|
{this i have won: maxims, lists, ideas and my world} jonathan bitz In the case of death or an inability to articulate: “What you have inherited from your forefathers you must first win for yourself if you are to possess it.” - Goethe Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you’re going to ask the question, be prepared to learn the answer. Existentialism defined: There is an apparent non-rational, or irrational, dimension to existence. Quite possibly the universe is knowable, we just aren’t capable of knowing it. Maybe we are the irrational dimension to existence. Anything less than passion is unacceptable. “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” - Jack Kerouac What is art? Art is choice. “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. “ - Henry Miller What matters most are moments. And of most importance are beautiful moments. In the first, to recognize a beautiful moment is profound. But to host a hand in the creation of a beautiful moment is of supreme importance. This is the aim of life: to be aware enough to enable one’s self to be an artist of their life; to make choices which create beautiful moments. "I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger than reason. I am so thirsty for the marvelous that only the marvelous has power over me. Anything I can not transform into something marvelous, I let go. Reality doesn't impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls." - Anais Nin "You don’t have to be a house to be haunted." - Emily Dickinson Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. - Abraham Joshua Heschel While it is true that interesting things do happen to people, people – in and of themselves – are not inherently interesting. Initially, people’s idiosyncrasies are interesting. It’s what lures me to them. In the end, it’s those same idiosyncrasies that drive me away. To grieve is to praise. Grieve openly. Think of it as singing. Love is the most prized virtue in the universe. Therefore it is toughest one to obtain. The Four Agreements: 1. Be Impeccable with your Word 2. Don’t Take Anything Personally 3. Don’t Make Assumptions 4. Always Do Your Best The Toltec fable of the Smokey Mirror. Knowledge is synthesis of two independent clauses of data, which are used to create an entirely original, independent synthesis. The spectrum of thought is: Information, Data, Knowledge, Wisdom. Authors: Friedrich Nietzsche Jack Kerouac Charles Bukowski Fyodor Dostoyevsky Books: "The Gay Science", Friedrich Nietzsche "On The Road", Jack Kerouac "Factotum", Charles Bukowski "Notes from Underground", Fyodor Dostoyevsky "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", Baigent, Leigh, Lincoln "A Million Little Pieces", James Frey "The Myth of Sisyphus", Albert Camus "What Einstein Didn't KNow", Robert L Wolke "No One Here Gets Out Alive", Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman Films: Immortal Beloved Braveheart Cold Mountain All the Real Girls Almost Famous Comedians: Bill Hicks George Carlin Louis C.K Song is story. Story is song. Musicians: Beethoven Jeff Buckley Nick Drake Radiohead Van Morrison Stevie Ray Vaughn Albums: “Grace”, Jeff Buckley "Astral Weeks", Van Morrison “Midnight Radio”, Big Head Todd and the Monsters “The Moon and Antartica”, Modest Mouse “Band of Gypsys”, Jimi Hendrix “Beethoven Symphony Nine”, Maazel Cleveland Orchestra "Pink Moon", Nick Drake “The Bends”, Radiohead “For Emma, Forever Ago”, Bon Iver |
