Winfried Dressler wrote:
> Doc Holloway wrote:
>
> >I just want to be a self-transforming person. Sometimes, people may
> >follow (at their own discretion and hazard). Whether they do or not is
> >not essential to the sense I have of myself--and my need to transform my
> >own life. Sometimes I follow. At my own discretion and hazard. Mostly,
> >I am myself and my circumstances.
>
> I like your comment, thank you! Surely many people who want to transform
> others in fact just try to correct their own faults.
>
> May I ask two additional questions:
Hi, Winfried--
Thank you for your kind response. I will attempt to answer your
questions as best I can.
> 1.) "Mostly, I am myself and my circumstances." - Has this been a goal for
> you that is reached now mostly due to your transformational process? Or
> is "being yourself" a selffullfilling assumption and the basis of your
> transformations?
I guess that "I am myself and my circumstances" is a pragmatic description
(borrowed from Ortega y Gasset) of my "being-becoming." I don't know that
I have a goal for myself in that regard. My goals have been relatively
incidental (promotion, assignment, material goods, familial, business
success, write a good poem) to my maturing. "I am myself and my
circumstances," describes for me the theme that unites the disparate
notes, chords and dischords of my life. Search for wisdom; serve others;
avoid harming others; know myself; inquire fearlessly; celebrate life.
The phrase also reminds me that I am not myself by myself, but with
others--and that I am a circumstance in other selves.
> 2.) How do you see yourself as a part of the various systems you are a
> part of? Your statement is one of great personal freedom. And true
> freedom is linked closely to true committment which makes freedom to such
> a paradox. In your words, everyone is free to follow. But what about
> separating again? As an example many children have to grow up without the
> committment of their parents to the family. Another example: Many teenager
> feel free to try drugs...
I have the sensation that I am inextricably interwoven into the fabric of
humanity. I have the sense of ancestors, of history, family, friends,
colleagues, enemies--all of us (strangers and familiars) interconnected
to one another. I just reminded myself of some lines from a poem by
Neruda (from Caballero Solo--or Lone Gentleman, please excuse my poor
translation):
Surely and eternally this great breathing forest
forever surrounds me and entangles me
with large flowers like mouths and teeth
and black roots shaped as nails and shoes.
as for the rest of your question, Winfried, I'm not sure I follow.
Perhaps you can, if you wish, clarify those points for me.
my best to you,
Doc
-- "We too have a moral motive. It is that relations of dialogue in all aspects of life are better for everyone than relations of control." -Hugh Lacey and Barry SchwartzLearnShops: cost-effective, timely, tailored to support your strategic needs.
Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Visit me at <http://www.thresholds.com/> Or e-mail me at <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com> Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2361 Phone:01 360 786 0925 Olympia, WA 98507 USA Fax: 01 360 709 4361
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