The curse of February does exist! Initially I was strong — kept to riding, eating right, and focusing on the future. But in the second week I contracted a wicked cold. Also, the new job started getting a little crazy.
This got me in the mood for some “deep thinking”.
If you know me then you’ve probably heard my interpretation of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Maslow was brilliant. You see, he had this notion that individuals accomplish goals in a very certain, specific sequence and this sequence is based on fulfilling the critical items first –food, shelter, and safety for example — while saving the other, more enlightening and esoteric stuff for later. Maslow placed self-actualization at the very top. Most of society doesn’t reach that point. They are too concerned with all of those details and particulars on the lower slopes of their own pyramid.
I like this theory…and not because of the whole “self-actualization” thing. Personally I think true and total self-actualization would probably lead to insanity…I’ll pass, thank you. So then, what about Maslow’s idea grabs my interest? Well, it puts something that we all know and consider true and states it concisely. I really appreciate anything that takes a wicked-hard concept and makes it easier to explain and understand. E=mc2 is another, somewhat similar example. I realize one is philosophy and the other is physics…lets not overanalyze it. I digress, let me get back on track.
Another thing I appreciate; when I consider this concept hierarchy, and this is just my thoughts on something I know very little about, I am sure if you can go up, you can go down. I am confident a highly enlightened individual, a monk in Tibet at the very top of his particular geometric shape for example, would go all Thunder Dome on you and his neighbors if his monastery burnt to the ground.
And there’s the rub. You see, as noted, my current pyramid is not topped by spiritual or cerebral improvement. Instead I desire more focus on my individual physical enhancement. And when life gets hectic instead of limiting my time on the computer or watching a little less television I stop eating right and working out. And to make matters worse, I do it without hesitation! I will literally use any excuse to eat the worst possible foods and stop exercising.
I don’t know why I feel the need to put this out there for everyone to read — probably because I do find it very interesting. Undoubtedly it also has to do with the therapeutic effect of personal examination. Hell, that borders on self-actualization. I bet Maslow would be proud.
