Happy New Year?

More number of digits in the date change with the 'onset' of the new year than any other day (of the year).

Free will

Illusion of free will arises from an awareness of multiplicity of available choices for actions/reactions, and the wrongful belief that those choices could actually have been made. The choice to not act/react is usually overlooked.

It does not mean, I am not enjoying to act, to react and to live. :)

Related: Free will - a blog post from Neglected Serendipity.

PS: Thanks Stupidosaur for bringing a critical aspect of free will to my notice.

Dichotomy: Love and Loyalty

I love, not people, but their attributes, actions and thoughts.

These attributes, actions and thoughts might inspire loyalty.

People can change. So can the attributes, actions and thoughts I love. Love is labile.

Loyalty is greatly dictated by force of habit. It resists change, and ends up seeming like it is towards people.

This dichotomy injects restlessness and discomfort into life.

The solution, though not perfect, lies in the fact that: to love is not an obligation; loyalty is an obligation, but only as long as I assure of my loyalty.

Obligation ceases when the assurance is withdrawn.

But this is all theory; practice is quite different. ;) Because this withdrawal requires audacity that I might not always possess.

So, each time I suffer on account of this dichotomy, the real reason is my cowardice.

Ah! This fact is comforting and easier to live with. :)

Power and Responsibility

With great power comes great responsibility. To take up that responsibility is purely upon one's whim.

Plans and Fantasies

Planning is a chain of micro-fantasies, with this optimistic assumption that all the possible attendant obstacles were anticipated.

Fantasies do not believe in existence of obstacles.

Theism, Atheism, Agnosticism and Reason

Theism seeks a reason for the Universe to exist, but requires one to forego reason for the way it exists.

Atheism seeks reason for the way the Universe exists, but requires one to forego the reason it exists.

Both are laced with a fundamental form of self-inconsistency in application of reasoning. One only chooses one's self-inconsistency.

Agnosticism is the hybrid approach, which requires one to seek reasons for none.

Love v/s Infatuation

When you know and understand someone, and are drawn to them, and fear that if not for them, life would become less worthy of living, it is LOVE.

When you want someone to be the person you could be drawn to, and wish that by their entering your life, your life would become more worthy of living, it is INFATUATION.

Difference is subtle, but not very difficult to make out for those who understand themselves well.

The most exciting, yet fulfilling phase of a relationship is when it is part love, and part, infatuation.

And no, it need not be definitely with someone of the opposite gender. :)