Re: Back to the future
[email protected]
Wow, what a weekend this has been. Shortly following my last post I packed up
and headed out for the weekend. As I drove, I kept wondering why I was so
invested in arguing the rights of others and their belief systems. Perhaps it is
the human part of me that pleads for justice, perhaps it is my inability to
remain narrow minded about things to which I don't understand, disagree with or
plain and simply don't like. Lots to dwell on, especially during a weekend I
had been looking forward to as my DH and the twins were doing their
daddy/daughters weekend and I was actually alone for 2 solid days. I had planned on using
this time alone to reflect on things going on in my own life and to really
pamper myself. Instead I spent it assisting my sister with a school project I
wholehearted disagree with. It was like I couldn't get away from the topics of
belief systems and how I fit in the scheme of things. Having not slept since
Thrusday night, I figured even while working on this irritating project, that
surely the sleep I was in such desparate need of, would come with ease. WRONG!
As I tossed and turned Saturday night, wishing my brain would shut down and
trying to find some semblance of personal peace, I reluctantly began channel
surfing on the TV. Nothing on but infomercials, I was pleased to find "Back to the
Future" in my moms VCR, a movie I loved so much when I was 14, I went
repeatedly to the afternoon matinee to watch. Back then, matinees were $2.50. Don't I
wish matinee's were still so cheap, LOL.
As I lay there watching, the wheels in my brain still turning, I had a
lightbulb moment. A way in which I could make an analogy from a movie I loved. In
the movie, Marty McFly lives a life filled with bullies, an acoholic mother, an
uncle ready to be let out of prison, a father who operates from fear and
siblings who seemingly have no ambition. He has 2 people in his life that he finds
solice with, his girlfriend and the wacky scientist. As events unfold and
Marty is transported back to the time his parents met, it hit me like the Delorean
(sp?) he was driving! Here is what I mean:
Throughout the time of his parents youth, utilizing his free will, Marty
begins to change the outcome of events that determined his life as he knew it
before he left 1984. Yet all the events still took place. It was through his use
of free-will that the outcomes changed. His parents still went to the dance and
fell in love, his father still had to confront his own school bully, and upon
returning to 1984, we find that his family still resides in the same house,
his brother and sister are still the same human forms, but all are in better
circumstances. Importantly to Marty, his girlfriend still loves him and the
wacky scientist isn't dead. This is where the belief in predestination and free
will being interconnected can be found. The predestined events still took place,
while the usage of freewill changed the outcome of the events. Perhaps this
analogy is far too simple, but having still not slept yet, I may be writing on
auto-pilot, LOL.
So for me it is entirely possible to operate with both tenets in place. That
not each and everything is necessarily predestined and not everything is
free-will related, rather a combination of both. Oddly enough, some other events
took place and it seemed everywhere I turned someone was saying one of the
following:
It was meant to be.
It was inevitable.
Dejavu.
It was in God's plan.
It was unavoidable.
I couldn't help it.
While I'm sure there may be many other phrases that would say the same thing,
those were the ones I heard directly over the last 2 days. For me, it hit
home that all of those phrases are be about predestiny, that each person that
said it, for whatever reason that they believed what they were saying, at those
moments in time, each encompasses the theory that somehow, someway whatever
happened, happened because it was meant to. Whether one uses those statements to
comfort themselves, protect themselves or to escape responsibility, makes no
difference. The statements alone prescribe that they believe the events were
destined to be what they were. For me, it's what I do following those events
that determines my existance until the next event.
Just my tired thoughts,
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
and headed out for the weekend. As I drove, I kept wondering why I was so
invested in arguing the rights of others and their belief systems. Perhaps it is
the human part of me that pleads for justice, perhaps it is my inability to
remain narrow minded about things to which I don't understand, disagree with or
plain and simply don't like. Lots to dwell on, especially during a weekend I
had been looking forward to as my DH and the twins were doing their
daddy/daughters weekend and I was actually alone for 2 solid days. I had planned on using
this time alone to reflect on things going on in my own life and to really
pamper myself. Instead I spent it assisting my sister with a school project I
wholehearted disagree with. It was like I couldn't get away from the topics of
belief systems and how I fit in the scheme of things. Having not slept since
Thrusday night, I figured even while working on this irritating project, that
surely the sleep I was in such desparate need of, would come with ease. WRONG!
As I tossed and turned Saturday night, wishing my brain would shut down and
trying to find some semblance of personal peace, I reluctantly began channel
surfing on the TV. Nothing on but infomercials, I was pleased to find "Back to the
Future" in my moms VCR, a movie I loved so much when I was 14, I went
repeatedly to the afternoon matinee to watch. Back then, matinees were $2.50. Don't I
wish matinee's were still so cheap, LOL.
As I lay there watching, the wheels in my brain still turning, I had a
lightbulb moment. A way in which I could make an analogy from a movie I loved. In
the movie, Marty McFly lives a life filled with bullies, an acoholic mother, an
uncle ready to be let out of prison, a father who operates from fear and
siblings who seemingly have no ambition. He has 2 people in his life that he finds
solice with, his girlfriend and the wacky scientist. As events unfold and
Marty is transported back to the time his parents met, it hit me like the Delorean
(sp?) he was driving! Here is what I mean:
Throughout the time of his parents youth, utilizing his free will, Marty
begins to change the outcome of events that determined his life as he knew it
before he left 1984. Yet all the events still took place. It was through his use
of free-will that the outcomes changed. His parents still went to the dance and
fell in love, his father still had to confront his own school bully, and upon
returning to 1984, we find that his family still resides in the same house,
his brother and sister are still the same human forms, but all are in better
circumstances. Importantly to Marty, his girlfriend still loves him and the
wacky scientist isn't dead. This is where the belief in predestination and free
will being interconnected can be found. The predestined events still took place,
while the usage of freewill changed the outcome of the events. Perhaps this
analogy is far too simple, but having still not slept yet, I may be writing on
auto-pilot, LOL.
So for me it is entirely possible to operate with both tenets in place. That
not each and everything is necessarily predestined and not everything is
free-will related, rather a combination of both. Oddly enough, some other events
took place and it seemed everywhere I turned someone was saying one of the
following:
It was meant to be.
It was inevitable.
Dejavu.
It was in God's plan.
It was unavoidable.
I couldn't help it.
While I'm sure there may be many other phrases that would say the same thing,
those were the ones I heard directly over the last 2 days. For me, it hit
home that all of those phrases are be about predestiny, that each person that
said it, for whatever reason that they believed what they were saying, at those
moments in time, each encompasses the theory that somehow, someway whatever
happened, happened because it was meant to. Whether one uses those statements to
comfort themselves, protect themselves or to escape responsibility, makes no
difference. The statements alone prescribe that they believe the events were
destined to be what they were. For me, it's what I do following those events
that determines my existance until the next event.
Just my tired thoughts,
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/21/03 9:03:56 PM, RJHill241@... writes:
<< perhaps it is my inability to
remain narrow minded >>
I don't think it's narrow minded to ask people to abide by the guidelines of
the list.
Critical thinking involves assigning values to things. One thing is
preferable to another for some reason, and it's our priorities and our beliefs which
help each of us decide what to do and how.
Sandra
<< perhaps it is my inability to
remain narrow minded >>
I don't think it's narrow minded to ask people to abide by the guidelines of
the list.
Critical thinking involves assigning values to things. One thing is
preferable to another for some reason, and it's our priorities and our beliefs which
help each of us decide what to do and how.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/21/03 10:14:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
As I drove, I kept wondering why I was so invested in arguing the rights of
others and their belief systems. Perhaps it is the human part of me that pleads
for justice, perhaps it is my inability to remain narrow minded about things
to which I don't understand, disagree with or plain and simply don't like.
Lots to dwell on
*** It was about understanding myself, and understanding why I can be
narrow-minded when I do understand, agree with or like something, yet open to
discovery, even in the cases I don't. For instance, I love unschooling, can't even
begin to imagine going back to a schooled way of everyday life, I am
narrow-minded about that choice. I have no intention to opening up to the shooling life.
On the other hand, I don't understand living a life from a place of fear for
the soul, yet I am open minded to learning how and why someone can. It was
about self-reflection.
One thing is
preferable to another for some reason, and it's our priorities and our
beliefs which > help each of us decide what to do and how.
***Which reads to me to be about choice. When it comes to personal choices,
mine are able to differ from anyone elses and don't require outside validation.
But that is just me, I have always been able to stand alone. Usually, when I
don't seem to be understood, I chalk it up to being the occasions I have to
agree to disagree. Then there are times when I get so frustrated with being
misunderstood, that I can hardly see straight. Those are the times I need to
reflect on me, this was one of those times. I just don't think it's all or nothing,
but a medium at which the journey can be continued and beliefs do not have to
compromised.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
> <<perhaps it is my inability to*** I agree. But my sentence context was:
> remain narrow minded >>
>
> I don't think it's narrow minded to ask people to abide by the guidelines of
>
> the list.
>
As I drove, I kept wondering why I was so invested in arguing the rights of
others and their belief systems. Perhaps it is the human part of me that pleads
for justice, perhaps it is my inability to remain narrow minded about things
to which I don't understand, disagree with or plain and simply don't like.
Lots to dwell on
*** It was about understanding myself, and understanding why I can be
narrow-minded when I do understand, agree with or like something, yet open to
discovery, even in the cases I don't. For instance, I love unschooling, can't even
begin to imagine going back to a schooled way of everyday life, I am
narrow-minded about that choice. I have no intention to opening up to the shooling life.
On the other hand, I don't understand living a life from a place of fear for
the soul, yet I am open minded to learning how and why someone can. It was
about self-reflection.
> Critical thinking involves assigning values to things.*** I agree.
One thing is
preferable to another for some reason, and it's our priorities and our
beliefs which > help each of us decide what to do and how.
***Which reads to me to be about choice. When it comes to personal choices,
mine are able to differ from anyone elses and don't require outside validation.
But that is just me, I have always been able to stand alone. Usually, when I
don't seem to be understood, I chalk it up to being the occasions I have to
agree to disagree. Then there are times when I get so frustrated with being
misunderstood, that I can hardly see straight. Those are the times I need to
reflect on me, this was one of those times. I just don't think it's all or nothing,
but a medium at which the journey can be continued and beliefs do not have to
compromised.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
RJHill241@... writes:
understanding follows. Sometimes the beliefs don't fit who you are anymore, somtimes
they fit better than they ever have before. Maybe that'll make you feel a
bit better about it all? lol Maybe not!
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Then there are times when I get so frustrated with beingIn my life, when I experience this struggle, usually a big burst of
> misunderstood, that I can hardly see straight. Those are the times I need to
>
> reflect on me, this was one of those times. I just don't think it's all or
> nothing,
> but a medium at which the journey can be continued and beliefs do not have
> to
> compromised.
>
> Rhonda
>
>
understanding follows. Sometimes the beliefs don't fit who you are anymore, somtimes
they fit better than they ever have before. Maybe that'll make you feel a
bit better about it all? lol Maybe not!
~Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/22/03 10:32:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, AimeeL73@...
writes:
It was very much like that all weekend long, in a good way. The way
everything I encountered kept falling back to what I was struggling with. I do feel
better, because I am completely at peace with my beliefs. These reflections have
not caused me to waver, but rather to steady and be true to who I am right
now. That's what I meant when I spoke earlier today of winking at the sky. It was
as if all that I am and believe was solidified by my weekened of reflection.
It was way cool and I've been smiling all day.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
writes:
> In my life, when I experience this struggle, usually a big burst ofThanx Aimee, you made me smile.
> understanding follows. Sometimes the beliefs don't fit who you are anymore,
> somtimes
> they fit better than they ever have before. Maybe that'll make you feel a
> bit better about it all? lol Maybe not!
>
> ~Aimee
>
>
It was very much like that all weekend long, in a good way. The way
everything I encountered kept falling back to what I was struggling with. I do feel
better, because I am completely at peace with my beliefs. These reflections have
not caused me to waver, but rather to steady and be true to who I am right
now. That's what I meant when I spoke earlier today of winking at the sky. It was
as if all that I am and believe was solidified by my weekened of reflection.
It was way cool and I've been smiling all day.
Rhonda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
RJHill241@... writes:
~Peace
Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> These reflections haveNow, you've made me smile! I'll have perma-grin all day! lol
> not caused me to waver, but rather to steady and be true to who I am right
> now. That's what I meant when I spoke earlier today of winking at the sky.
> It was
> as if all that I am and believe was solidified by my weekened of reflection.
>
> It was way cool and I've been smiling all day.
>
> Rhonda
>
>
~Peace
Aimee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]