Friends and Family:
Season's Greetings from my personal gated community high atop the snowcapped Appalachian Mountains. The majestic view of nature unfolding right before your eyes here could convert a steadfast city slicker into a nature buff in no time at all. Insects of all shapes and sizes, even some that resemble miniature pterodactyls, buzz past and ultimately disappear into the surreal realm of the free world. Birds of vibrant blue and other Day-Glo colors chirp melodious tunes that brighten even the gloomiest bouts of prison ennui. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear the government whisked me off to the federal penitentiary at Jurassic Park.
Surely these creatures sigh at the further destruction of their habitats. Typical for the federal government to violate a natural environment by dynamiting a mountain range and installing a ready-made human warehouse. Despite these transgressions against nature, her strength, beauty, and eloquence still prevails. While the beautiful landscape and wonderful creatures remind me of Jurassic Park, I'm still not quite sure if the creatures are on display for me or if I am on display for them. Either way, I go to great lengths to observe the magical process of nature unfolding. I believe the answers to life's most perplexing questions can be gleaned from nature's daily interplay of forces. I further believe we can better ourselves by applying nature's lessons in our daily lives.
If we'd take the time to observe the wonderment of nature's motion picture, instead of the constant fare of television's drudgery, we'd learn many an enlightening lesson. The conscious observer of nature realizes that the hallmark of all natural systems is rooted in purpose: whether the system above that powers our existence or the organisms below that work diligently to further nature's grand plan, design equal purpose and vice versa.
Have you ever watched a spider spin a web? It's one of the most amazing spectacles you'll ever witness. Approximately one year ago, I had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of "Spidey," an almost translucent brown and beige spider that took up residence in the upper corner of my cell window. That special creature taught me many things about nature, myself, and life in general.
"Spidey" kept a rigid schedule. As I prepared for lunch, he's prance into view--on his way to eat the gnat entangled in his perfectly engineered web. Dinner followed this same purposeful pattern. Then came the night: under the shroud of darkness, "Spidey" regally marched to the center of his web, surveyed it, and then methodically dismantled it. This acitivity always preceded the rebuilding of a new and improved web in which "Spidey" rested proudly. During those nights of watching Spidey's fascinating work, many a profound thought entered my mind: First and foremost, nature is akin to godliness. Spidey epitomized pure purpose in action. Spidey's ability far exceeded that of any human being. Spidey needed no assistance, no consultants, no advisors, no psychologists, no engineers, no lawyers--no nothing. Whatever he needed came from within. Spidey worked unilaterally and never made one mistake. He never second-guessed himself, he never experienced depression, he never called-in sick, and he never received a day of formal training.
Spidey came into existence with certain potentials and, in accordance with instinct alone, actualized those potentials. We as individuals are also born with certain potentials--the inherent constitutional framework that governs who and what we may become--that are either actualized or squandered.
Those of us who actualize our potentials experience self-fulfillment; the realization that life's most treasured possessions are intangible and come from within. The father of Humanistic Psychology, Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) termed this peak-state of living creatively and fully using our potentials as self-actualization. The basis for this theory of intrinsic excellence dates back to time immemorial. Our search through the annals of philosophy, the parent -branch of psychology, stops in the 6th century B.C., where the Eastern philosopher, Lao-tzu offers the most comprehensive summation:
"He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty."
The symbolic time for new beginnings follows on the heels of the celebratory season upon us. Keeping in mind that all things are in a constant state of flux, anf that nature moves to a purposeful beat, we feel a compelling need to change for the better. Whether these changes are monumental or diminutive, the necessary resources needed to better the quality of out lives--physically, spiritually, emotionally--can be found within ourselves. The journey to excellence, through self-fulfillment, comes with many lessons to learn from and many moments to treasure. The work may be demanding and difficult, but the immeasurable rewards far exceed the effort involved...Keep reaching for the stars.
Warm holiday wishes to you, your families, and those near and dear to you. Thank you for you continuing support.
With Love and Respect,
Johnny Bart
Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, Boston