tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16327517.post526391636015521148..comments2024-03-26T19:19:35.144+00:00Comments on Eolake Stobblehouse thoughts: One's Self is the bedrockEolake Stobblehousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07126147415891586345noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16327517.post-37329175225321503762012-11-21T20:21:18.254+00:002012-11-21T20:21:18.254+00:00everyone who ever came second third, or last would...<i>everyone who ever came second third, or last would be utter failures.</i><br /><br />Well in fact that's true, they are by definition failures.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16327517.post-34617433702096986312012-11-20T15:46:58.549+00:002012-11-20T15:46:58.549+00:00If we didn't care more about what we mean to o...If we didn't care more about what we mean to ourselves than what we mean to others then everyone who ever came second third, or last would be utter failures.<br /><br />I think that one of the most predominant traits of what we call western culture is that we have very poor understanding of self, selflessness and selfishness. Think of others before yourself is surely a sound piece of wisdom. But is it?<br />If we are only responsible for our own circumstances the situation changes. You can't externalise blame for your current set of circumstances for a start. What you are currently experiencing be it comfortable or uncomfortable is entirely of your making and is your responsibility. But what if you are living under some sort of ghastly dictatorship? Well, there are those who would say that we always get the government we deserve. This can be a very difficult concept to swallow but I personally believe it to be true. I feel that this way of thinking and being rather than being "selfish" can wake us up to true compassion. That there are still dictatorships is a source of suffering to all of us not just those who are being directly oppressed. This line of thinking leads us to the conclusion that our own suffering is just a drop in the ocean of all suffering. Michel de Montaigne's quote fits very well with expressions like "Think globally but act locally" and "secure your own life jacket before helping others with theirs".Phelixfilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07599413291917406167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16327517.post-44000726656301626842012-11-19T01:27:18.315+00:002012-11-19T01:27:18.315+00:00YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE. YOU MUST HAV...YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE. YOU MUST HAVE A FOUNDATION, AND ONLY FOOLS WOULD ARGUE OTHERWISE. TO BE AT THE MERCY AND WHIMS OF OTHERS IS TO HAVE NO FOUNDATION FROM WHICH TO OPERATE IN ANY SPHERE AND IN ANY CAPACITY.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16327517.post-75066982579241074932012-11-18T21:44:34.829+00:002012-11-18T21:44:34.829+00:00It seems Lance Armstrong may agree with you.It seems Lance Armstrong may agree with you.Rik Middletonnoreply@blogger.com