Bird Droppings August 21, 2010
An Emerson day

Last night I was extremely tired after the first week of school and our first official football game. While just a scrimmage I went and took a few photos. I left earlier just exhausted and started watching a movie and then proceeded to walk around outside. It was dark save for star light which was in patches among the clouds and over cast. I had gone from dawn to dusk and beyond yesterday and somehow felt like I really did not get much done. I had been at school all day ran some errands moved some plants watered and reestablished a few plants. I clipped a few dead pitcher plants from our bog garden. We have pitcher plant or plants I should say and it is interesting to show novices the vast amount of insects they actually trap.
On a different topic it has been quite a few years since I began gathering Emerson quotes and writings. As I looked back on a day I felt I did not get much done I started adding up after reading this quote. Actually I had talked to a graphic arts class during my planning period, started working on sports posters, taught my classes, done a good deal of paper work, went to the bank, post office and gas station, loaded my camera and such and went to a football game all the while talking to maybe a thousand people along the way.

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is a difficult proposition many times to simply put aside today at that point where you stop. But far too often we get encumbered with the now and focus to a point where we carry that focus over to the morrow and often stress and anxiety follow. This is sort of what I was doing and not realizing what all I had really gotten done.

“There is a tendency for things to right themselves.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man, who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some where along the line a professor called me an existentialist so many years ago and it took a moment and as I thought, ponder as I do, perhaps I was to some extent. I have read more Emerson the past few years than probably in my life time finding bits and pieces that truly seem to make sense. So often in life as Emerson states it will work out, but as he also says simply trying will not do it, having principles is the key.

“To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth steps in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have used this line from Emerson so many times before, so often we initiate yet do not continue after that first step. The great one in life is that person who takes the second and third step as they proceed in life.

“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I find this quote interesting as the fake beard falls away. So often I have met people whose facade is imitation, unreal, purely make believe and even fake. They strive so hard to be something they are not; high school students call them affectionately POSERS. They go through life posing as someone else. Thinking back a few months as I am walking around the halls, kids will point to some one and say they are a poser. It is all about trying to fit in a different group or in a different style. As I watch and observe so many times the school bully is that, simply to hide other flaws. It could be poor reading skills and or poor self esteem. As I sit here this morning this last statement is most significant, it is most difficult so often to make that initial decision. Yet as time will be, once the decision is made things seem to happen and the pressure is gone and events fall in place. Today is a new day an Independence Day and with that please keep all in harms way on your mind and in your heart.
namaste
bird