Being "Eternally Present"

I joined Leadership this year and so far, the program has really opened my mind to some very simple things I hadn't seen before. For example, a good leader communicates, waits, and worries. Although I have yet to learn so many things about Leadership, I think I have good-enough judgment to say that the leadership described on page 32 is ideal. It begins telling you how you should not take pride in your achievements or "glory" in them, yet one of the last phrases it says, "Achieve results because this is the natural way" and then, "Achieve results but not through violence." These are probably some of the most inspirational words I've ever heard, and no, I'm not being cheesy. I love how t the right way to "achieving" is portrayed. You should not feel proud of your achievements to avoid shame. Feeling very comforted by your achievements might make other situations miserable. However, the point is not to stop achieving because once you are done with achieving (in my perspective) your life is done and you have nothing else to live for. Preparing for Leadership in the future is something that, I've learned, requires patience and time.

"If you rejoice in victory, you delight in killing.
If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself." (Tao 31)
Isn't this so true? I feel so passionate about reading the Tao because of these things. How can you continue living your life, knowing you won at the cost of someone else's life? Also, the Tao says, "weapons are instruments of fear" and they are only used "as a last choice" which leads me to think that cowards use weapons. When you can't defend yourself, well, you turn to weapons. This is sad actually, because people lose their values and get caught up in glory and greed. The Tao, though, kind of brings you back on your feet and reminds you about the real world. This is another reason why it's so appealing for me to read it. I can really put some of these things into my own life to make it more "fulfilling".

One of the sentences I've liked so far is "To die but not to perish is to be eternally present."(Tao 33) This sentence makes me think of death in a new way. What if during your life you do something great? What if what you do makes other people think of you constantly even when it's been years since you have gone? If people keep you alive in their memories and thoughts and their actions, then you are not completely gone. A part of you is still alive in them and they will share those good thought of you with younger generations and so on. I think people can only perish once they lose who they are but, you may be dead and people still hold you in their hearts. This, for me, is to die but stay "eternally present" in the hearts and minds of those lives you improved.


This is one of my favorite songs. Although it's a love song it talks about all the things he would do if he could come back once he left this world. It reminded me of Tao because it's like if you "leave this world alive" you will be "eternal" and yet the singer would be alive in the girl's heart so in conclusion, he would still be present.