Matthew Whiteside

Tao Te Ching Day 85: Wet Ass Water the Sequel

That the weak overcomes the strong And the soft overcomes the hard Everybody in the world knows But cannot put into practice TTC 78 (Lin) Why can this not be put into practice, because to try and practice is an assertive act? Water does not assert itself. It lets itself be moved. It trusts theContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 85: Wet Ass Water the Sequel”

Tao Te Ching Day 84: Wet Ass Water

“Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong This is because nothing can replace it” TTC 78 (Lin) Oh fresh, stanky water, what a beautiful and mysterious creation we find ourselves dependent on. It is only two molecules, and yet it is essentialContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 84: Wet Ass Water”

Tao Te Ching Day 83: Service Work

The Tao of people is not so Reducing the deficient In order to offer to the excessive Who can offer their excess to the world? Only those who have the Tao Therefore, sages act without conceit Achieve without claiming credit TTC 77 (Lin) We are filled constantly with the Tao; in this sense, I meanContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 83: Service Work”

Tao Te Ching Day 82: The Tao of Heaven

“The Tao of Heaven Reduces the excessive And adds to the deficient” TTC 77 (Lin) I am reminded of one of my many stints in rehab. I would arrive and be either significantly overweight or well; I was always just extremely overweight and malnourished (lucky skinny addicts). Anyway, the people at the rehab would alwaysContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 82: The Tao of Heaven”

Tao Te Ching Day 81: Walking Each Other Through Hell

“Therefore, an inflexible army will not win A strong tree will be cut down the big and forceful occupy a lowly position While the soft and pliant occupy a higher place.” TTC 76 (Lin) I had a thought today (only one), and it struck me as profound to everything I have been living recently. SomeContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 81: Walking Each Other Through Hell”

Tao Te Ching Day 80: Overwhelm

“While alive, the body is soft and pliant When dead, it is hard and rigid All living things, grass and trees, While alive, are soft and supple When dead, become dry and brittle” TTC 76 (Lin) I have a shit load of things, tasks, work, stuff to do in my life at the moment, andContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 80: Overwhelm”

Tao Te Ching Day 79: Yes And…

“The Tao of Heaven: Does not contend and yet excels in winning Does not speak and yet excels in responding Is not summoned and yet comes on its own Is unhurried and yet excels in planning The heavenly net is vast Loose, and yet does not let anything slip through” TTC 73 (Lin) How canContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 79: Yes And…”

Tao Te Ching Day 78: The Bold and The Beautiful

The bold and daring will be killed the bold and not daring will survive. TTC 73 (Lin) This is an interesting passage from the Tao Te Ching. It is saying that to be bold, meaning having a distinct identity and holding serve, you will live. However, if you throw some daring in there, you willContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 78: The Bold and The Beautiful”

Tao Te Ching Day 77: Who’s Asking?

Therefore the sages: Know themselves but do not glorify themselves Respect themselves but do not praise themselves Thus they discard that and take this. TTC 72 (Lin) Why are we to know thy self and not glorify ourselves? Why are we to respect ourselves and not praise ourselves? And, what is discarding that and takingContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 77: Who’s Asking?”

Tao Te Ching Day 76: Ron’s Pizza

Do not limit their place do not reject their livelihood Because the ruler does not reject them Therefore they do not reject the ruler. TTC 72 (Lin) I have cried a lot in the last two weeks. Really good crying, too, the kind that makes you feel so bad it feels good. The kind whereContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 76: Ron’s Pizza”