features that distinguish you from others, be thankful for the idiosyncrasies that shape your personality every day.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Bored? Me too...
Boredom. A single, solitary word. Seven ordinary letters. This word seems simple, yet its two familiar syllables manage to capture a most convoluted paradox. Although the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines boredom as "the state of being weary or restless through lack of interest," the feelings and experiences actually associated with boredom are much more complex than this definition would suggest. The following covers my thoughts on the conceptual reality of boredom
Boredom cannot be defined as a lack of interest because that merely induces rest and laziness. By definition, the word "restless" indicates a person must have an interest in something. This means that boredom originates from the consciously subconscious realization that nothing available can satisfy one's interests. When a person acknowledges boredom, he/she is subconsciously accepting indeterminable interests.
I speculate that the weariness attributed to boredom actually comes from a restless mind. As boredom progresses, your mind constantly searches for something interesting, but to no avail. In an effort to escape this wearying task, your mind attempts to distract itself and grasps the nearest available activity, such as watching a movie or listening to music. These activities usually involve no strain on the brain, and these minor distractions often cause the person to be distracted, and then restless, once again.
Thus, the entire concept of boredom involves restlessness, weariness, and distractedness in endless, abrasive cycles. An unsatisfied mind is of the worst sort, and the only cure I have found is a good, long nap.
Boredom cannot be defined as a lack of interest because that merely induces rest and laziness. By definition, the word "restless" indicates a person must have an interest in something. This means that boredom originates from the consciously subconscious realization that nothing available can satisfy one's interests. When a person acknowledges boredom, he/she is subconsciously accepting indeterminable interests.
I speculate that the weariness attributed to boredom actually comes from a restless mind. As boredom progresses, your mind constantly searches for something interesting, but to no avail. In an effort to escape this wearying task, your mind attempts to distract itself and grasps the nearest available activity, such as watching a movie or listening to music. These activities usually involve no strain on the brain, and these minor distractions often cause the person to be distracted, and then restless, once again.
Thus, the entire concept of boredom involves restlessness, weariness, and distractedness in endless, abrasive cycles. An unsatisfied mind is of the worst sort, and the only cure I have found is a good, long nap.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Roadkill
It's amazing what a person's mind will resort to while driving through flat, western Kansas. The repetitive and unimaginative landscape practically demands the output of imagination. Unfortunately, imagination requires some form of outside input, and the most abundant object in that particular locale is roadkill. With the sole idea of roadkill as food for thought, my mind's creativity processes went into overload in order to counteract the overwhelming boredom. Please keep this in mind while you read the product of these deranged thought processes. Also, please do not take this too seriously, as it was meant merely as a mildly humorous anecdote...
Human beings are considered the dominant species on the planet Earth, and often the questions has been raised, "what makes people the dominant race?" or "why are humans still the dominant race?" or even "why have none of the animals adapted to become a species on a par with ours?".If human beings evolved over millions of years (which, as you should know, is completely the opposite of my actual beliefs), then why is animal technology so much less advanced than human technology?
First, we must look at the gradual improvements made on human technology over the years. All of the discoveries that led to these improvements began with questions and curiosity. Eventually these questions led to action, and a discovery was made.
Why don't animals have this same curiosity? Well, they actually do; it just so happens that every time an animal gets curious enough to take action and make an important discovery... WHAM! It is hit and instantly killed by car. No discovery. No progress.
Think about it. Wouldn't a car going 70-80mph grab your attention if you had no idea what it was? And wouldn't you naturally want to go for a ride on the alien device, especially if you live in the middle of nowhere? I would. And if you have no way of knowing what happens to something hit by an object going that fast, what is stopping you? Nothing.
According to this logic, it must be roadkill that allows human beings to remain the dominant species on planet Earth. This theory, known as the Roadkill Supremacy Theory, is the first of its kind.
P.S. If you have not yet caught on that this does not actually reflect my genuine beliefs, this is the last time I will inform you: this post does not actually reflect my genuine beliefs.
Human beings are considered the dominant species on the planet Earth, and often the questions has been raised, "what makes people the dominant race?" or "why are humans still the dominant race?" or even "why have none of the animals adapted to become a species on a par with ours?".If human beings evolved over millions of years (which, as you should know, is completely the opposite of my actual beliefs), then why is animal technology so much less advanced than human technology?
First, we must look at the gradual improvements made on human technology over the years. All of the discoveries that led to these improvements began with questions and curiosity. Eventually these questions led to action, and a discovery was made.
Why don't animals have this same curiosity? Well, they actually do; it just so happens that every time an animal gets curious enough to take action and make an important discovery... WHAM! It is hit and instantly killed by car. No discovery. No progress.
Think about it. Wouldn't a car going 70-80mph grab your attention if you had no idea what it was? And wouldn't you naturally want to go for a ride on the alien device, especially if you live in the middle of nowhere? I would. And if you have no way of knowing what happens to something hit by an object going that fast, what is stopping you? Nothing.
According to this logic, it must be roadkill that allows human beings to remain the dominant species on planet Earth. This theory, known as the Roadkill Supremacy Theory, is the first of its kind.
P.S. If you have not yet caught on that this does not actually reflect my genuine beliefs, this is the last time I will inform you: this post does not actually reflect my genuine beliefs.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Formidable Love
Everyone is loved by the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
Think about that for a moment.
God adores each and every person that exists, those that have existed, and those that will exist. Not a single soul is exempt from His all-encompassing passion. Simply the size of this everlasting love overreaches every imaginative possibility that human minds could create, let alone comprehend!
In addition, begin to consider the astounding depth of God's love. Think of every hateful and dishonest word, every foul impurity, every bit of offensive or slanderous language that you heard today. Each person that you heard, even those that slander and misuse the holy name of the Almighty God, is loved with a burning desire that will forget these wrongdoings.
Now, consider that this only scratches the surface of the world's sin. What I have just described only takes into account verbally expressed sins and mentions nothing of the world's near-infinite realm of unholy thoughts and actions. God even considers murderers, adulterers, and those thought to be the worst of criminals to be worthy of his affections. This powerful love is truly deeper than anything we can imagine!
This is the formidable love of the God that I serve.
Think about that for a moment.
God adores each and every person that exists, those that have existed, and those that will exist. Not a single soul is exempt from His all-encompassing passion. Simply the size of this everlasting love overreaches every imaginative possibility that human minds could create, let alone comprehend!
In addition, begin to consider the astounding depth of God's love. Think of every hateful and dishonest word, every foul impurity, every bit of offensive or slanderous language that you heard today. Each person that you heard, even those that slander and misuse the holy name of the Almighty God, is loved with a burning desire that will forget these wrongdoings.
Now, consider that this only scratches the surface of the world's sin. What I have just described only takes into account verbally expressed sins and mentions nothing of the world's near-infinite realm of unholy thoughts and actions. God even considers murderers, adulterers, and those thought to be the worst of criminals to be worthy of his affections. This powerful love is truly deeper than anything we can imagine!
This is the formidable love of the God that I serve.
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