Good vs. evil, sincerity vs. dissimulation

A recent trip to the public library led me to Paulo Coehlo’s The Devil and Miss Prym, which so far, has provoked me to re-examine the idea of man’s inherent goodness or 'evil-ness.' That given a specific set of circumstances, man will and can choose the evil option. I would really like to think otherwise. It’s just that 'bad-ness' has become mainstream and taking time to discern as well as follow one’s conscience seem to have become outdated. I hope I’m wrong.

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Today’s reflection by Francis Fernandez (In Conversation with God vol. 7--Feast of St. Bartholomew)  includes sincerity and the virtue of simplicity. “We need to be truthful and sincere in our ordinary relations with others...Closely related to sincerity is simplicity...Opposed to this virtue is affectation in words and deeds, the wish to stand out, pedantry, an air of sufficiency, or boasting...The simple person does not get muddled or complicated.”

Relax

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Torso-related issues have compelled me to seek respite from both professionals and so-called social media influencers. I was informed that I don't move as much--like an old wooden table that's been taken for granted. I suddenly could relate to Professor Charles Xavier (not to say that I've become paraplegic and have developed super telepathic powers) such that there may be a trade-off between exertion of conscious thought and physical movement. I understand that fine motor activities and largely physical activities like pounding on a rock with a mallet require a lot of mental work as well. I'm sure the brain experts have their explanations in terms of which part of the brain is in-charge of what. Suffice to say that I have neglected the very parts of my body that have been keeping me upright.

Things have improved thus far, thanks to both mind and body efforts. Also, I have been reading various books to distract my mind: doctrinal/spiritual, references, romance novels---while listening to binaural beats. Distract from what? I honestly don't know. Whatever it is that is not only causing my back and extremities to hurt but also have caused multiple canker sores, a large unexpected freckle on my lip, teenager-level zits (so cute, I know), and the need for the occasional sleeping pill--in Jesus' name, go away! That was dramatic. Hah!

So my short, nightly stretches (with some foam rolling, hehe) coupled with prayer, meditation, and maybe a few pages of whatever book I'm reading--have helped. Oh, and tea. I still drink coffee, but I'm not as hardcore as before--I can last a full day with 1-2 cups of instant...yes, my friend, instant coffee. Press that golden buzzer, unleash the shiny plasticine confetti, cover your mouth with both hands, and jump up and down in slow motion while a touching yet upbeat pop song plays on the background a la Britain's Got Talent--we have achieved control of the caffeine intake! I drink tea, both the caffeinated but mostly the non-caffeinated type.

Heed Frankie: https://youtu.be/oh4tHpUflDA?t=28

Reduce pride levels again

Daily reflection from info.ph@opusdei.org:

When you know

My question to you, dear imaginary cyber friends, is: what do you do when you know someone is deliberately giving you bad advice? And that you feel so sorry that they wrote their strategic attack plan on PowerPoint and it's projected on their foreheads while they're looking straight at you? And you know that they think they are being smart and that you are so naive as to not detect what they're actually doing? (That was more than 1 question, but...yes)

Friends, friends, friends...I was so happy to have been reminded by this quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by this tweet: https://twitter.com/EthicsInBricks/status/1156516957665091584

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https://twitter.com/EthicsInBricks/status/1156516957665091584https://twitter.com/EthicsInBricks/status/1156516957665091584

My recommendation: read. Educate yourself. Know all the facts related to what you do and how to live your life. For example, read your national or local driver's handbook. Know all the rules. If someone teaches you how to properly park beside the curb, giving you all the nitty gritty technical advice (about 30-cm away from the curb, positioning your wheels when uphill or downhill, shift to park) but deliberately omits the important detail that you are adjacent to a fire hydrant...no, no, no. Cautiously correct them by saying, isn't it illegal to park and block a fire hydrant? And then they say, "no, no, it's alright to do that and it's a case to case basis" but you've read the revised edition of the handbook and know that there are repercussions. Try to remind them again to see whether they've simply forgotten the rules or are really derailing you and setting you up for failure in ever so undetectable increments. Deal with this person in a nuanced manner.

Be aware, friends. Be aware.

On a side note, I have received advice to be wary of bad advice. Now that's definitely sound advice.