I recently contracted the coronavirus, just about 11 days ago.  The first five days were touch and go for me.  I am now on the road to recovery with the aid of a Wellness & Integrative Medicine Clinic in California.  My journey to health offered me several days to reflect and ponder many topics that have occupied my thinking over the last two years or so as we faced the coronavirus, its variants, and the uncertainty of life in America.  These topics include history, philosophy, the Austrian School of Economics, personal freedom, centralized power, and the current state of politics in America. 

Here are the random thoughts that occurred to me, augmented by three simple disciplines that may add value to my readers. None of my comments should surprise anyone because they are not new or startling. However, as with so many words of wisdom or good advice, they often bear repeating.

Seven Random Thoughts

These random thoughts are just that. I have listed them in no order of priority, but just as I wrote them down.

1. All value in life is completely subjective. That is true whether we are talking about stocks, precious metals like gold, cryptocurrencies, or even real estate. Nothing has intrinsic value but life itself.

2. Never take or accept anyone at face value. The only exception to this idea is our immediate family such as our parents and our brothers and sisters. Once we move outside that narrow circle, the odds dramatically increase that the individuals we are dealing with do not have our best interests at heart and are operating behind a reasonably opaque mask.

3. Learn to rapidly distinguish the truth from bull**it. And most of what we see around us is bull**it. Ideally, we should learn this skill in grade school, certainly no later than high school.  Sadly, too many people never learn this lesson at all.

4. Man (and woman) is not perfectible in this world. Society has been trying for five or six thousand years and has been unsuccessful. Just open your eyes, raise your antennae, and have a look around.

5. Human nature has not changed over the course of recorded history.  The seven deadly sins are still with us: Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride, Sloth (Laziness), and Wrath (Anger).

6. The eighth deadly sin is the love of power and the grasping after absolute power.  Again, sit and observe those who have achieved power in our world today, whether political or economic.  The results are terrifying.

7. Learn to apply Ockham’s Razor to almost everything in life.  Always choose the simplest explanation when evaluating any situation.  Put simply: if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, chances are it is a duck.

Three Life Disciplines

1. Become a lifelong reader and read lots of history.

2. Study philosophy and focus your study on the Ancient Greeks, the Stoics, and the Chinese Sages.

3.  Study and master the understanding of human nature.  This one skill will serve you well during your lifetime and almost ensure you a life of happiness, joy, and positive results.

Quotes To Ponder