An Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living
Quote de jour
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
~ Socrates
That famous quote by Socrates came out of his trial for heresy. His crime? Encouraging his students think for themselves and to challenge the status quo. The sentence was death and Socrates chose death over the options of life in prison or exile. He felt the latter two options would not allow him to exercise what he valued most: examining and discussing the world and how to make it a better place.
Every so often, take a look back at your life's accomplishments. Sift through memory boxes of old photos and other ephemera. Appreciate what you have accomplished. You may not be where you want to be but every step in your past brought you to your present place. By examining the threads and links of the past, we can gain insight into where we'd prefer to land in the future. By examining our lives, even when we're not the happiest, may reap unexpected rewards. By turning over pebbles of regret in our hands, we can choose to clasp them or toss them to the ground. You have more options than Socrates ever did. What will you choose today?
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
~ Socrates
That famous quote by Socrates came out of his trial for heresy. His crime? Encouraging his students think for themselves and to challenge the status quo. The sentence was death and Socrates chose death over the options of life in prison or exile. He felt the latter two options would not allow him to exercise what he valued most: examining and discussing the world and how to make it a better place.
Socrates was willing to die for the privilege. Each of us has the right to examine our lives and how we fit into the world. We are free to figure out what works for us. Unlike Socrates, we can think out of box and how we can make the world a better place.
I found this is a hand drawn mandala in my archives. Seeing it made me pine for the time to draw again. But short of growing another five or six arms like Shiva, I'll have to wait. It's a choice. For now, it's enough to enjoy past creations and plant seeds for future ones.
Every so often, take a look back at your life's accomplishments. Sift through memory boxes of old photos and other ephemera. Appreciate what you have accomplished. You may not be where you want to be but every step in your past brought you to your present place. By examining the threads and links of the past, we can gain insight into where we'd prefer to land in the future. By examining our lives, even when we're not the happiest, may reap unexpected rewards. By turning over pebbles of regret in our hands, we can choose to clasp them or toss them to the ground. You have more options than Socrates ever did. What will you choose today?
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 2/21/2012 1:52 AM 
Categories: The BEST of, Baby Boomers, Mandala, Politics, Art, Spirituality
Tags: socrates-quote om-mandala an unexamined life is not worth living quotes-choice-values-memory boxes quote-happiness-spiritual-motivation-life-coach-Layla Morgan Wilde
Categories: The BEST of, Baby Boomers, Mandala, Politics, Art, Spirituality
Tags: socrates-quote om-mandala an unexamined life is not worth living quotes-choice-values-memory boxes quote-happiness-spiritual-motivation-life-coach-Layla Morgan Wilde
That's a beautiful mandala. I hope you choose to draw again soon. I'm going to be open to more possibilities.
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You never know, I'm open, and thanks.
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