My first act of free will shall be to believe in free will.
William James
Ruminations
Thoughts in passing
Lesson 1 - Begin with the end in mind
I have seen beasts of burden hold the entire weight of the world upon their shoulders. Sweat and sweet tears peppering the unforgiving earth. Yet one step after the other they still took. To an unknown destination and with only a mere grunt in protest.
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
How do you measure the depth of a soul?
Do you dip your toes in its timid waters?
Do you place your face just below the surface
and hope to see the bottom?
Do you throw a line in and see what manner of object it catches?
Or, do you dive in headfirst?
Lungs straining under the pressure
As you grasp the timeless sand
at the bottom of the sea with outstretched fingertips.
The struggle is great, the task divine--
to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility.
And tell me this: I must be absolutely sure.
This place I've reached, is it truly Ithaca?
There is only one thing I dread:
not to be worthy of my sufferings.