Great to see you back, and stoked to read your comments. Couldn’t agree more about the games that people play with one another. For those of us who learned to manipulate people and situations early, it’s all tediously transparent to witness. Been having some great discussions with a new friend about the role of trust in relationships and in the teacher-learner dynamic in particular. Honesty seems to play a big role in the interplay between trust and confidence, which are the foundation of our support networks. Truth, the emancipator…I love it!

Those that have little are less likely to have the time, energy and wherewithal to lie about events, engage in cover-ups and/or debauch their lives whilst trying to simply live their lives. Let’s face it, very little -if anything- is prefabricated in the have-nots life. Lying isn’t viewed as a competitive sport.

Unlike the holders of all the cards gaming one another through artifice because they can -it’s an easy form of expressive entertainment for pleasure. In fact deceit has become so commonplace among these people that it’s not only expected, it’s required. Gullible children are scorned and quickly taken to task. Gullible adults are sheep. One learns to amend the truth early on, eventually mastering the art of deception so well that they begin to believe their own press. How ironic. It’s a discretionary tactic that is socially acceptable and prevalent with an endgame of defeated character and corrupted spirit.

Happy is not a goal, it’s a behavior. Behavior is self-controlled based on the Inner Desire (ID).

Authentic self is the key; living it is the lock; happiness is the treasure.

Truth is the emancipator!

I always enjoy reading what you have to say, your words help me
more than you know

aunt debs

Thanks for the comments. Glad to see that you’ve been posting to your blog too! I’m afraid I don’t agree with your interpretation of winning and losing, though I probably ought to have defined these terms more clearly above. I’m a gamer, so I have a pretty loose understanding of what winning and losing can mean. In gaming, “winning” is all about achieving the target objective within the parameters of the game by employing strategy based on calculated risks. The target objective is different for each game and defined in the rules.

My take is that the target objective of the Game of Life is achieving sustainable happiness–or ’satisfaction,’ if you prefer. “Losing” is the failure to achieve sustainable happiness; not necessarily before others, but by the game’s at end, as it were. The upshot is that you don’t actually lose until it’s all over; you’ve got your whole life to get there, so to speak–tho I’m guessing it’s much more fun to get there sooner rather than later:-D

Very interesting that you mention Marx. I was pretty moved by this speech a few weeks ago, and it definitely played a role in shaping some of the ideas above (and those on the way). Good call.

Thanks again for sharing.
Steven

I would say - “Achieving Satisfaction - Where most people go wrong”…and I personally think a clear-headed reading of Marx, et al holds all the answers.