THE SEMPITERNAL JOURNEY OF A PLANETARY BUSKER: A LIFETIME ALGORITHM

MY MERRY XMAS 2019 CARDS

SCOTT (MY MUAY THAI INSTRUCTOR)

MICHELLE (MY COLLEAGUE)

Have you yet read or heard about IKIGAI?

IKIGAI, pronounced eye kee guy, is a Japanese concept that means a “reason for being.”  You know, that thing that makes your life worthwhile, that which you constantly daydream and wake up for each morning, that sort of Zen moment which stops you when you least expect it.  Ikigai, is that oft spontaneous feeling-of-joy experience.

According to the pop posters, getting to IKIGAI seems to have a series of RULES, an algorithm, so to speak. I shall explain.

JUST CAPTURED OFF THE INTERNET

Simply defined, an algorithm is a series of steps one follows to get something done.  For example, when I decide to go on a busk, I follow a certain checklist.  I check the weather, and dress accordingly.  I check that my 12-string is in tune before I sling it.  I check my guitar case for my seed-money cache of three toonies and two fins.  And so on … By definition, such a series of steps to get to my buskspot is my busking algorithm.    

Being a behaviour psychologist I believe that who we are is determined by how we behave.  If I am defined as a good guy, I would have to have a reputation of doing good things; and in kind, if I am to be defined as a bad guy, it’s because I have a reputation of doing bad things.  I remind the reader that both the good and bad things I do, are subjectively evaluated.  Good and bad are defined by a common sense agreement when judged by the collective others.

Continuing this argument, ultimately who we become is totally determined then, by the decisions we make.  Right now, I am who I am because of all the decisions I’ve made up until right now.

Meanwhile, back to the ranch, back to the rules/algorithm of Ikigai:

“Stay active; don’t retire. Take it slow.  Don’t fill your stomach.  Surround yourself with good friends.  Get in shape for your next birthday.  Smile.  Reconnect with nature.  Give thanks.  Live in the moment.  Follow your Ikigai.”

I shall interpret these rules in the spirit I would deliver them to myself, should I choose to follow them.  Keep in mind that my Ikigai, as stated repeatedly in previous blog entries, is to be a planetary busker, and so my interpretation of these rules is that of a busker point of view, which in itself is a kind of rogue persona and therefore, likely, a rogue algorithm, personified, of course. 

• “Stay active; don’t retire.”

Ha!  Here is what I know about WORK.  If one can find a job that is tolerable … great.  If one can find a job that one loves … awesome!  Before I became an educator I was working pipelines in the North West Territories in wintertime.  I got the call to teach English literature at Cochrane High School in Regina SK CANADA and the rest is historic bliss.  I taught English literature for just five years and then became a guidance counsellor.  Currently I’m working with the highest risk level 17 and 18 year-old young offenders.  Our program (my design – my delivery – in my typical me-me-me self-aggrandizing fashion) begins each day with a nine o’clock chess tournament, followed by a two-hour slot of academic discussion and writing, followed by a community-catered lunch, followed by a one-kilometre walk to the YMCA gym where we lift weights for a half hour and kick-box for another half hour.  And then we return to our place of program (situated right in downtown Regina) and our students are transported back to their carceral lodgings (the Paul Dojack Youth Centre).  Since becoming a counsellor I have always loved my work.  (You know that hot-dog stand down the street that I've always wanted to own and operate?  I'VE NEVER WANTED THAT OR ANYTHING LIKE IT.  I'm a horrible boss, especially when bossing myself!)   I won’t ever retire -  I shall continue to offer counselling in either public or private regard for the rest of my days.  Factoid:  Those so inclined shall celebrate my retirement at my funeral.

• “Take it slow.”

Hmmm …  Is there any other way?  Other than when one is fighting for his life?  Or saving another life?  Or in any game where one is winning?  (My introspective humour is revealed in the last question.  I’ve a saying that I stole from I don’t know where:  Before the game it’s only a game; after the game it was only a game; during the game it’s life and death!)  I tend to be somewhat impulsive when I immerse myself in new things but … saying this … I know better.  Better to be slow and methodical than to rush in with the fools.

• “Don’t fill your stomach.”

Not a problem.  Thirty some years ago when I was an undergraduate English literature major at university, I swam a mile every morning in the university pool.  After each swim I would weigh myself on a big Toledo scale in the change-out room.  167 pounds.  That’s what I weighed.  167 pounds.  I am now 68 years old.  I am no longer a university student, though I was a university sessional instructor until three years ago (I taught 22 years in the Faculty of Psychology).  I’ve not seen that university Toledo scale for years but I do see my weight flashing on the digital scale at the YMCA every day after my work out.  I am fussy what I eat.  I never fill my stomach.  I still weigh 167 pounds. 167 pounds.

• “Surround yourself with good friends.”

I’ve very few close friends.  I consider myself very lucky in this regard.  These few friends that I have are bracketed into certain interests, and all three of them, it seems, have notoriety.  (Note to self:  Neil, you are such a social climber!)  My friend, Gary, I’ve known since doing my practicum at Balfour Technical School in Regina.  Serving a four-year internship teaching English literature, Gary was in the grade eleven English class that I taught.  A few years later we re-acquainted on the soccer field.  For over twenty years we’ve our families have shared lots and lots of turkey dinners during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Gary is a super-duper sales person, having extraordinary success in furniture, appliance, electronic, and media sales.  As I type this essay I must mention that Gary K and Tammy (his wife) were at our place Xmas eve, and we’ll be going to their place tonight. 
 

GARY K

My friend, Burt, and I together, used to run ten miles every Sunday morning.  We did this for over 25 years.  Burt was an international marathoner, every year running marathons in Winnipeg, Regina, Vancouver, and Honolulu.  A few years ago, Burt suffered a heart attack whilst running in Wascana Park, and has not run since.  Similar to when we were running together, we now sit in coffee shops still solving all the political problems on the planet.
 

BURT

My friend, Gary D, is my workplace confidante.  Gary is a hockey guy, having had a great career professionally playing in several leagues, the National Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, and the European Hockey League.  We've been partners on a working contract dealing with high risk young offenders now for three years, during which time we've talked and continue to talk about EVERYTHING.
 

GARY D

My friend, Brad, is a National Hockey League scout.  We see each other several times during the week, and once a week we travel together to Western Hockey League games. At these games he works (scouts) -- I play (socialize).
 

BRAD (SHELDON KENNEDY IN BACK)

I’ve a couple more friends but I think I’ve made my point.

• “Get in shape for your next birthday.”

Yikes.  I guess this is good advice but … I’m not sure why my next birthday should be on the timeline.  My advice for me is to stay in shape for my next birthday.  This rule needs no more annotation.

• “Smile.”

Milquetoast I am not.  I am an extrovert.  (It is rare to meet an introverted busker.  I should qualify this statement.  It is rare to meet an introverted successful busker.)  I like people.  Hmmm … I love people.  There is great joy in meeting people from all walks of life in all places in life.  From the canaille to the cultured, chatting with anyone requires a certain skill-set that I’ve always had.  I have never had an issue or angst when meeting strangers.  Even in the earliest grades in school, whenever there was a new student in class, the teachers would more often than not, have me be the assigned one to show the new kid around.  I guess this is why I stayed a counsellor.  I love being paid as a counsellor for adolescents and emerging adults and … I love my private practice, being a hypnotherapist for people willing to pay me to help them quit smoking, help them lose weight, help them to sleep through the night, and help them recall past experiences, and help them … in whatever regard they’ve decided that is necessary.

• “Reconnect with nature.”

Huh.  This rule should read:  Stay connected with nature.  This is easy for me to say.  Whenever I travel, be it in or out of country, I love to hike (first) and I love to busk (second).  I’ve hiked the Canadian Rockies, the Canadian Prairies, and the Canadian Maritimes.  I’ve hiked in Ireland and I’ve hiked in Morocco.  Everywhere I’ve hiked I’ve also busked with a guitar (borrowed from another traveling busker) and with my sketchpad and pencil (drawing portraits of the locals is always a crowd pleaser).

• “Give thanks.”

Being an Existentialist, I must be sure to thank MYSELF, for whatever joys I discover and include in my life.

• “Live in the moment.”

Living in the moment is a constant study for me.  I love reading Zen books.  Years of these readings has convinced me that Zen is just a million stories of living in the moment.  My favorite to date is Zen-To- Go, a book that I read over twenty years ago.  Factoid:  I’ve blogged about Zen lots, usually comparing it to Phenomenology and/or Carpe Diem.

• “Follow your Ikigai.”

This Christmastime I’ve just heard and read of Ikigai, and I’ve already determined my Ikigai to be that of a planetary busker.  My behaviours so far have been leading me there.  I shall close with a cliche that I typically loathe, but with a bit of a spin, I can love today: 

MY JOURNEY ... MY SEMPITERNAL ALGORITHM ... 

SHALL EVER BE MY FINAL DESTINATION …  

MY IKIGAI ...  

WE ARE LOOKIN' GOOD! EXISTENTIAL AND EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY REVISITED

MY COLLEAGUE, SCOTT

KIM AND KARSTEN

KEVIN AND SHERRY

Brrrrrrr …

There is not much outdoor busking these days.  Outside it is minus six degrees with blowing snow. 

Brrrrrrr …

While portrait busking indoors, I've had extra time to just think about my favourite topics, of which two especially come to mind:  EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOLOGY and EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY.

Please know, dear readers, that I oftentimes write from a pedestrian, rather than an academician point of view.  I seem to be presenting that I’ve a choice in this – but I do not.  I am really more pedestrian in nature and practice than academician.  Having a Master’s degree in Psychology affords me the authority to peddle in my pedestrian ways.  Having a doctoral degree in Psychology would certainly afford me the authority to peddle more as academician, but I am four classes and one thesis short.  Being a pseudo-academic, my choice is simply the dilemma of either to be boorish and dull or to be pedantic and boring.

Whoever I may be, here is my spin on the skinny for each:

Existential Psychology is the understanding that we have free will, that we are participants, rather than observers, of our lives.   Existential Psychology is the understanding that we try to be rational, even though we exist in an irrational universe.  Existential Psychology is the understanding that we are infinitesimal, involuntarily breathers residing on a breath-taking blue planet, struggling to offer meaning to our lives and behave accordingly.

I must make a point about having free will.  We do have free will, but only outside the confines of our inherent and collective archetypes, as presented by Carl Jung (fear of the shadows and fear of heights being a couple examples).

Evolutionary Psychology is the understanding that we are here breathing, representing the functional product of natural selection.  Evolutionary Psychology is the understanding that all of our individual traits, be they mental or physical, have simply been genetically passed down through the ages in order for our survival.  Evolutionary Psychology is the understanding that our sole purpose in life is simply to survive and procreate to continue our species.

Yikes!  Peggy Lee might have been right when she sang,

“Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is … “

It is no wonder then, that in the part of the world where I hang out, people, basically, have prioritized two meanings to their lives:  gluttony and glamour.

I shall be more specific beginning with gluttony.  If, for example, I wrote to explain why I had sixty-eight pairs of shoes in my bedroom closet, people would imagine me as being eccentric.  Or if I wrote that I had thirty-one sports jackets hanging in my closet, people would imagine me (again) as being eccentric.  But … if I wrote about my financial strategies and convinced the readers that by shrewdly investing just a few hundred dollars a month over the course of the past decade I have acquired a portfolio fortune of a few million dollars, people would imagine me as being disciplined and conservative and moneywise.  My point:  there is no rule or regard for gluttony when it comes to acquiring wealth in a capitalistic environment.  We arrive into this world acapella, and for reasons whatever, aspire to gain as many instruments as possible to accompany our sing-song satisfactions throughout the rest of our lives.

Now to glamour.  According to most psychologists, most people around the planet simply just want to get along.  However, again, in the part of the world where I hang my hat, people want more than just wanting to get along.  People want to accumulate a zillion social media friends, while oftentimes at the same time, want their behaviours to be published for all and “liked” by all.

And so this is the skinny explanation why we fuss and preen and posture and fantasize about how we must fit into our marked me-me-me worlds.  (Marked, by the way, for the purposes of its literary space in this and the preceding sentence, is pronounced mark ED, the accent on the last syllable.)  Falling into the fallacy of inductive reasoning, I shall explain some of our Western world behaviours with examples that relate directly to moi-moi-moi (or in English translation, me-me-me).

Yesterday I walked downtown and got my haircut, a stylized razor cut.  I also got my hair blanched.  Factoid:  Call it vanity.  I prefer people to know that I color my hair platinum, rather than have them know that my real geezer color is (wisdom) grey.  Strange but true.

Today I spent eighty dollars on my weekly private Muay Thai lesson.  Muay Thai you say?  Factoid:  Call it vanity or call it narcissism, even though I will NEVER spar or pursue a physical confrontation, I prefer people to know that I am a trained martial artist. Being a trained martial artist provides a kind of social aura machismo, replacing the social aura of being a pseudo-academic!

Today I also did my laundry for the week.  Not by happen-chance do I wear the same signature garb for both my work and my play.  My costume for both is always a white or black long-sleeved shirt with a collar, always a pair of blue jeans, and always for pediwear, a polished pair of boots.

It just so happens that this evening I edited my hypnotherapy website, in order to emphasize my specialty/niche/forte to be exceedingly proficient in helping clients with their weight loss.  I mean, really!   Every chubby, plump, and pudgy embonpoint wants to lose weight to look good! Right?  (My highest success rates with clients are, not-so-strangely, helping them to lose weight and so strangely, helping my clients with memory recall.)

Why do so many people want to lose weight to look good?  Because in Existentialism we, and only we, have the power to behave in accordance to the meanings that we, and only we, have attached to our lives.  And because we are the products of Evolution, our only meaning is to physically look good and behave in accordance to the traits that we believe will enhance our attractiveness to others.

When it comes down to it, our self-designer looks and self-styled behaviors all seem so very simple, as least very simple to me-me-me (pun and no-pun intended)!  Yes, we are all shiny according to our looking- glass selves, as we admire our reflections in distorted fun-house mirrors, acting out our days in collective and deliberate delusional fashion.             

Marching in my CHAUCERIAN PARADE this week, are some of the rich and famous I met while hobnobbing at the hockey rink:

HOLLIS AND NHL SCOUT, BRAD AND NHL PUGILIST, STU GRMSON

STU'S LATEST BOOK

FAMOUS SPORTS CASTERS, JAY AND DAN WITH BRAD