Thought~Byte No. 53

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good one thanks for sharing..

I think if I own a 65 chevy  I would love to live in it and drive it,  with a bubble around it.

How mistakenly, all is lost!

A '65 Chevy would probably offer more room then I foresee in my foreseeable future.  It's tough out here John.....

ahhh this is a good one.

That is very true John. If I could just get over my past once and for all, I'd feel much better, that's for sure.

Thanks, Jamie.

"If I could just get over my past once and for all, I'd feel much better"

Angela, an option to getting "over" it is to just drop it.

I like that advice!  When sadness or negativity from the past insinuates itself into our lives, we should just drop it. 

"a 65 chevy  I would love to live in it and drive it,  with a bubble around it."

One could do worse, Steph.

You're welcome, Larry.

"How mistakenly, all is lost!"

Now is never lost, Paul, just rarely found.

That's why it reads "How MISTAKENLY" Duh!

Can you read?

"It's tough out here John....."

Robert, I can tell from your poetry and photo essays, you know how to enjoy life — regardless of the toughness.

It's how I stay reasonably sane John.

Here's a photo-essay I had help with.

It was a glorious little day, to meet a fellow Gatherer....

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977720946

:+)

Oh, very very nice!

True, true, true.  Great analogy!

the lessons of the past give rise to great futures and a steady present!

You have been reading Eckhart Tolle:)

Sunaura, I'm sorry. I deleted your comment today but hitting "remove" instead of "reply." I blame it on lack of coffee.

Here was your deleted comment and my today's response:

Great minds John.  Eckhart talks about living in the 'now' instead of using it as a  means to get to the next place, it is definitely something I would like to work on.

Sunaura, most enlightened masters have this philosophy. Rajneesh — now called Osho — is particularly specific about doing this.

Best starter book I would suggest "The Mustard Seed"

For HereNow techniques there is the five-volume set called The Book of the Secrets. Pretty powerful stuff.

Live in the moment.  The past can't be changed.  There are no guarantees that there a future for any of us. If we keep thinking "someday" thoughts  we may find that our "someday"  somehow slipped past us.

Oh, let's drive today. Put the top down and enjoy the feel of the breeze on the face, look at the scenery and enjoy the ride for today. Savor being alive--it's a good feeling...

I  like this very much. In this concept, all we have is the present--which we waste by remembering the past or anticipating  the future.

I do think we should learn from the past to insure a better  future though.

But I do love the analogy.  Lonnie Fowler

So we're stuck with living in the present, huh?  Works for me.

The key is to actually use them rather than forgetting that doing things the old way didn't ever work before either and trying something new.

One use for the past would be to learn how to handle the future. 

Tell that to your tired, your hungry, your poor....

Go to a shelter you say?  Catch TB, theft, smuggled in heavy drugs, Ugh!

Good one, John!

Well, that's food for thought.

10 4 u

I'm not sure of your meaning, Elizabeth, unless you are exploring taking the metaphor literally.

Thanks, Julie.

"that's food for thought"

That's the plan, Jeanette.

Be sure you chew each Byte 34 times.

Thanks, Sheila.

"the lessons of the past give rise to great futures and a steady present!"

So we've been told, Georgiana.

Some say applying the past to the present results in not being aware because we are always looking for the past in the present instead of looking for the present in the present.

(And that's not just the coffee talking!)

Thanks, Carrie Marie.

"You have been reading Eckhart Tolle:)"

Sunaura, maybe he has been reading me as I wrote this ten years ago. :)

I didn't know of him but just checked and he looks interesting. Thanks for bringing him to my attention. Do you like his books/message?

Sunaura, most enlightened masters have this philosophy. Rajneesh — now called Osho — is particularly specific about doing this.

Best starter book I would suggest "The Mustard Seed"

For HereNow techniques there is the five-volume set called The Book of the Secrets. Pretty powerful stuff.

"If we keep thinking "someday" thoughts  we may find that our "someday"  somehow slipped past us."

Well said, Linda - and today along with it.

"Savor being alive--it's a good feeling..."

That it is, Sia, and all you have to do is be there.

"I do think we should learn from the past to insure a better  future though"

It does make sense, doesn't it, Lonnie?

According to this Byte, therein lies the trap.

"stuck with living in the present, huh?  Works for me."

John, the irony is that we think we have a choice.

"forgetting that doing things the old way didn't ever work before either and trying something new."

One of the plusses of trying new things is that we are more aware of what we're doing.

Eventually we learn we can do that without trying anything.

"One use for the past would be to learn how to handle the future.:"

It would, KD, and some would say that is akin to taking your eye off the ball.

so true!

Can't live in it, unless it's equipped with airbags. Fortunately, my present is full of airbags, so I will be safe.

Thanks, Blaine.

Present airbags, Beaker. Now there's a concept to play with.

Use the past to learn or let it go and use the future for dreams, but live in the present. Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present.

Did I get the message this time?

"Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."

Absolutely, Ruth.

Ruth, the trick with Thought~Bytes is that there isn't a message: There are multiple layers and the point is when pondering one do you connect with something that has value for you at this moment in your life?

Looks like you did.

Next, looking at the Byte again — and the comments — is there another connection there of interest to you? Often there is.

Very true John.  I don't even wish to dwell in the past.  Trouble is I sometimes try living in the future.  It always seem so much nicer than the present does't it? :-D)

too much thought goes into this one,,,  my kids, when younger have lived in their car,,,the last one was 74 mustang  my Mike who is 54,,, he didn't live in it too long,,,

Many of us try to live in the past because it is so comfortable, there is no uncertainty, while the present is frought with uncertainty and the future is terrifying. Many of us define the future as the present because (this is my own "because" because I'm not a shrink or a Tibetan Guru) they cannot envision change. Like trying to sell a new invention.

Rest easy

Point well taken, John.  I agree.

"living in the future.  It always seem so much nicer than the present does't it?"

Dennis, only when you are paying attention to the Present.

Marie, I'm glad it was a temporary thing — even if I meant it only as a metaphor.

Take care.

"Many of us define the future as the present because (this is my own "because" because I'm not a shrink or a Tibetan Guru) they cannot envision change. "

Excellent, Bill. That is another whole aspect to this Byte.

Thanks.

Thanks, Pat.

apropos

I can only be in one place at one time, right here, right now. The rest exists only when I give it leave to wander. Besides, it's like reading a book or listening to a song, you can't keep listening to the same verse or reading the same page and skipping ahead isn't fun either. Seems obvious.

Thanks, Chas.

"Seems obvious."

Not to many, Vivian. A lot of people spend much of their lives in the past or the future — sometimes without realizing it.

Each day is a gift John and I actively attempt to cherish it as such.