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FOE FACING
Wednesday Apr. 6, 2016
Since cave-days, we’ve used our reactions and reflexes to fight off threats or to out-run them.
Most threats aren’t really threats to life or limb but about submitting (or not) to forces which might harm us – as dangerous to mental health sometimes as sabre-tooth tigers were to physical well being …
Dickens, “It is the best of times, it is the worst of times”, fits now.
Most threats today are ones we can think about and use our mind to defend against. And sometimes they are real. Case in point, Gusta, is having her day in court today. My condo board have brought an action against me because their view is that Gusta is ‘not allowed’ under the convolutions of amended condo-by-laws. This has been brewing for months, racking up idiotic costs and comes down to a ‘next step’ today.
No way to know if it will be a win, or loss or further postponement. All of which nuances of daily transactions, disputed outcomes of speech contests or people not behaving as they ought to (or as I want them to) somewhat pale by comparison.
Recently, and again last night I was reminded, painfully – thinking is no substitute for reacting, though reacting is often a substitute for thinking. Each have their place, though each is a balancing act that could make me pull my remaining hair out. No room for, or time for, self-pity but rather a need for self-direction and reflection.
Life isn’t a matter of good luck, good rules/laws, good management or good tactics.
It is all of those, and none of those.
I scratch my head.
So would Dickens.
Mark Kolke
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 8C/47F, cloudy and heading for vewwy warm! ..steady breeze, Gusta oblivious to her big day in court, wagged at strangers and let her coat ripple in the wind ...
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