I like maxims, pithy sayings to make sense out of life and help live it wisely. Over time, I’ve arrived at a few simple ones, just a list of ideas that have panned out. It's always a work in progress as I try to improve the expressions or occasionally add a 'new' rule that seems apt.
I often say them privately to myself and aloud to others. Each is the tip of an iceberg, a fingerpost pointing me toward productive ways to organize and interpret my experiences and away from my emotionally-driven issues, those default constructions conditioned at an early age that, when triggered, cause us to dumb down (e.g., when I get into a fight with my life partner over something trivial). When I’m confused and stuck, I turn to them to become grounded again. They’ve served me well and I’d like to share them here, then discuss them further in a series of diaries.
First my general motto: Always a student. We may think we have all the answers at age 15 or 25 or 50; but, there’s always a lot you don’t know; and the map you’re using is always provisional. Moreover, nothing is a waste if you gain knowledge. I'm determined to learn and unwilling to believe that I know it all.
So here are the maxims, Sundiata’s rules of wisdom.
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