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The Law of Least Effort Fits Me Like A Glove
The Law of Least Effort Fits Me Like a Glove!
Originally Posted Sun, 04/12/2009 - 20:49
Some call me lazy. Some call me uninspired. Some are somewhat correct in what they call me. Of the "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success", the Law of Least Effort is my hands down favorite. As a boy of about 13 years, I went fishing with a friend, early Spring in the Northeast U.S.. It was cold and I was heavily dressed. There were two ponds, joined by a culvert under a railway bed of steeply banked cinders. I left my friend at pond one and found a bully boy fishing at pond two. Bully boy announced he did not want me fishing in his pond. He was two or three years my senior and I made no serious challenge to his fishing rights. But he had finer things in mind and threw me into the water a good ten feet or more from the shoreline.
Dressed as I was I sank like a stone and my head was immediately under water. I tried to swim, being a competent swimmer by that age. But it was no use. The heavy clothing was like a boat anchor. I held my breath and did the breast stroke to remain upright as I tried slowly walking up the steep grade until my head was above water. By then, my friend had responded to the commotion and was struggling with the bully boy, so I had a clear path back to dry land. The struggle between my friend and bully boy quickly ended with no one else entering the water very far and my friend and I walked a mile home as I shivered uncontrollably and cried about what happened to me for the first part of the walk home.
Was it then I decided I was not going to struggle again for my survival? Not that I would not struggle to live, mind you. But that I was going to avoid every situation where such struggle might be necessary. Three times after that over the next 11 years, I found myself in the choke holds of other bully boys. I was very aware each could have easily broken my neck. All struggle was over before it had even begun. My only sensible choice was surrender and here I am.
A younger man became full of resentment and anger as a repeatedly humiliated victim of violence and I often had violent thoughts of my own as I dealt with all the other angry men in my life. I only sensed my great desire for a simple life of peace and I have now created it. Sooner would have been better - or seems so. My point is, struggle is most often counter productive unless there is no better option at hand and we can consciously avoid situations where there is no better option. I became a master of avoidance, even though my preference is to move toward and embrace others, not avoid them. But I learned to identify the bully boys in and out of uniform and learned to humor them all in such a way confrontation was avoided. There is a name for that as well and if that name fits I'll wear it because I am here today to tell the story.
The Law of Least Effort has been a guide for me since long before I knew there was such a law. I have successfully resisted setting all kinds of boundaries in spite of friendly counsel that I ought to set more of them than I have and I am somewhat pleased with myself for resisting that temptation and relying on the Law of Least Effort. What is easier than surrender? Now I wonder if such thing as noble struggle exists or ever has. It all seems a simple matter of choice to me. If you love struggle - have at it!
Blessings X 10,
Ed
Originally Posted Sun, 04/12/2009 - 20:49
Some call me lazy. Some call me uninspired. Some are somewhat correct in what they call me. Of the "Seven Spiritual Laws of Success", the Law of Least Effort is my hands down favorite. As a boy of about 13 years, I went fishing with a friend, early Spring in the Northeast U.S.. It was cold and I was heavily dressed. There were two ponds, joined by a culvert under a railway bed of steeply banked cinders. I left my friend at pond one and found a bully boy fishing at pond two. Bully boy announced he did not want me fishing in his pond. He was two or three years my senior and I made no serious challenge to his fishing rights. But he had finer things in mind and threw me into the water a good ten feet or more from the shoreline.
Dressed as I was I sank like a stone and my head was immediately under water. I tried to swim, being a competent swimmer by that age. But it was no use. The heavy clothing was like a boat anchor. I held my breath and did the breast stroke to remain upright as I tried slowly walking up the steep grade until my head was above water. By then, my friend had responded to the commotion and was struggling with the bully boy, so I had a clear path back to dry land. The struggle between my friend and bully boy quickly ended with no one else entering the water very far and my friend and I walked a mile home as I shivered uncontrollably and cried about what happened to me for the first part of the walk home.
Was it then I decided I was not going to struggle again for my survival? Not that I would not struggle to live, mind you. But that I was going to avoid every situation where such struggle might be necessary. Three times after that over the next 11 years, I found myself in the choke holds of other bully boys. I was very aware each could have easily broken my neck. All struggle was over before it had even begun. My only sensible choice was surrender and here I am.
A younger man became full of resentment and anger as a repeatedly humiliated victim of violence and I often had violent thoughts of my own as I dealt with all the other angry men in my life. I only sensed my great desire for a simple life of peace and I have now created it. Sooner would have been better - or seems so. My point is, struggle is most often counter productive unless there is no better option at hand and we can consciously avoid situations where there is no better option. I became a master of avoidance, even though my preference is to move toward and embrace others, not avoid them. But I learned to identify the bully boys in and out of uniform and learned to humor them all in such a way confrontation was avoided. There is a name for that as well and if that name fits I'll wear it because I am here today to tell the story.
The Law of Least Effort has been a guide for me since long before I knew there was such a law. I have successfully resisted setting all kinds of boundaries in spite of friendly counsel that I ought to set more of them than I have and I am somewhat pleased with myself for resisting that temptation and relying on the Law of Least Effort. What is easier than surrender? Now I wonder if such thing as noble struggle exists or ever has. It all seems a simple matter of choice to me. If you love struggle - have at it!
Blessings X 10,
Ed
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Comment
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Comment by kashzka mucha on February 25, 2010 at 11:22pm -
Nice comment, Danny!
kashzka
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Comment by Ed Howes on December 2, 2009 at 4:34pm -
Thanks Dany,
It's nice to see you out and about, virtually speaking. I do believe that particular bully boy was bullied long before I met him. He had older, bigger brothers you see. Role models and maybe a dad of like behavior. Does that sound far fetched. If today that bully was bullied and he asked and answered why me lord, he would be luckier than me because I'm not sure today, if I thought to ask that question at the time. :)
Love and Blessings X 10,
Ed
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