Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- aka The connection we're not making...
 

I guess I didn't express it very well -- Again, maybe because it's still foggy in my own head.

It's nothing to do with regrets -- I don't have any, thankfully.

It's nothing to do with being depressed about how the real wolrd works.

Although it does have to do with how the real world works (but not being depressed about it).

It's nothing to do with the difference between fame + success.

It has to do with my own definition of success -- AND WHAT WILL *REALLY* GET ME THERE -- and what will NOT.

The realization that doing low-level stuff DOES NOT LEAD TO HIGH LEVEL STUFF.

The low-level world, and the high level world ARE NOT CONNECTED!

Therefore, it's important to recognize the DIFFERENCE between the two worlds -- and to stay away from Low-Level Land!

It's not a stepping stone -- it's a dead end job -- in disguise.

If you MUST hang around in Low-Level Land... at SEE IT CLEARLY FOR WHAT IT IS -- AND DON'T GLORIFY IT.

Give it the DISrespect it deserves.

THAT'S my 'epihpany.'

Nothing more, nothing less.

Luckily, I'm not a regretful type of person.

Rather than get bummed out about it + cry over spilled milk, I'm GLAD that I have these new eyes, and will make the most of them moving forward.

-- TW

Then I guess this will be your last post at all the forums TW?
 

All the forums you regularly post to are in Low-Level Land...are you making the disconnect?

Please come back and update us once you've landed in the Big times.

OR, can you hang out in low-level land, give it the disrespect it deserves at the same time you are preparing to escape it? I don't know, just asking. I'll guess time will tell us what choice you've made.

Good luck TW,

gjabiz

PS. No response required.

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- Gordon -- option #2...
 

I'm going with option #2...

Hang out in low-level land, give it the disrespect it deserves at the same time you are preparing to escape it.

As I keep saying, there's NOTHING wrong with Low-Level Land, or being IN it -- so long as I realize that's what it is, and put in its proper perspective.

It's the eyes open, not shut, that counts.

Cheers!

-- TW

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- PS: This is what America is all about...
 

America is one of the few places on earth where a person CAN change their socio-economic status within their lifetime.

And they can do it, basically, under their own control.

They can decide to do it, and then do it!

But... part of that equation is: They must (first?) develop the ability to clearly see what WILL propel them upwards, and what will NOT.

My point was that it's NOT really a spectrum. There's an EMPTY SPACE between Low-Level Land and REAL SUCCESS (read: majorly big bucks).

Doing low-level stuff does not lead to the big time. Doing LOTS of low-level stuff probably won't even TOTAL big time level success.

The two worlds are NOT connected, naturally/organicly/normally.

The key, I feel (to take advantage of the American opportunity), is to find 'worm holes' that can/do CONNECT the two worlds.

Such bridges do exist, or can be engineered.

THAT'S the real stepping stone to real (major) success.

The goal is not to toil in Low-Level Land (as a way of 'paying one's dues') -- the main goal should be to seek out EXIT DOORS + ESCAPE Low-Level Land as soon as possible.

That's why I listed 3 such exit doors.

Think 'The Matrix' and illusion is reality and vice versa -- and the rining telephone that enables one to EXIT The Matrix (which seems like reality, but which is FALSE).

I hope this is making sense.

It's making sense to me at least.

Cheers!

-- TW

Maybe we could set up a separate SOWPUB forum category...
 

Called, "Blueprints for escaping Low-Level Land."

People could post their adventures in trying to escape -- and (hopefully) their successes in doing so.

It'd be a forum for people with that SPECIFIC goal in mind, as "Job 1."

-- TW

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- aka The connection we're not making...
 

Has any one seen this 2 and a half minute video: Music & Life by Alan Watts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- aka The connection we're not making...
 

Yes, Ankesh, I do understand life is a journey -- and one must enjoy it ALONG THE WAY.

In fact, I recently wrote, in another forum, this (two posts)...

The Happiness Trail...

A series of events and reflective thoughts have led me to this idea...

"The Happiness Trail" (if there is one) is not a 'trail' one tries to
put oneself ON.

Let me clarify that -- during my previous 48 years, I had assumed
that, if I took a left here, and a right there, I could strive to get
myself ON "The Happiness Trail." Like some yellow brick road.

In fact, it is impossible to put oneself 'on' the happiness trail,
because the happiness trail doesn't even exist as a trail that is *in
front of* oneself.

No.

The real "Happiness Trail" is a trail one leaves *behind* oneself.

That is, it is a trail one *creates* and leaves behind, just as a boat
leaves a 'wake.'

It is created in the form of one's legacy -- even if one's 'legacy' is
minute, or unremarkable.

It is the 'trail' of happiness one leaves behind, that is created via
the living of one's life. Minute by minute, day by day, year by year.

You can do it by accident, or you can do it on purpose -- doesn't matter.

The point remains -- the goal is not to ATTAIN happiness (as in
'reaching' for it). The best goal, as one travels through time, is to
CREATE happiness -- for the purposes of increasing the happiness RATIO
of *the 'trail' one leaves behind* -- one's 'wake.'

I came upon this idea on my own -- but I'm sure it must have
connections to already-existing philosophies out there.

I think being a father has a lot to do with it. But there are other
things that have happened to me recently (plus I'm getting older) that
have turned this light on in my mind.

In any case, this light becomes brighter every day for me -- and I'm
glad about it!

Can anyone else in the group relate?

______________________________________

Basically I was saying my eureka (which is a 180 degree 'phase shift'
to what I used to think)...

Happiness should not be looked for in the 'incoming' box. It can be
found in the 'outgoing' box.

It is not something that is *in front* of you (to be reached), it is
something that is *behind* you -- something that is *produced* by you,
to be left for you and others to realize.

It is not something you 'ingest' or 'absorb' (from without) -- it is
something that emanates *from* you.

It is thinking about death + mortality (among other things) that has
led me to this 'new' philosophy.

How much 'happiness' will each of *produce* during the 30 or so years
we have left?

When you realize happiness is something we each can PRODUCE (as seen
in this philosophy), then we must ask ourselves how much + when will
we produce, in the time we have left (and none of us knows how much
time that will really be).

We must also realize, the answer to the question of how much happiness
we will PRODUCE (each day or even hour), is entirely up to us!

______________________________________

However, that "Life's a Journey" idea doesn't EXCUSE us if we become WANDERING GENERALITIES, either.

We still must have GOALS -- and the means by which to measure those goals -- benchmarks.

"Life's a Journey" is NOT the same as "Que Sera Sera!!!"

Great video clip though -- thanks!

-- TW

How a working class kid ended up owning multiple homes...
 

Hi TW,

What you wrote made me think of what's been called the "Up Series" of documentary movies...

This is a remarkable series - I highly recommend it! The first program was called "7 Up". They took a bunch of British school kids, who were age 7 in 1964, and interviewed them. The kids were chosen to be from a wide range of socio-economic classes - from the very poor (e.g. kids in an orphanage) to the very rich. One of the guys behind this program was a young Michael Apted (who has gone on to direct films like "Gorillas in the Mist", and the James Bond film, "The World is Not Enough").

What's remarkable is, 7 years later, when the kids were age 14, they went and did a followup program.

Then another, and another... when the "kids" were aged 21, 28, 35, 42, and the latest installment is these individuals at age 49 !

You get the see the "life trajectory" of these individuals! That in itself is remarkable... But...

Given what we're usually interested in on this forum, there's one guy I think who's worth pondering over who is "followed" in this series of documentaries...

That's Tony.

Tony was a poor kid from the East End of London - a poor area with a high crime rate. But, since he was a kid, he had a bit of a "go getter" attitude about him... He dreamed of being a jockey.

Tony did become a jockey for a short time. By age 21, he was working as a runner for a bookie. The director, Michael Apted, apparently later confessed (to Roger Ebert) that he thought Tony would end up becoming a criminal.

However, it turned out that by age 28 Tony had become a taxi driver, owning his own taxi. By age 49, he now owns 3 homes, including a holiday home in Spain.

While that may not be fabulously wealthy, that is quite comfortable!

Anyway, it's a good series of movies... More info here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_series

You'll be amazed when you see the trajectory of these people's lives (both good and bad)...

Best wishes,

Dien

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- aka The connection we're not making...
 

I saw a documentary in the UK about the "Millionaire Mind."

They made the point that the millionaire mind is almost identical to the criminal mind, in many ways.

I believe that is true.

Cheers!

-- TW

Re: The 800-pound gorilla -- aka The connection we're not making...
 

cant pass this up ...since I have ben through the same DISfunction ....and being age 48 may have something to do with it ..sinc eyou can see .or imagine, the ENd is in sight...and yu wonde rIF you have used your talents that were given you to the fullest...
and

I can tell you without even knowing you , that NO you havent....I know of no one who can tell you that honestly ....I am thinking that you are rating YOURself according to some one else's staNDARDS....and you wont be happy or content with yourself until you judge them by your standards or in my case , my faith's standards.

and then you can see what you really are and have been and could have been and all those things....and maybe stay up late at night worrying about the failures ..or whatevers...or

you can set your sights onto a more GIVING goal...towards the world, your neighbors, and yourself...I have found myself most satified when I have given ...and not been GRADED per se...if that makes any sense to you ...

I agree with Ankeesh's response about the really important people in your life...and , believe it or not, YOU are on some one's list as that person ...even if you do not know it....

how many people go back and thank their theird grade teacher for ________( fill int he blank) very few, I tried , but she had died. so you are some ONE"S hero ..today ....now ....and that should make you feel pretty good.

having experienced a semblense of wealth , and poverty ...I can tell you that the only difference, other than the obvious, is the PEOPLE....the folks who have helped me and the folks I have attempted to help

so , I would recommend you be grateful for today ...enjoy yourself responsibly , and finally , find someone you can help or mentor ...or go to the local stewpot and serve others...

so much for my ranting....

thanks