MisUnderstandings in a Lego World

(some of this was written April 14th, added to a draft from the other day)
I had a friend recently who said that life's as simple as "...just be here now." Earlier today(actually over the weekend), I had one tell me that all we have to do is "be here now" and that's it. Well, life is more complicated than that. I thought, "emotions aren't simple"....they're complicated patterns of energy woven into our memory, just waiting to spring into action under the right circumstances. They're sometimes attached to how our body feels. If you have a health issues, such as diabetes(sugar issues for example), you'll find your body doesn't consistently feel any certain way...but usually it feels crappy. For a while, especially early on, I would beat myself up for not being consistently patient, and consistently an example of Buddhism or any other Eastern philosophy that helped in my life. Eastern thought/Zen saved my life. I thought people can benefit from these things, but my health is wacky like I am..and people will look at my life and say, "Eastern thought doesn't look useful, because Jeremy(that's me) isn't bouncing around doing what I think he should to prove that Zen helped him somehow." Life is more complicated when it comes to communicating. People look for different traits that dictate whether someone has "cred" or not. A very useful thing could be thrown out, simply because of the messenger's perceived credibility.

This is our Rule of thumb moment(brought to you by ADD): Birds will get along at the feeders as long as there's enough food....but when the food gets low, they'll fight. It's the same with humans..the food gets low(or not enough rewards/accolades/attention to go around)..if we still have enough energy to fight/argue, our instinct to survive(in life or socially) will kick in....and compassion and understanding will probably go out the door. The fight can be about anything....even who feels they come away with the upper hand in an argument.....or who's the manliest of men even. In the end, it only means something to the person who decides to define it as something. We're creating our world, rendering our mental world each moment. Sometimes I have to make mistakes, find myself being a jerk, to realize that I don't have it all figured out and never will. Each new situation brings with it...its own structure.

interesting conversations
(This is a paraphrased composite transcript of SEVERAL similar conversationS I've had over the past year or so.....with a few different people saying similar things(basically)
My friend: Having all those books on philosophy don't mean anything if you don't apply them. It's like having a big tool box full of tools, and using a hammer to loosen a nut.

Me: yeah, that's why I've been saying that we have to learn about ourselves...take time to know ourselves, why we do things, what our own motivations are.... Even why we study things to begin with....we'll see what we're trying to get out of it, or understand...because we're building a case for things. I'm applying them, just trying to approach life in a new way...while unlearning old patterns. Expectations of ourselves or other people get in the way also. So, I might not look steady or consistent sometimes...if that's what you meant. I'm not sure what you're getting at...

Friend: If you were really onto something(had something special figured out), wouldn't you be out of the house more than you are? Wouldn't you be doing more than you are? Out with your friends more? Wouldn't you be unphased? [Wouldn't you be a success?] Would you ever find yourself frustrated like you get sometimes??

Me: Well, I don't have anything really special figured out, I still get confused in life, Eastern thought just has helped my life in a BIG way, and I think some people might find it useful...but not everyone. I'm not trying to convert or even make a big scene either really. Also, right now I think my situation could be improved, but my sugar issues don't allow me the consistent energy a lot of times to be as active as I used to be. As well as the mental energy that slows down as well...lethargy and stuff. And I'm not really up for getting out all the time partying like I used to do.....it really slowed down my self-learning in ways. Partying didn't help me much, sitting at home in the quiet figuring myself out helped more. I've been through the running around, partying with friends, and I have nothing to show for it really. I'm just taking things slow right now. ..getting situated. I'll have to pick myself up and I know that...no one else can do it for me. (feeling a sense of being completely made an issue on the table)

Friend: Well, I think its all in your head. I don't think you've got a sugar problem, i think its in your head man.

Me: No,.......I've seen my sugar as high as 325 in the past....its also been very low too at times. I haven't been able to test it lately because of money issues, no insurance, and I didn't qualify for this other free program everyone was telling me about. They take in crackheads, but not a single male with no kids who's staying with his parents. They've got it wrote up funny in the laws.

Friend: Have you been to the doctor? You could go to some doctor somewhere I'm sure. Don't complain about it if you're not going to the doctor. You can't whine about it if you're not trying to fix it. It's like you bring it up, but don't do anything about it to feel better.

Me: No, I don't have the money, and don't qualify for assistance. And I'm NOT whining about anything, you made me an issue and I'm answering, I'm not complaining....I just can't do much about it right now. Later, when I get things going again, I'll be able to take care of it. If I bring it up ever, its usually so people have context about what I'm dealing with so they won't wonder why I'm not as sharp as usual...or something. Sorry for bringing it up, friend! I'd say when your health goes to crap one day, you're going to be talking about it to people warning/informing them that you're not going to feel like yourself all the time....for them to keep that in mind and not expect you to operate at 100%. It'll happen...and someone might be there making you an issue...telling you that you're "whining." I say it to bring context...like a footnote as I'm talking.....or writing. It'd be like someone on drugs saying, "forgive me I'm high right now..." It gives context....because I'm not feeling great, or even good at times...I'm saying in a round about way to not expect me to be energetic, jumping up and down like a kid in order to prove that I"m happy. I am happy....even if I get frustrated or tangled in knots from time to time. [what i'd like to add to it]---(I am happy.....because I define my happiness my way. Just because you define happiness with your legos....doesn't mean they're going to necessarily work with my lego world in my definitions, because they're probably shaped/structured different.)

Friend: I'm just saying...you should go to the doctor so you'll feel better and be able to get around like you used to do. (End of composite conversation)


We misunderstand each other so easily. Its because we define our world our own way...using our own legos and assume other people are using similar legos to build their vision of reality. Some legos might be cross-platform compatible with other peoples' legos and some won't. We get into groups/social circles where our legos mix well with those groups.....and so on.


We forget that we're making our realities each moment.....that we're rendering a world in our minds.
If we work on communicating..........to know ourselves better, then our total understanding will grow....but never really be finished...because the world is full of change. It'll move things around on you in a hurry.
It lies in how we take in/handle/process information.....and also how we express it in our lives.