I believe that the key to life is moderation in all things, even moderation itself. Without the harsh bite of a winter wind biting your ears and nose, you could never appreciate a soft breeze in May. Without ever having your heart broken, you can never truly fall in love. If you've never been hungry, you don't really know what a full belly is. Without pain there is no pleasure.
I believe that the key to life is finding a balance. A balance between being extremely rich and poverty stricken, between being over-stressed and over-relaxed, too connected and too isolated.
I believe that every aspect of life can be set at a perfect value called “enough”. It's located precisely between “too much” and “not enough”. But therein lies the trick. Without ever fiinding yourself surrounded by too much or not enough you don't know where to find that happy spot in the middle. And even if you do find that spot perchance, you wouldn't know how to appreciate it, not fully at least.
This is where finding moderation within moderation comes in. Without ever pushing the limits, you don't know where the middle is. If you only stay in the middle your whole life, you'll miss the point. It's necessary to first find the extremes, then happily settle in the middle. It's necessary to experience extreme loniness and to feel over-crowded. It's necessary to be dirt-broke and to have more money than you know what to do with before you can appreciate and be happy with having exactly “enough”.
I do concede that there are no constants when it comes to that perfect value somewhere in the middle. The perfect value undoubetedly varies from person to person, and I hold that that perfect place can even vary within one individual over time.
So I guess there's nothing left to do but get on with it. I'm off to find every extreme in every facet of life, and then to settle down happily in the middle. It's going to be an adventure. I'll let you know how it turns out.
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9 comments:
I'm loving the back-country Africa philosophy Drew, keep this shit going...
WOW Drew, That was really DEEP. You're getting more of an education there than in four years of writing papers and doing bookwork!! Keep up the pondering!
Andrew, you have become a very, very good writer, and I can say that because that stuff is way, way over my head, but I love it. Keep up the good work. I really miss you, your very best friend Dad
And get that TOE looked at!!
after reading this, i now know one of your many motivations for going to africa in the first place. in your last email to me, you wrote about how you've become much more honest with yourself. i think it's clear from insightful entries like this that you truly have.
ps: i agree with your dad, you have become a very good writer. i look forward to working with you as your editor on your book when you come home :)
you have some really great things to say and such great experiences that im so happy you are having!
OK you need to write a book...and when you do i will help you get it published...i do work for a publishing company!!!
I sent you a letter...I have no idea if you recieved it yet. Oh well.
We Miss you!
wow, very true. Respect++
The real answer is 42...
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