Life's path. A choice?

[Tobin S.]

I think it can be, but not always is. There is an ongoing debate in philosophy that has to do with whether we have free will or not. I do not think free will is a choice initially for most people, but maybe a possibility as we gain experience. That is, we are not born with free will, but we can develop it.

I didn't know what I was doing in life until I got to be about 30 years old. That's when I started learning about how things really are. Before that I was delusional. I had this idea in my head about how things should be and thought they could be that way. As soon as you stop believing in utopia you will start seeing reality. I know in my heart that we have the means to provide for every person on the planet. We have the means to feed, house, clothe, and provide health care for everyone. But it's not going to happen. It isn't even happening in this country, supposedly the richest on the planet, and it probably never will. Never.

I didn't have a choice before I was 30. I didn't have the means to be able to stop and take a breather and stand back and see. There was no slack in the rope that had me tethered to the plow in the never-ending tilling of the soil of life. Crack that whip, motherfucker. Then one day the plow man stopped to take a drink and survey the field. I lifted my head and I could see something other than the ground in front of me.

I have a choice now. You do, too, whether you can see it or not. Your bleeding heart won't save you, but the awareness in your mind holds the keys to unlock the chains that confine you. What can you do? What can I do?

I have my love. I have my mind. I'm at peace with the world around me. I'll never be a billionaire. I'll never be a messiah. But I can take care of myself and I can take care of my own. I can survive and do so without hindering the survival of anyone else. I can choose how I make my way, I'm willing to work for it, and that's all I'm asking. That's freedom, that's choice, that's free will. That's America.

I can't show you directly. It's something you have to see for yourself and you have to try. A mixed economy looks pretty good to me right now. We have socialism for those who can't and capitalism for those who can. I'm willing to pitch in for those who can't. The system still isn't perfect, and it probably never will be, but I'm going to be out there doing my thing to try to make it all work...for me and you. Peace to you and yours.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Peace to you and yours too, my dear Tobin...

This is a very well-thought out post of yours. I really don't have much to add, but I just wanted to say I agree with you.

We can choose how we make our way, and I am doing that too. My marriage, my poetry, those are the things that I truly care about...

Those are the things I have some semblance of control over.

I am at peace too.

[Tobin S.]

2. I wish I was out there right now

Small town Indiana has its points, but it can also be a drag sometimes. My wife likes wine, I like beer. Maybe if we can come out and visit sometime we can bring you some Indiana wine and swap you for some of that good California stuff you guys get out there. Your husband and I can swap brewskies.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. That sounds like a good idea...

This would certainly be a change from small town Indiana!

[talkingmime]

4. Some is choice, some is just how the dice fall. The dice always seem to be loaded against me.

[840high]

5. that