I have started looking through my diaries. I wrote a series of "Thought for the day" These were written for me. I had no thoughts of sharing them beyond my children (or their children) making a chance discovery rummaging through my things. As I record them here, I will update them somewhat so that they are not significantly inconsistent [forgive the double negative] with my current thinking and writing style. As I will minimize my editing many will remain quite green .
Feb. 20, 1974.
Good people basically do good things and behave in ways they feel are ethical. One consequence of this is that: if you are genuinely good but your ethical or belief system prevents you from doing something you are naturally inclined to do (or encourages you to do something that you do not find natural): it "may" be that your ethical system is the problem, not your performance or inclinations. 2006: Our basic nature facilitated our species survival to this day. However, I have learned over the years that our life experiences may distort our basic nature and one may feel "drawn" to act in a way inconsistent with our innate nature and indeed our very survival.
It is important to be kind to all people [2006: all living things] and to do what is right (whatever that is). One's intuition can be a great help in establishing one's beliefs. I also feel that one's beliefs should be internally consistent and that one should be aware of the assumptions and/or myths that underpin them. I feel that you should test your belief system:
- by reading and attempting to understand like and unlike opinions and beliefs
- by observation and re-evaluation
- by comparison to how you actually live
Developing one's own system can be a complex, confusing, lifelong project.
One last point: to help maintain objectivity in building your beliefs, evaluate your belief system not for you, but for someone like you.
11:25:04 PM 
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