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TWENTYSOMETHING by Ishi Dinim
Don’t be afraid. This could be the single most important thing to remember. No one is perfect. There is hope though, we can always improve. We all pick our spots to shine and feel a loss for a missed opportunity.
I think most humans have an innate desire to do good things, bettering their own lives and those around them. Sometimes figuring out the best way to do it is difficult. I’ve been trying to distill it all down into the ultimate simple idea to help my fellow human. But I couldn’t, instead I came up with two and a bit.
The first one seems simple: think. Just take time to think. However that works for you. All I ask is that you do it carefully, with equal parts imagination and self-reflection. Oh yeah, also try to do it as long as you remain conscious and for the rest of your life. It will reap great benefits in every area of your life; decision making will become more difficult or less depending on the situation.
I know, “Where does this guy get off with his pedantic self-righteous paternalistic tone telling me how to live?” Well, it all fits into my second idea which also has a hidden third idea, an invisible one, which I hope to possibly make visible by bundling. But now I digress.
Last week before we went to work I was chatting with my friend. We were getting really inspired by sharing stories about people, films, and ideas in our recent journeys. We nodded our heads in support of peace, economic and democratic reforms, sustaining our planet, and many other progressive ideals. We reached a bit of an impasse when the topic of vegetarianism came up. I held up a copy of a documentary that I wanted him to watch. He said, “The people who made that movie probably care more about those animals than the homeless guy down the street from them.” It was a good point, and quite possibly a true one. I responded, “Well, they are giving a voice to creatures that can’t stick up for themselves, and they’re exposing an unseen side of our society.” After a bit of an awkward silence we simply slid onto a different subject. Needless to say I not so subtly badgered him for the rest of the day about how a meat based diet is probably the most harmful and easily changeable part of human life.
The reason I’m recounting this conversation is important. I assume that he felt threatened that I might call into question a part of his way of life, just like how I feel when people criticize my modus operandi. Believe me I am not beyond contempt: I drive, eat seafood, dairy, and eggs, I watch TV and gamble. I drink fair-trade organic coffee in a reusable cup, and judge myself, him, her and them all day long. We all rationalize our actions so that we can live with ourselves. As much as I want to do the right thing, sometimes I don’t and I have to live with those results.
What is the single most important thing that a progressive considerate person desiring to change the world can do? I don’t know, you tell me.
Link it up for free docs:
www.meetyourmeat.com
www.tribeofheart.org
www.velolove.bc.ca
Quotes:
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
– Thomas Jefferson
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
– Albert Einstein
A man gotta be balanced. You can’t just be about the pleasures.
– stic.man, Dead Prez
Ishi graduated from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2001, with a BFA major in photography. He makes films, collects cacti, and ponders many things. Currently he is trying to figure out what to do with the rest his life. contactishi@yahoo.ca waiting to hear echoes back.
Ishi graduated from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 2001, with a BFA major in photography. He makes films, collects cacti, and ponders many things. Currently he is trying to figure out what to do with the rest his life.
contactishi@yahoo.ca waiting to hear echoes back…
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