“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”
Jean-Luc Picard, to Data
This isn’t the first time I’ve invoked that Star Trek quote on Ubi Libertas Blog. I’ve used the truism to illuminate discussions of prepping and other subjects.
The context today should be obvious.
I’m not without flaws. I make mistakes. But this isn’t quantitative analysis — it’s about the quality of my choices.
It’s about doing the right things.
That’s the way my father put it 60 years ago when he explained his vote for Barry Goldwater, who lost to LBJ in a landslide. Doing the right thing and losing doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right thing to do.
My current circumstance hints at still another truth — doing the right thing can exact a price.
Imagine doing right so long that it becomes wrong. Yes, even honor. Integrity. Fidelity. Sacrifice. Unfortunately, the cost becomes obvious only in hindsight.
But as Picard said to Data, “That is life.” I don’t regret doing right.
Today is a good day.
I’ve had to practice a certain austerity lately. It’s not difficult, really, simply an extension of my penchant for efficiency. I’ve been pretty good about keeping to it, too, avoiding the unnecessary and the frivolous.
This morning, however, I decided that I deserved a sweet treat. A quick run to Casey’s in Flippin scratched that itch.
The weather was gray and windy. Still, it’s springtime in Ozarkansas. The landscape I love so much is awakening from its winter slumber and greening, subtly.
My senses are heightened, knowing that this may be my last spring on The Mountain before it’s no longer my home.
I take it all in. I notice everything.
The rest is out of my hands.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable