LOGIC AND REASON
Perspective and Open-Mindedness
Open invitation to engage on this topic
Easy as ABC
Perspectives are golden, wrote my friend Henery in his insightful article on open-mindedness. I couldn’t agree more with that assessment, though perspectives have the flavor that starts as being exclusive to where the individual stands in life; physically first and then mentally and spiritually.
As Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “In the East, they contemplate the forest; in the West, they count the trees.” That is the flavor I allude to.
Or as Einstein said when he asked his famous question about a friendly universe I wrote about a long time ago — “It’s a matter of perspective. The single most important decision any of us will ever make is whether or not to believe that the universe is friendly. It is your choice.”
And returning to Dr. Dyer: “Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.”
This sums up perspective pretty well for me. And so then, how do we; from different walks of life and with different flavors come to be open-minded? It is not an easy undertaking, but neither is it impossible. And while knowledge abounds, good knowledge, like Henery points out is what’s so golden about perspective. I totally agree.
Coming out of a tough week to touch base with a few of my good friends on this wonderful platform, I offer you a slice of me. And as always, count on this sliver of me to be as simple and easy as ABC. My flavor, green.
Walt Whitman
“This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people … re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your very soul, and your very flesh shall become a great poem.” — Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, May 31, 1819 — March 26, 1892, was a highly influential American poet — perhaps America’s first democratic poet — essayist, and journalist who is among the most influential poets in the American canon.
Whitman, often called the father of free verse, adopted the free verse in his work which reflects a newly naturalized and accessible poetic language. His overarching themes — the individual, the nation, the body, the soul, and everyday life and work — mirror the primary values of America’s founding.
Whitman was a humanist, Wikipedia tells me; he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism; more than that, he was a key member of the transcendentalist movement.
Along with contemporaries Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, Whitman incorporated both transcendentalism and realism views in his works.
Despite his humble beginnings, in 1855, Whitman went on to write ‘Leaves of Grass’, one of the most defining works of American poetry to date.
So if we were to pick his brain today, this is what we’d get. Oh, wait, correction; there is a lot more, but this handful of quotes should suffice to shed some good knowledge and help us to determine the great man’s flavor.
“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)
“I celebrate myself and sing myself.
“I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine — and shadows will fall behind you.
“…the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
“I exist as I am, that is enough.
“To die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.
“And your very flesh shall be a great poem.
“The beautiful uncut hair of graves.
“I am as bad as the worst but thank God, I am as good as the best.
“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.” — Walt Whitman
That is who Walt Whitman was and I mention him because I value his open-mindedness and the contribution he made to our reasoning minds.
Living in greatness. How?
As for me and my open-mindedness views, I am nothing compared to the man I admire yet, as a complete unknown, I feel that I’ve come into — and since I’m still here and my life story is still unfolding — I’m living in my greatness just as much as this great man once did.
- I follow the ten commandments.
- I follow societal norms, listen to the lessons Lady Earth teaches me, and as best as I can, I try to never bring her harm.
- I understand my limitations and accept them and as such, I will faint and probably die if someone asks me to try talking with a cobra like my friend Rebecca Romanelli did in this article. Some people are afraid of spiders; I’m afraid of wild animals and such. And as long as I don’t think that makes me a bad human being, I will continue being a human. I sincerely embrace my friend’s flavor and will support her as best as I can. And you can quote me on that!
- I have never and will never call attention to myself.
- Yes, I will blog, - yes, I will write on Medium, - yes, I will publish that novel, - yes, I will express my mind, -yes, I will love passionately and laugh with abandon, -yes, I will play and do life on my terms
but I will do it all with heartfelt regard to all the others who travel on the train of life with me.
Actions speak louder
I cannot change any one’s mind on anything, the most I can do is tell them with my actions — in this case, my words will have to do that for me — about mine.
If someone agrees with my perspective I feel that they’ve met me halfway and likewise, I’ll meet them halfway in theirs. And never will I let others make me feel less than nor will I intentionally make anyone feel that way either. This I promise.
To me, this is what open-mindedness entails: I accept you just as you are.
“So, we must live in the best way — love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty — we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.” — excerpt from the poem of ‘Life on The Train’ Author Unknown.
The prompt by my very good friend Henery X (long) whose open-mindedness I respect; whose big heart I embrace also lists the names of others I admire in this platform. I will not list them but want to extend an open invitation to anyone else who feels like talking on their perspective on open-mindedness.
What a wonderful prompt this was. I look forward to reading everyone’s take on the subject. Perspectives are golden indeed!
I THANK YOU FOR READING. I Wish You Miracles.