…or mantras, perhaps?
Sometimes we get through the BS of life by having at least one mantra which, when everything goes to hell, serves to help get us through.
My bro has an interesting one. “I was looking for a job when I found this one.” In other words, if this job sucks too much I can quit and find another. This job proves it.
Mine is always in the back of my mind: “It just doesn’t matter.”
Da Ga
“I extend compassion to all stupid fucking sentient creatures.” Seriously. It works because it makes me laugh.
Pot is legal.
One I sometimes rely on is that if you can, it’s better (for you) to feel sorry for people than to be angry at them.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear of evil; for I am the baddest motherfucker in this valley.
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." ~Dune
That one got me through a lot of high school.
This reminds me of one of the best things I’ve ever read. I don’t pretend to understand it completely but wow!
Just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes and the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake, yeah, Jack Burton justs looks at the big old storm right square in the eye and he says , give me your best shot, pal , I can take it".
“Treat others the way they treat you.”
“What can go right, will go wrong.”
“Douchebags of a feather flock together.”
It CAN always get worse.
Oh, i thought this would be like the mantras that were popular when transcendental meditation was a thing.
Anyway, my mantra is “one two three four five six”. I say it to myself when I meditate. I find it helpful, as a way to block out other words.
Me too.
Easier said than done though. (Which is central to Paul’s story.)
What would a grown up do? (mostly used when someone is being an asshole and my immediate reaction is to rip them a new one)
The data is what the data is. (used quite a lot when the path indicated isn’t the easy one)
When I was 18 and about to embark on a trip, I got this advice:
I keep trying to live up to this one.
“Good enough”. I’d put that on my family crest if it wasn’t such a hassle.
Treat people as if they are intelligent because many will rise to the occasion. But, know that people are stupid. Do not fool yourself about this and you won’t be disappointed.
Grandfather’s advice: When you find yourself in a hole, first stop digging.
“Its our basic human right to be fuck ups.”
-Gary King