Monday 15 February 2010
Sunday 7 February 2010
Murphy's Law vs. Karmic Balance
Murphy’s Law. I stumbled across the term a few years back, and yet it is only over the past few months that the adage seems to have rendered itself permanently to my being. Not really as a cynical slogan, more a tagline to what has become my life in the latter 2009/early 2010 story of ‘me’.
To elaborate, the chilling notion reads ‘anything that could go wrong, will go wrong’, modestly revealing that if there’s the slightest chance for turmoil - low and behold, you WILL get turmoil. Now, I don’t view myself as a natural pessimist; I try to see the best in others, I seek out the positives in character, and I will actively avoid playing Devil’s Advocate. Granted, I can be extremely cynical; but being a cynic isn’t synonymous with an pessimistic outlook in that I can distrust a situation without believing that will blow up in my face. However, recently I feel that the concept of living by Murphy’s Law seems to be more an educated choice rather than cautionary forewarning.
I question too whether my growing notion that karma plays an principal role in the governing of one’s life is a sound theology. I think I originally used it as an excuse for bad luck; internally arguing that some times matters go wrong for a reason and that if they do it is likely that you will be equally rewarded sometime in the near future. I wouldn’t want to say that ‘bad things happen to bad people’ because we all know that isn’t the case. If everyone got their comeuppance there would be no need for law enforcement and uncomplicated morals would govern. But the idea of the Universe being driven by this great, untouchable karmic balance is an attractive one, no? Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated and reap the rewards for doing so. Either way, I may have unwittingly done something terrible recently, or I am due a substantial amount of positivity in the near future.
Nevertheless, when each victory seems pale in comparison to the defeat does that make you pessimistic or a perfectionist? I assume that it is just one answer that I will ascertain with time.
Goodnight.
To elaborate, the chilling notion reads ‘anything that could go wrong, will go wrong’, modestly revealing that if there’s the slightest chance for turmoil - low and behold, you WILL get turmoil. Now, I don’t view myself as a natural pessimist; I try to see the best in others, I seek out the positives in character, and I will actively avoid playing Devil’s Advocate. Granted, I can be extremely cynical; but being a cynic isn’t synonymous with an pessimistic outlook in that I can distrust a situation without believing that will blow up in my face. However, recently I feel that the concept of living by Murphy’s Law seems to be more an educated choice rather than cautionary forewarning.
I question too whether my growing notion that karma plays an principal role in the governing of one’s life is a sound theology. I think I originally used it as an excuse for bad luck; internally arguing that some times matters go wrong for a reason and that if they do it is likely that you will be equally rewarded sometime in the near future. I wouldn’t want to say that ‘bad things happen to bad people’ because we all know that isn’t the case. If everyone got their comeuppance there would be no need for law enforcement and uncomplicated morals would govern. But the idea of the Universe being driven by this great, untouchable karmic balance is an attractive one, no? Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated and reap the rewards for doing so. Either way, I may have unwittingly done something terrible recently, or I am due a substantial amount of positivity in the near future.Nevertheless, when each victory seems pale in comparison to the defeat does that make you pessimistic or a perfectionist? I assume that it is just one answer that I will ascertain with time.
Goodnight.
Tuesday 2 February 2010
Déjà Coup
Wow, I am bad at this.
My last post claimed I would improve the frequency, and on that front I have failed.
Epically.
I want to tell myself off, but alas, I cannot. It’s not that I’m angry over the lack of effort, just disappointed in myself – and that’s surely much, much worse....
But maybe I had an ample reason? You see, for the past fortnight I have begun a little work experience for what I hope to believe will be my ‘career choice’. Now, I know I have made this conclusion before and with hindsight I was most definitely wrong; but this time it just feels….right.
Vocationally, for me, teaching just fits.
I had a funny flashback this morning – almost a déjà vu, but with half a decade attached. As a student, I used to leave the house dressed to kill in the same blazer and tie uniform combo I wore everyday, erstwhile hearing the immortal words of my mother: “Have a great day today!”. Being a teenager, and believing myself (wrongly) to be fairly witty, I would yell back: “I cant Mum, I have school!”. This process repeated itself probably a couple of times a week until I either forgot one day or I could no longer keep up the pretence that it may once have allegedly been somewhat humorous. Then it was lost in the cavernous abyss that is forgotten anecdotes.
Now aged 23, and leaving the house to return to the same school I used to jokingly maintain prevented me from having a ‘good day’, I found myself once more leaving home to the sound of the same immortal words from my mother. Almost without thinking, I issued the same response as I did all those years ago, albeit with a wry smile from me knowing that in this case it most definintely wouldn’t be.
The couple of weeks working at the school have been fantastic and I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Reintroducing myself to my former teachers and reporting to them all of my accomplishments since being under their tutelage, and now informing them that I wanted to follow in their footsteps has been a particular highlight. Furthermore, the new staff have been incredible and so welcoming to me. I cannot thank them enough for their time they have devoted to me. I just hope that one day, when I have been doing this gig for a while, and I see a new face trying to find his feet in teaching, I can be just as helpful to them.
My last post claimed I would improve the frequency, and on that front I have failed.
Epically.
I want to tell myself off, but alas, I cannot. It’s not that I’m angry over the lack of effort, just disappointed in myself – and that’s surely much, much worse....
But maybe I had an ample reason? You see, for the past fortnight I have begun a little work experience for what I hope to believe will be my ‘career choice’. Now, I know I have made this conclusion before and with hindsight I was most definitely wrong; but this time it just feels….right.
Vocationally, for me, teaching just fits.
I had a funny flashback this morning – almost a déjà vu, but with half a decade attached. As a student, I used to leave the house dressed to kill in the same blazer and tie uniform combo I wore everyday, erstwhile hearing the immortal words of my mother: “Have a great day today!”. Being a teenager, and believing myself (wrongly) to be fairly witty, I would yell back: “I cant Mum, I have school!”. This process repeated itself probably a couple of times a week until I either forgot one day or I could no longer keep up the pretence that it may once have allegedly been somewhat humorous. Then it was lost in the cavernous abyss that is forgotten anecdotes.
Now aged 23, and leaving the house to return to the same school I used to jokingly maintain prevented me from having a ‘good day’, I found myself once more leaving home to the sound of the same immortal words from my mother. Almost without thinking, I issued the same response as I did all those years ago, albeit with a wry smile from me knowing that in this case it most definintely wouldn’t be.
The couple of weeks working at the school have been fantastic and I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Reintroducing myself to my former teachers and reporting to them all of my accomplishments since being under their tutelage, and now informing them that I wanted to follow in their footsteps has been a particular highlight. Furthermore, the new staff have been incredible and so welcoming to me. I cannot thank them enough for their time they have devoted to me. I just hope that one day, when I have been doing this gig for a while, and I see a new face trying to find his feet in teaching, I can be just as helpful to them.
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