EVERYDAY LIVING AND BEYOND

As an octogenarian I can say I remember the 1965 song by the British group THE KINKS. However, to be honest that same song has appeared in movies as recently as 2010. (Love and Other Drugs with Anne Hathaway) The name of the song:

                                       A WELL ADJUSTED MAN.

Cause he gets up in the morning,

And he goes to work at nine,

And he comes back home at five-thirty,

Gets the same train every time.

He's a well respected man about town,

Doing the best things so conservatively.

Although there is a  certain calm and order in the life of the well adjusted man, there is also a hint of boredom. Indeed, I think it is safe to say that repeating the same outcomes day after day deprives us of experiences that might change our life. I remember years ago reading a book (I don't remember the title!) by the German philosopher Josef Pieper where he talked about the need to 'pierce the dome of everyday living'. His idea was that the best way to inject meaning and hope into the drudgery of every day life, is to open yourself to 'peak experiences'. By doing this we  can affirm the real meaning of our existence.  A peak experience might be an uncommon, joyous and exciting moment that brings about a sudden feeling of intense happiness and wonder. Of course, many in today's world attempt this escape through the use of drugs like LSD or marijuana for example. (I think this is called 'pane and pack-a-bowl!) But this is not what is recommended because of the danger of long-term damage to thoughts and behaviour. 

History seems to indicate that individuals who manifested some sort of out of body experiences were mystics and saints under the influence of God or the devil! Of course they did not have the advantage of modern science and a better understanding of the human brain that we have today. The interesting thing is everyone is capable of 'piercing the dome' but may not be willing to talk about it. 

I remember many occasions where I stood in wonder at a magnificent sunset. One I recall most vividly. For some reason I was deeply moved and felt afterwards that I had experienced a higher state of consciousness. It was a wonderful experience and I did not have anything to drink or inject! If we take the time to enjoy great art, to be moved by magnificent music or allow ourselves to be captivated by love...we are piercing the dome of everyday living and we will be fundamentally changed because of it.

Pieper believes it is experiencing these peaks that make life in the everyday world meaningful and worth while.

As a teacher I used to say to my adult students, "If anyone is bored in my class and does nothing about it, it is your own fault." On a few occasions a student would stand up and say, "I am bored." And then together the whole class would engage in an interesting discussion. However, on one occasion a student stood up and said she was bored. When I asked her what she was going to do about it she walked to the front of the room, opened the door and left the class!

 Early Morning and Well Groomed

We are always looking for ways to pierce the dome in some way. Even after many years of retirement Friday evenings are special because they are the doorway to the week-end. I recall many peak moments skiing down the side of a mountain. Standing at the crest in the early morning, the white snow sparkling in the golden sunlight and the mountain tops emerging through the early frost laden air. For a brief moment there was a great sense of peace and wonderment. Then as I pushed off and skied the fresh snow a deep sense of freedom would engulf me. If they were not peak moments then there was more to those vitamin pills than I realized!     HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY ALL.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week.