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Sunday, January 31, 2010
Well That Was Disappointing
Greetings readers, classmates, and the like!
I hope this first, albeit delayed post of mine finds all of you well on this fine Sunday.
I would like to tell you all that I enjoyed an eventful weekend, complete with drunken whiskey brawls and dancing with naked ladies in body paint and glitter, but that would be a lie.
That was my friend Tim's weekend.
I, instead, toiled over countless essays, take-home class exercises, and seemingly trivial paperwork.
At times I think much of my higher education (at the wonderful institution of learning known as the University of Arizona) amounts to just that -- paperwork. As I approach the final stretch of my college education, I am consumed with unshakeable apathy, and simply feeling disheartened about the whole thing. The future doesn't seem as bright as it did when I started college once upon a time.
I am 25 now, a full time student, and work the weekends at a minimum wage job. I take the bus everyday, as I don't own a car or have a driver's license (that's another story for another time).
A bit bitter perhaps? Sure, why not.
The lesson learned here, boys and girls, is that life is unexpected, so don't get too attached to your life's blueprint. The order of the universe really doesn't give a shit about your plans, so don't be disappointed when things don't work out the way you thought they would.
But, there is great freedom to be found that is far more rewarding when you simply learn to let go and accept your limitations in shaping the future.
This is sort of my meditation for the day.
For those of you who are as enamored as I am with Zen buddhist teachings, I highly suggest reading some of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's books. He writes very simply, but his teachings and meditation techniques are nothing short of wonderful.
How will I ever have the time to become a kung fu master with all this pesky schoolwork in the way?
School really is ruining my life.
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1 comments (+add yours?)
I’m not sure how exactly I’m supposed to respond to this. Not that I don’t have anything to say in regards to your post, but rather on what exactly, in terms of our class, I’m supposed to respond to? Am I supposed to respond to your writing style? I’m hardly an expert—as recently evidenced when I ended a sentence with a preposition two sentences ago. Am I supposed to comment on how you structured your blog or its content? Well, I’ve wasted enough words and time… I’ll choose and face the consequences: content.
Describing the U. of A. collegiate experience as an extended exercise in paperwork is poignant. In fact, I related to everything in between, but not including, the phrases “naked ladies in body paint and glitter” and “Zen Buddhist teachings.”
The idea of finding freedom in foiled plans and a percentage of helplessness is a new revelation in my own life as well. I’m an aged 21 with no car and a pending philosophy degree (pending on my ability this semester to blog and speak in Spanish).
While your conclusion is that school is ruining your life, I can’t help but think that it’s all I know. Besides manual labor, all I’ve done is go to school and jump through hoops. I highly doubt that school work is the one thing getting in between me and shiny, colorful nakedness. When the paper work is done what then? For you, hopefully kung fu. Para mi, mas escuela (I’m pretty sure I didn’t even say that right).
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