Hump Day Hmmm: Better late than never!

The basic fact is that all sentient beings, particularly human beings, want happiness and do not want pain and suffering. Dalai Lama (14th)

Kim and Gwen solved the Hump Day Hmmm Roundtable dilemma beautifully.

Kim said, "...instead of what we should do, what about writing about personal experiences of how we have or how we are trying-where in the journey."

Gwen agreed with that plan, "I like k's idea of writing about personal experiences in re: compassion and tolerance. I have Big Idea fatigue."

I had initially thought we should follow the path of free will and destiny for discussion, but then felt moved by the Dalai Lama's words about compassion and tolerance, as well as his call to action.

But I was ambivalent, I think because, as Gwen said, I am also suffering from a case of idea fatigue. Although in my case, it is more idealism fatigue.

I'd hoped the roundtable would renew and rekindle, but I think right now I've mostly just got anger and fatigue.

It might be because the most popular local political candidate is campaigning solely on two words: republican and conservitive (misspelling NOT mine...it maligns my eyes on the hordes of signs littering front yards around me).

It might be an obnoxious local DJ revving up hatred in his campaign against "gimme-grants" aka immigrants who are too "vocal" and "demanding" in his opinion.

It could just all be hitting my own physical fatigue because my children are sleeping like babies these days (and anyone who has spent a night with any regularity in proximity to a baby knows exactly what I mean...and it's not peaceful slumber).

Or it might be hearing yesterday that the President changed his definition of success in Iraq:

Success is not, no violence. There are parts of our own country that have got a certain level of violence to it. But success is a level of violence where the people feel comfortable about living their daily lives. And that's what we're trying to achieve.

Pondering this, trying to respond to it, I am nevertheless trapped in a state of bewildered and appalled incoherence.

Regardless of why it might be, I hadn't a good idea of a direction, and worse than that, didn't feel I was in any position to offer suggestions about how we ought to do and be.

That's why talking about the journey is really appealing.

So, any time you like between now and next Wednesday (I'll put up the host post next week) here's your assignment (if you choose to accept it, and I sincerely hope you do):

Write about your personal experience(s), how you are dealing with or how you are trying to deal with---where you are in your journey---the principles of justice, forgiveness, compassion, and/or tolerance. Select one, two, three or all, or speak about the converse of the principles if that's more relevant.

I look forward to what you have to say, truly.

Let me know if you have any questions, and definitely let me know when you have a post ready for me to link.

copyright images and text 2007 Julie Pippert