cogito, ergo sum

Descates reached what he felt was the ultimate level of doubt. Everything he had been taught, everything he believed, he now questioned. He found one thing he could not question, his belief in his own existence. It is impossible to doubt that one exists.

Today, too many people have no doubt about what they believe. They have been taught and they do not question what they have been taught. They carry with them a personal mythology just as uncompromising as a religion is to a true believer.

Do not let your personal mythology get in your way.

Look at Sean Penn, he went to New Orleans to help. He found a boat that no one else would use, put the operator, a personal photographer, one or two other people and himself in it. He found news people before he shoved off into the murky waters. Sean made some statements. The boat began to take on water because the plugs were out. Sean baled. They tried to start the boat after they plugged it. It sputtered. Sean and the boys had to paddle off. They found someone and paddled back. Sean made some more statements.

Most people would see this episode as ridiculous. Do you think Sean sees it that way? He probably sees himself as hero and messenger to millions of people who, he feels, need to hear him. He is befuddled by his vision of himself

Was this episode really needed? If you had his money and wanted to help why not just fly into Oklahoma and finance six boats with twelve volunteer EMT's and send them down to help?

The current American disaster has many examples of people letting their personal mythology get in their way. From people who wouldn't leave before the storm to people who won't leave after the storm. From people who are thinking government bale-out to people who are thinking law suit. From people who did not prepare for disaster to people who think someone else should have prepared for their disaster.

Descartes thought about everything he had been taught and decided that the only thing he could not doubt, was his own existence.

Examine your own set of beliefs, your own personal mythology, and think about how well they will serve you when you are facing a challenge.