"Have compassion for everyone you meet, even if they don't want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone."
-- Miller Williams
Standing in line at Walmart, the movie theater or the airport, I often overhear conversations people have concerning the deepening perplexities that make up life in today's global environment.
Now don't get me wrong, 98 percent of said comments are more specifically related to the Hogs, the weather, or else how the weather is affecting the Hogs.
But sometimes the human soul cries out for clarity in a world changing quicker than Apple introduces new iPhone models, so in that spirit I offer up some musings and we will let the weather and the Hogs take care of themselves. (By the way, what a game ...but I digress).
If everybody knows donuts are bad for you, why are there so many donut places, and why do I want one right now?
Well, let's start with the bad news: An average donut measuring just more than 4 inches across contains 255 calories, 32 grams of carbohydrates and 12 grams of fat.
That sugar gives your brain an immediate hit of temporary satisfaction.
Now the good news: A medium donut contains approximately 4 grams of protein. The protein comes from the milk and wheat flour used in the recipe.
Through the years, donuts have come to symbolize a type of food only lazy, overweight types indulge in. For instance, can you imagine Mother Teresa taking a break from helping the poor by chomping on a donut in between sips of her masala chai tea?
Well, consider Henry David Thoreau -- he who decided to live the self-reliant life by Walden Pond and famously avowed: "If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented donuts ... that is your success". (OK, he really said "herbs").
Less known is that every Sunday, Thoreau's mother and sister brought over a basket of freshly-baked goods for him to eat while contemplating deep thoughts, including donuts!
If Thoreau lived today, participating in a culture that tells him eating donuts would contradict his health and credibility, would he still do it?
Bottom line: Eat the donut but, hey, just one ... seriously stop at one.
In this Age of Information, why are so many people content to stop learning and shut off their curiosity?
We've all experienced something like this: Over Christmas turkey, Uncle Fred is railing against Benghazi when it suddenly dawns on you that he doesn't really know what he is talking about, much less how to spell it. People get to that "good enough" performance level, where they can go through the motions more or less effortlessly, such as knowing a few key words or statements.
They no longer feel the need to study a particular subject anymore, content to coast on what they've learned. Anders Ericsson, a Florida State University psychologist, says real experts continue to refine and learn what they don't know.
A classic example of this was Sam Walton, who would relentlessly question any expert on a particular subject until he had either learned something new or confirmed what he already knew.
Bottom line: Put down the Candy Crush game and engage people around you in conversation. You will find much more interesting details than a season's worth of "Duck Dynasty."
Why does NorthWest Arkansas Community College want to start fielding sports teams when their self-proclaimed mission is to serve and strengthen the community through "learning for living?" Does this mean I can support myself playing basketball?
The philosopher Seneca said "No activity can be successfully pursued by an individual who is preoccupied ... since the mind when distracted absorbs nothing deeply."
Unfortunately the nuts and bolts of running a college are tough and completely unglamorous. If you asked prospective students what the No. 1 thing NWACC could do for them, the answer most likely would be lower tuition, followed by cheaper fees, followed by lower book costs ... well, you get the picture.
There is no fun in that pursuit by the administration, even if it's possible, but hey, we all remember the thrill of the band playing at halftime ... wait, are we talking about the Hogs again?
Bottom line: NWACC should forget this preoccupation and stick with what has made it so great; a quality, yet affordable education for the people of our community.
Wishing you a New Year of kindness, dear reader.
SEY YOUNG IS A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, HUSBAND, FATHER AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF BENTONVILLE.
Commentary on 01/01/2015