Matthew Whiteside

Tao Te Ching Day 55: The Spirit of Competition

The spirit of competition came to me as a radio interview while I was driving into work one day years ago. I had always been a competitive person; the need to prove myself against another was a strong motivating force for me as I was growing up. I had always competed to be better, toContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 55: The Spirit of Competition”

Tao Te Ching Day 54: Leaving The Cage

The reality is this; bills are not going to pay themselves. Kids need food; some, like me, needed more than others, haha. It is scary as hell to go after your dream. It is also scary to trust that what you need is already available to you right now and that WBT is just distracting us from the fact that the cage has been left wide open. There is a Universe so big beautiful, and abundant right outside if only we could take our little gerbil lips of that WBT.

Tao Te Ching Day 53: Thankful

There are many sick people in the world, and I realized today that my job is not to heal any of them. My only job is to get myself healthy enough as to not become sick in their presence.

Tao Te Ching Day 52: Inflammation

There is an inflammation of the self that begins upon any great endeavor. Not an inflation of the ego but an inflamed sense of being, an agitation to the pressure of the process as it unfolds, can be seen as growing pains. It’s like any process that requires growth. We must undertake the responsibility ofContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 52: Inflammation”

Tao Te Ching Day 51: Our Separateness

If a searching place is where we abide then the soul may never rest but at your side, 
Come to peace with what you are, the natural happening of the stars. 
Instead of seeking let us find, bonded together for all of time, 
An eternal embrace of Yin and Yang One to one forever the same.

Tao Te Ching Day 50: Truth We Hide From

We can never go back to the way things were once we know the truth of life. We can obviously try and go back, but time and time again we will find a brick wall with buzz saws waiting to meet us. The truth is a sharp blade that decimates anyone in its path. AnyoneContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 50: Truth We Hide From”

Tao Te Ching Day 49: The Tao Decoded

I have been digesting multiple translations of the Tao Te Ching for over 49 days. The past two days my writing came out in the form of poetry. But, I got to be honest, it felt really good. Something about writing by feeling instead of sense, feels so much more expressive and meaningful than tryingContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 49: The Tao Decoded”

Tao Te Ching Day 48: The Lies That Bind

Have we any meals for the meaningless? Can we enjoy the teaming ambivalence of our prosperity that grows the cells of our bodies to weigh on our souls. Dirty dishes and ragged coughs. Thirsty bitches and Un-cuffed power. Wiser ones before and still a-facing the hour. Go to the land of milk and honey andContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 48: The Lies That Bind”

Tao Te Ching Day 47: Long Day

Those who know do not talk Those who talk do not know TTC 56 (Lin) Some day’s speak for themselves. “Close the mouth Shut the doors Blunt the sharpness Unravel the knots Dim the glare Mix the dust This is called Mystic Oneness.” TTC 56 (Lin) I also call this meditation, or as I haveContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 47: Long Day”

Tao Te Ching Day 46: Home

I stepped away from it all today. My girlfriend and I packed the mountain bikes in the truck and went in search of a mountain. Luckily we had a pretty good idea where one was. Good thing mountains aren’t always moving all over the place of their own accord, how would anyone take a hike?Continue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 46: Home”