Opposition

All of the time people on the street pull me aside and ask, " Kyle, why do you have two axioms that completely oppose one another?" Of course they are referencing the fact that one axiom more or less states that life is easy while another states that it is hard. 

Well, I believe the problems of life tend to be problems of optimization and neither maximization or minimization. Maximization problems are usually easier to solve, but there is something tricky about optimization problems. It's easy to find something that can float in the ocean, and probably just as easy to find something that will sink. However, it may be more difficult to find something that would neither sink to the bottom nor rise to the top. In such a case the buoyancy and gravity would have to harmonize in equal measure to allow the object to stay from moving towards the surface or the ocean floor.

Well, long story short, I don't believe life should be unreasonably hard or easy. It should be hard enough to encourage progress, yet easy enough that we can succeed. The two axioms work in opposition simply to keep us where we are primed for success and happiness. A place where neither contentment nor discouragement rule. The axioms are not in place to appease logic, for it appears to be a fallacy that life is both easy and hard. Rather, they exist as opposing emotional and psychological forces that can keep us in the optimal mindset. 

The Ironies of Life

Life is, without question, the strangest thing ever.
I believe that most the things we want most can't be forced, but are rather gifts. For example, there is no sure fire way to find happiness. However, it seems that those that forgo happiness are the ones that have the richest joy. The willingness to sacrifice what is seemingly personal happiness for a greater cause seems to bring blessings that the selfish never know.
Also, it can be noted that the road to freedom is laced with discipline. The undisciplined will surely be trapped, while self mastery can enable its owner to obtain the greatest treasures.
Those that work the hardest will soon find that they don't have to, while those that slack off will quickly have no comfort.
The greatest loves are based in purity.
Turning to a subject of great importance we learn more of life's little ironies. George Knudson said of golf, " You have to give up control to gain control."
In life there are many forks in the road. We often must choose between that which we want and that which is right. The irony is that those that choose that which is right are certain to be led to that which they want.

Perception Isn't Reality, But It's a Part of It

So in golf there is this great saying that goes, "feel isn't real." Basically it means exactly what you would think it would mean. What you think you are doing is often very different than what you are actually doing. Which makes sense, because most people would play quite well if they could do precisely what they were trying to.
The problem is that people now rely too much on what is actually happening rather than trusting their instincts. They spend too much time looking at film, and too little actually playing the game in which they want to become proficient. It all becomes very mechanical very quickly. I think we need some old fashioned practice time and less time analyzing what is actually happening. So I have come up with my own phrase. "Feel isn't real, but it's much more important."
Those things which we think are true, but aren't, are still strangely a part of reality. They just happen to exist in our heads. So everything we think and believe is if fact a part of reality; it just happens to be a very small part of reality that is exclusive only to ourselves. We all live in the same physical world, a shared reality, but we also all have our own separate worlds inside that are just as real. If you don't think they are real then just look inside someone's scull. I think you will find a brain there. If you look inside the brain there will be thoughts. Those thoughts actually exist, they are there! The only way a thought cannot exist is if it was never thunk.
Thus, the title, "Perception Isn't Reality, But It's a Part of It." Kind of like a rectangle and square thing.

What Comes After But....

But is a small word endowed with great power. Many have given it a poor name, mostly because buts are often sandwiched between admissions of truth and excuses. For example, "I know the jell-o was for everyone, but the devil made me eat it all." I will agree that the famous truth-but-excuse sentence structure is out of style, but I want to talk about the truth-but-truth sentence structure. That one is worth a second look. You can learn a great deal about a person and their outlook by what they choose to say after but.

For example, a larger person who often jumps rope could say, "I jump rope often, but I'm fat."
However he or she could also say, "I'm fat, but I jump rope often."
There is something to be admired in the second option. It's an admission of being fat, but seems to focus on jumping rope. There is a sense of optimism and confidence in it. Because the jumping rope is mentioned second it seems to hint at the possibility of changing the first admission. By jumping rope one can loose weight and no longer be fat. However, the first sentence concedes the truth that he jumps rope, but seems to disparagingly admit that he is fat despite the exercise.
Let's do the same exercise with the first example. Instead of saying "I know the jell-o was for everyone, but the devil made me eat it all," one could say, "the devil made me eat it all, but I know the jell-o was for everyone." The second option again seems much more appropriate. There seems to be an understanding of the poor behavior, rather than an attempt to justify the behavior.
I'm single, but I love.
I can't write, but I do.
I don't win, but I will.
I am poor, but I work.
I am weak, but I run.
Life is hard, but it's fun.

Axioms of Life

This post will evolve as I do, but here is the first draft:
The axioms to a good life are as follows:
1. Life is only hard if you try
Most people think this means I am telling them to be lazy; I am not. However, I do believe that life is more about the story and the journey than the accomplishments. I feel we spend too much time pursuing titles and recognition and too little time investing in what matters most. We are here to learn to be happy. Finding joy is the ultimate accomplishment.
2. Over-generalizing will make you unhappy
This one is pretty simple. While general rules are great in mathematics and science, they have no place in the social structure. Generalizing is a close relative of assumption and comes from a belief that we know more than we actually do. By generalizing we limit learning possibilities and our ability to savor the uniqueness and beauty  of each person, situation, or moment.
3. Life is hard
This is the close relative to axiom number one that basically states the opposite. It turns out that life is hard. When things don't go my way, I often say, "life's hard." It's a good release and it's true. However, I do believe focusing on the wrong things makes life even harder than it is supposed to be, and that is why I have axiom number one.
4. There really aren't any axioms
Regardless of the size of the axiom list, this one is always at the bottom. It's a corollary of axiom number two, but at the same time discredits axiom number two, meaning that it also discredits itself? In a measure to not over-generalize I have included this axiom to remind me that I am often wrong, and I should be quick to question the axioms, despite their flawless appearance.

Optimism, Henry Ford and Wilson

Remember the wonder ball? A sphere of milk chocolate that contains something unknown, but wonderful?
Life is a wonder ball, so don't ruin it. Don't you dare ruin it.
The best way to ruin a wonder ball is with your own expectations.
The truth is, none of us know the future. As much as we try, we can't guarantee that sickness, pain, and trials won't come upon us. We can't promise that we will be the best, most successful, or healthiest of people. We can't even guarantee how much time we will have. But we can, if we work hard at it, be ready to welcome whatever comes.
I don't know the future, but if he is like most guests I know, he will have no problem eating my food, watching my t.v., and leaving my house a mess. The only good news is that he really has no choice but to show up on time. The other good news is that I don't have a house, food, or a t.v. But I think I will do my best to greet the future anyway. He may not like my style or lack of desserts, but I think he will find me happy, friendly, and alert. You see, as little as you know about the future, he may know even less about you. He has so much to think about and so much to do, because tomorrow is coming and he must come too.
So, just love the future, be his best friend, see him as a wonderful item, a truly priceless gem. When he first comes to your door, he may seem unpolished. Just love him gently, and your fears will be demolished. You see the future is nervous, he doesn't know you. He wants to be happy, and he hopes you do to. So give him a break, he's been working all day. If his appearance is scruffy, don't send him away. Just care for and love him and give him a bath. Feed him your garden, and slaughter the calf. The future is coming and there's nothing to do, that can change that fact for either me or for you. Optimism isn't stupid, it's not always sublime, it's only an ability to see past the grime.
Just a shout out for optimism.

-"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't-- you're right." - Henry Ford
-"Optimism is produced by the candy store of the subconscious- it's delicious, but dangerous." - Wilson 

Dreams

In golf there are many, many tournaments throughout the year. It seems that every other week someone wins who I have never even heard of before, with the exception of the majors. The majors are the four most important tournaments and have the deepest fields. For some reason, it seems that the better players outperform the others even more consistently in majors than in the regular events. Geoff Ogilvy even made the observation once  that majors are almost easier to win because very few players actually show up thinking that they can pull it off. 

Well, to all those that are on the planet, I introduce to you the majors of life: religion, family, career, and happiness. We see it on t.v., we hope for it in our hearts, but how many of us really show up to the most important things believing that we can succeed? Are we excited to pursue the deepest desires of our hearts? Are we ready to fall on our faces a few times? I think I am, but I have a long face, a four thousand calorie diet, and a very close relationship with failure. So I understand that I might not fall under the bell curve in a lot of ways, but I think we should all get on this train and see where we end up and what we run over on the way. 

In fact, let's just take some leaps of faith and jump for the things we value as most important. Much like track, most of us will find that we can't jump, run, or throw nearly as well as we visualize it before we actually do it. We will try to achieve lofty goals, lift millions of lives, and build a perfect home. We will try to love, care for, and treat with respect all people. We will spend countless hours pursuing honorable goals. Day after day, week after week, and year after year we will continue working our hearts out. There will come a day that we will look back and see, through the cruel eye of honesty, that we failed many more times than we succeeded. We will feel incompetent and wonder why we didn't do as well as others. We will want to quit and never try again. I promise, that in that day, many of us will embrace our "failure" with a greater and deeper satisfaction than we could have ever imagined when we first pictured success. In the libraries of our lives, the volumes of accomplishments gather dust, but we will never stop visiting the stories and friendships that were made as we tried to achieve. 

So go and catch your dreams. Live with passion. Be awesome.

Hello world, I have a question

The world is busy, I know, but I never let that get me down. I was persistent, committed, and even stubborn, and in the end I arranged an interview with her. Unfortunately it wasn't a sit-down, but I did get a few minutes of her time on the phone. Enjoy!

Wilson: Thank you so much for taking this time to talk with me, I can't express how excited I am to learn more about you.
World: You are very welcome.
Wilson: So I was hoping we could just jump into some questions, I am quite anxious.
World: That would be just fine.
Wilson: So my first question is about death. It seems that the older people get the more they think about it. Do you find that to be the same with you? Has it been a more pressing matter in recent years than it was when you were younger?
World: You know, I will be honest, it certainly creeps into my mind frequently now, but you can't blame me. People just won't shut up about how I am going to end soon. As for this year, I'm going to have a hard time sleeping until the 21st of December passes peaceably.
Wilson: As you look forward and realize the inevitability of your end, are you also reflective on the long life that you have already lived?
World: Oh sure. I love reflecting on the many choice experiences in my life. I mean, how many planets can say they have had organic matter stomping on their face for thousands of years. Really think about it! Of all the planets in the universe, I am one of the lucky ones that gets to see something really special. Do you know how rewarding it is to have a dinosaur gracefully walking your plains?
Wilson: I can't say that I do.....
World: ......
Wilson: Anyway, moving on. I think it would be fair to say that you have had a front seat to the human story. Throughout the ages you have seen many come and leave. What has been the most enjoyable part of it all?
World: Oh, I have always been a succor for family life. I mean, if I want entertainment or sports I can always go somewhere else. Do you really think that humans are more fun to watch in a race than a shark or a lion?
Wilson: I guess it depends on the lighting and refreshments.
World: That was a rhetorical question.
Wilson: Right.
World: But the family structure has a certain appeal to it.
Wilson: Okay. I can respect that, and now I have just one last question. How old are you really?
World: There is nothing appropriate about a question like that.
Wilson: I am so sorry. But at least tell me how much you weigh.
World: You've got to be kidding me.

The True Love...

Warning: This post is for non-married people only. Married people, you already made your choice.... good luck!

As far as the human goes, or at least men,......or at least me. The demand for love isn't just one market, it is many. We have different desires that are all associated with the opposite gender, but unfortunately they don't always agree. One day we can feel closer to woman (or man) A and tomorrow we can be more interested in woman (or man) B. So let us answer the age old questions about selection. Which one should be the one? What kind of feelings are the most noble to act upon? Can this author really establish some ethos to pull off this post?

We will answer all those questions and more. We will generalize the three desires for companionship, and establish the awesomeness of a person to be the long-run sum of those attributes.

The first is physical. No explanation.

The second is on a personality basis. How much you enjoy their company, how well you can communicate, etc...

The third is the desire for consistency and maintaining a comfort level. Meaning an incumbent (or existing) prospect has an advantage over a newly-emerging one, because the familiarity and consistency is something we all seek. 

So the question is, how do we find the best long-run fit? Well, it's simple. In order for you to have an internal battle over two people, it must be that the sum of the three attributes is relatively close in the short run. In fact, in the short run there may be few differences in choosing one person over another. However, in the long run, there could be adverse differences.

Let us define the short run benefits simply as the sum of physical (A), emotional (B), and familiar face(C) attributes. So overall attraction (short run)  = A + B + C, where A, B, and C represent the current values.  However, over time the benefits will change in each area. So in ten years the overall attraction could = aA + bB, where a and b are scalars determined by functions of time relative to changes in importance of certain attractions. You may have noticed that we have eliminated factor C (familiar face) from the equation in the long run. The reason is that all candidates you could choose in the short run will return similar familiar face benefits in the long run, assuming you spend comparable amounts of time with them. So you still will receive benefits from that attribute, but in comparison it's more or less irrelevant. The 'a' will probably be <1, meaning that physical attractiveness has marginally diminishing returns over time, whereas 'b' is likely >1, meaning that personality matches have increasing returns over time.

So who should you pick? Well, it depends on how long you want it to last. Being religious, I have a hope for a marriage that lasts an eternity, going past the bounds of this life. Using limits, it is clear that personality matches and emotional connections are infinitely important in the long, long run, and physical attractiveness is literally irrelevant. Also, the desire to find consistency is irrelevant, because that is something that will grow with the fact that you are with the person forever.

So, the fairy tale cliches' seem to hold true for another day. Long-term love is about companionship, getting along, enjoying each other's company, etc... However, these relationships are certainly blessed by other aspects, such as having someone to consistently be with and physical interaction. So all the things are important once you are with someone, but in terms of choosing finding a personality match is essential.

Answer: Diseases

Q: If you could cure all diseases would you?

A: I am actually very excited for this post. It was maybe the most thought-provoking question that I received. In short, my answer is probably not. I realized that many people may find that cruel and disagree with it, but I will spend the rest of the time explaining why.

Firstly, I will gladly concede that there are many diseases that I would love to be able to cure for many wonderful people. How nice would it be to have the power to cure young children stricken with cancer? Or heal a terminally ill woman who is the central piece to a large family? Of course, there are endless ways we could bless the lives of others by curing certain diseases. So the question really is do the costs of diseases always out way the benefits? If so, then we certainly would cure them all, because the profits from doing so would be the differences between the benefits and the costs. However, if there is even one case where the benefits out way the costs, then we will maximize profits not by curing all diseases, but an optimum amount.

So, the question is, can we think of any diseases that might be worth keeping around? To be short, it's an empirical (meaning it must be measured) question and we can't actually answer it. We would actually need some way to quantify benefits and costs of certain diseases. However, we can generalize and think of some instances in which disease may be preferred to the cure. I know many people now would jump to the idea that the costs of increased sex might out way the benefits of curing STD's, but that is a bit hairy, so I will look for something simpler. Let's discuss the benefits of getting ill from exposure. In cold climates the cost of going into the cold unprepared rises with the chance of getting sick. However, if we could instantly cure such things, there really would be no consequence for reckless behavior. You could go into the cold, get sick, and be healed so quickly that you basically avoid the discomforts of being sick. However, the colds may act as a warning sign to greater danger, for instance, freezing to death. If we don't have the benefit of receiving small consequences, then we will be more likely to push the limits until more serious damage is done.

That may seem like a lousy argument, but I would believe that if all diseases could be cured, that we might find that we would want to keep some around in a quantity higher than zero.

Answers: Punxsutawney

This is from Harris: "Does Punxsutawney Phil understand the significances of seeing, or not seeing his shadow?"

<<<< Absolutely not >>>>

Does Pluto understand the Mayan calander?
Can a frog succeed in program design?
Does Obama understand fiscal policy?

Let's ask real questions people!
 

Answers: Zebra Stripes

So I will have a series of posts addressing the questions of the week.
The first question is:

"My questions is... is a zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes??"


The zebra stripe phenomenon has always intrigued me, because I always have wondered how on earth such a conspicuous animal can continue to thrive. However, there has to be good reason for success. Nature isn't biased and it won't let a creature continue living just for aesthetic value. It actually turns out that the stripe pattern can deflect about 70% of the sun's rays helping the zebra fight the overpowering African heat (source: The International Museum of the Horse).
I have also been told that every single zebra has a unique stripe pattern and they can even tell one another apart because of this. The females with more curvature in their stripes have an advantage because it makes them more appealing to the males (this is completely a guess). There is also a theory that the stripes help the zebras confuse predators because they blend together when the zebras are in herds.
But onto the question. Are they white with black stripes or the other way around? Well, it used to be up in the air, but recently most experts are saying that zebras have both black skin and fur, and the white is added in due to a number of different factors, mostly a pigmentation deficiency. So zebras seem to be black with white stripes.
To be honest, my life is the same either way. But I must say the research was a lot of fun.

Ask Wilson

Is something puzzling you?
Need a genie?
Well now is your chance.
In the comment area of this blog ask questions and I will answer them. Ask whatever you want, my fabricated knowledge knows no bounds.

Information

So I've discovered that I process information a lot better than I take in colors. I have always felt that I would be more observant if I was looking at scholarly articles rather than strange shapes and colors. So I have set out on a quest to replace all the colors in my life with information. And that way I can learn in my day to day activities.
Everything was going quite well until I started looking at information kaleidoscopes. I'll tell you what there is no faster way to get a headache or ruin a good study sesh than to watch bunches of information colliding with each other in the most geometrically beautiful ways.

Sally's awesome

Being defensive is one of the deadly sins in the social world. It can be really crippling at times. Let's investigate further with case studies on Sarah and Sally. 

Sarah has very few friends, mostly because she blocks people out. She seems to have a strange evaluation of people before she will accept them as a friend. People often feel she is judging their first moves when they just want her to accept them and drink it in. She is somewhat restricted in conversation with strangers because she doesn't want to display her own qualities to someone she doesn't know. This is mostly because how she will act isn't dictated by her own desires and personality, but by the people that are around her. We will call Sarah a chameleon, because she does her best to blend in with the surroundings. Because she thinks she needs to adjust to fit the situation, she rarely makes the effort to adjust situations to meet people's needs. She is more concerned with the people adjusting to fit the idealistic picture. She feels misunderstood, because she probably is.

Sally, on the other hand, loves to interact with others. She is herself, even in the presence of strangers, because she feels no obligation to adjust to the expectations of others. However, she isn't rude about it, she is herself in a very non-confrontational way. Much of her motivation comes from an internal source of moral values, desires, and dreams. When people interact with Sally it's clear that systems are built for people, and not the other way around. They feel she will try to understand them. They feel she will honestly express herself. Sally is awesome. 

So how can you know if you're defensive?

Answer the following question:

Why do you brush your teeth? 

Now don't read the following until you have your answer.

There really are two responses. The first will focus on physical health and or conformity to a system: "I don't want cavities, I want white teeth, my mom told me to, etc..."

The other responses will reflect an emotional reason often connected with self improvement: "I like the way my teeth feel when I brush them, I feel prettier (more handsome), I really enjoy it, etc..."

While both sets of statements are probably realized and rational, I find that the latter set brings a more vibrant mood to life. Doing things in an outgoing, upbeat manner, with individual expression give greater meaning to the mundane chores of life. In reality being passive and defensive is not about action, but motivation and attitude. Going to school to get a degree is good, but going to school because you feel a certain excitement while learning is great. 

This is not an attack on people that are socially less capable, only a call for better, more honest self expression. This doesn't mean that we simply do whatever we want, but it means that we are a bit more transparent about are real feelings and desires. So open up and let if flow. Be awesome. 

Why so serious?

Why so serious?The Joker is the most rediculous man on earth, but he does pose a very valid question when he asks, "Why so serious?"
It's something that I need to ask myself occasionally, because I, like many others, get too serious about what isn't important and it makes my approach to what really matters a little more casual.
I have often neglected the people in my life as when I get too focused on what really doesn't satisfy. When I am really struggling in life it is because I put too much weight on success as a form of fulfillment and I let the relationships in my life fall behind. Often, I need to try less to succeed in school and work before I find real fulfillment. It's what I call the try smarter, not harder approach.
The ultimate goal in life is to be content, happy, helpful, and fulfilled. This usually comes from our interaction with other people. Other pursuits are wonderful as complements to this ultimate goal, however they become a terrrible burden when we attempt to use them as substitutes for what is really satisfying.
So why am I talking about this?
Not sure.
Have a good one

Love

The title says it all. This post is going to answer those tough questions and sweep out those dirty corners in the depths of your soul. By the end we should no longer be puzzled by thoughts, such as:
       Is love real?
       Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?
       Is Brad Pitt love embodied?
       Why do I feel the same about my spouse as I do my favorite donut?

I know that these are very real, powerful, and painful feelings that we all experience in life, but I am confident that what I have to say will give relief to all of your pains, or at the very least add to them.
The main subject on the agenda really is the difference between being in love with someone and loving somebody. Is there a difference? How can I know? What should I do?

Well, the first question is easy. Is there a difference? Yes. Being in love is obviously a state of being. It is a natural disposition to appreciate, care for, and show affection towards another being. It is to unconditionally hope the best for them in all that they do. It is not created by acts or commitments and is not defined by flowers or kisses. If fact it is not an action at all, but rather the most pure of motivations for loving. However, loving somebody is the actual doing of these things. Loving somebody is to care for them and show affection in emotional, spiritual, physical, and all other aspects of life. Note that being in love is not a prerequisite to doing any of these things, but it is highly recommended.

Recap:
Being in love = Motivation
Loving = Action, maybe fulfilling other motives than that of being in love

On a happier note, my rants are at an end. This topic will be continued in other posts as I answer the questions: How can I know? and What should I do?

Persistance

So Chad and I were streaming a video about the differences in parenting in France and America, and one of the points that stuck out to me was that French parents tend to be more persistent with their children than American parents. I don't actually care if that is true or not, but I did start to think about the differences between persistence and stubbornness and why they have such different connotations in our society.
At first I almost thought that the difference was merely in the level of the symptoms. Meaning that persistence denotes pursuing a goal to a reasonable extent; whereas, stubbornness is when one displays irrational abandon in pursuing the said goal. After some discussion we decided that this might not be true, that the magnitude of the behavior didn't determine the condition.
Then, without warning, it hit me. I realized that maybe persistence is defined by repeated, noble efforts to elevate oneself and others to a higher condition, but stubbornness is repeated, defensive actions that try to avoid change. In general, persistence is a means for positive change and stubbornness is a defense against it. In fact, persistence and stubbornness are not the same, but exactly opposite in purpose although similar is action.
A good example would be the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists. Many of the blacks showed godly persistence in fighting for what was right, while many others showed terrible stubbornness in resisting the desired changes.
Although, I have just realized that my definitions are not altogether accurate, because persistence doesn't always call for change and stubbornness doesn't always avoid it. I suppose the real difference is in motive. Persistence fights for what is right while stubbornness fights for what is wrong.

Persistent                                                 Stubborn
God                                                          Satan
Rockies                                                    Yankees
Licorice                                                    Spring Greens
.....                                                           .....


You get the point...

Hyenas

I was in a bad mood after my religion class when my friend and I started talking about the test that can be taken in the testing center between now and friday (today being monday). This is about how things went:

Me: I am going to go take that test right now, it will be super easy.
Bean: Dude no it's not, it's going to be hard.
Me: No Bean, it's easy if you believe that it's easy.
Bean: You have such a weird way of seeing things.
Me: Well easy things require little effort, so anything is easy if you don't try.
Bean: What?

I started laughing like a hyena and went into a restroom. For some reason the funniest trash just started rolling through my head and I couldn't help from laughing. I washed my hands, and then I stood there, dazed, just being showered by jokes from the heavens like in the movie where food destroys the world. Then some random kid walked in on the insanity and I realized that I was in a public restroom, and that's when I really couldn't control myself. I left that beautiful facility a better, happier, man.

Dances with Cakes

Do cakes have feelings?
Do cakes have souls?
Nobody's been there
Nobody knows

In the resurrection,
Will they come forth?
Shining and glorious,
full of great worth?

Can they talk?
Can they sing?
Do they dance,
Or box in a ring?

I want a cake
I'll eat it all up.
Take that, cake!
What's up?

Use what you have, get what you want

I am often puzzled when personification is used to justify policy. For example, guns are "evil," and therefore they must be banned or restricted, right? Wrong.

Now I am not saying there shouldn't be any restrictions on gun use, in fact I am not even concerned with that debate. What I will say is that guns don't have the ability to be evil or good. In fact they aren't capable of thinking, killing, jumping rope, eating candy, or giving a good hug. A decent, cold, uncomfortable hug, maybe, but certainly not a good hug. The fact is that humans run the show. We can use tools for good or evil, to protect or attack, to create or destroy. When discussing outcomes and consequences I believe the main discussion should be centered on human behavior and not on the tools humans use. 

Now let us use that concept to go a step further. We all possess amazing, powerful tools. How we use these tools, I believe, is more pivotal in shaping our lives than the composition of the tools themselves. Many different resources and tools can produce similar results and many different results can be produced by identical resources and tools. For example, people provide shelter for themselves with many different materials and building techniques. Sally may keep warm in a brick home, while Sarah is protected inside a structure of wood. In this case, similar, desirable results are reached through different means. We can also observe that similar raw materials can be manipulated to produce drastically different results. Metal can build and tear down homes, energy can run and destroy a city, and politics can uplift or burden a nation. 

Let us walk just beyond that thought to the heart of the matter. Inside each one of us is a large sum of characteristics, talents, emotions, and dreams. Let us use what we have to get what we want, and stop thinking about what we have as being what we don't want. Our inherited capabilities and desires are not to define us, but to give us mobility to define ourselves. The true beauty of the human condition is not in the inheritance, but in the expression that that inheritance facilitates. For example, a skier is not defined by his skis, but rather by what he does with the freedom that his skis provide. So don't think that beauty and joy is given, but believe that it is a result of the proper application of what is given. 

As a byword, things that appear to be "bad" can often be manipulated to be good. I have an extremely stubborn brother. Stubbornness just so happens to be one of his possessions. Is it evil? No. Can it be used for evil? Sure. However, it can also be tremendously beneficial when properly applied. For example, he is stubbornly committed to his wife, and I am certain that they will be together regardless of how hard it gets. It's refreshing that he is able to make a decision and stick with it in a world where commitment seems old fashioned.  

Now, it is story time. One day I was in my backyard holding a bouncy ball. My brother was jumping on the trampoline. Acting without thinking, I chucked the ball and it smashed my brother right in the head. I've been thinking a lot about it, and I am sure that the bouncy ball feels terrible about the whole thing.