The Dudeist Essayist

Monetary Wealth

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 03:47:00 +0000

One thing we are taught as Dudeists is that monetary wealth doesn't bring happiness, and that it shouldn't be a major goal of ours if we aren't motivated to do much. But that's only for those who are happy with what they already have. You can still be happy with what you got and still want monetary wealth.

I have always wanted to be rich and famous, because I've always wanted the attention, and I've always wanted to have enough for unexpected expenses so that I don't have to stay on government welfare. I could care less about new and shiny things. I just want to be able to travel and go on vacation to rest and relax.

If you are making money because it's what you love to do, then it's not totally un-Dude! It's actually the Dude thing to do if you make money because you love it!

It's a Good World

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 23:33:00 +0000

You turn the news on, and what do you usually see? More than likely it's nothing but bad news. There may be the occasional good news, but bad news sells and receives higher ratings. If you keep people in fear, they will continue to watch your program, man!

But let me tell you something, dude! The world is still a good place, inspite of everything, in the immortal and famous words of Anna Frank. Most people are still good, and we see this through the care and love our friends and family give us, certain strangers even!

If you want to see the good in the world, try self-help tv/film programs, books, websites/blogs, etc! An example is Spirit Science! Or Steve Pavlina's blog, Personal Development for Smart People, and maybe his ex-wife Erin Pavlina's blog, ErinPavlina.com!

If you still want to watch the news, try your local TV station first. They tend to have a good mix, at least here in the United States. If the news isn't for you, then more power to you for not watching it. But remember, dude, the world is as fair or good as you make it, and it doesn't want saved, man.

God or Not?

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 11:03:00 +0000

One thing that tends to cross my mind is whether God is real, or yet what God would want from me. I tend to believe in Him, though not quite in an Abrahamic nor Hindi/Sanskrit way. I believe that God is real in the mind of believers and not real in the mind of non-believers.

How can God be real in some people, but not in others? Simple. When one is praying to or talking to God, the areas of the brain that deal with communication light up in the same way it does when an objective, concrete and real person communicates with you, a reputable scientific study noted.

Why would anyone choose to believe in God? What is in it for believers? Well, it's best to ask what is in it for God, because you are inviting Him into your own mind, and He has to be treated with respect, as He is very important and loves all of us who truly believe!

God gives me a sense of relief, or of belonging. He is the warmth of the sun, the calmness of the moon, and the stars in our eyes. It's like I'm never alone, no matter how scared I may be, or how lonely I get. God listens to our prayers, and is eternally patient. He listens more than he talks, but we should remember to listen to Him too!

Dudeism itself is non-theist, but as stated on the Dudeism website, it's ok to believe in a higher power, man(even though God doesn't have to be make, as God can be female, or maybe both, or maybe even genderless, it's up to you).

Dealing with Santa Claus

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:05:00 +0000

You probably still teach your kids that Santa Claus is real or that Santa only gives presents to kids on the 'good' list, and that he gives a lump of coal(or passes by the house) to kids on the 'naughty' list. That is good and all, but what do you do when you are too poor, or are in poverty when you can't afford to buy presents for your kids, or at least the ones they want from their Christmas list?

I once read on Religious Tolerance in the United States & Canada that it would be better to teach a symbolic representation of Santa Claus and what he stands for, rather than tell your kids he is real. Making Santa sound real could make your kids feel bad or make them think they are bad kids for not getting what they wanted for Christmas, but in reality it's not always them being bad, but rather you were in financial hardship, man. But how you raise your kids is your business, man, so please accept this post only as advice, rather than as a guideline or as rules.

Being Famous

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 03:58:00 +0000

A lot of people want to become famous. Maybe it's you. But, first you must ask yourself, "Why do I want to be famous? What would I do once I'm famous?" Dudes, you need to know that fame doesn't always equal money.

I enjoy a great deal of fame, especially in the South Central region of Kentucky and across the globe via the Internet, where I'm known mostly by the name: Julius the Jules. I am poor as hell though. Do I want more money? You bet I do! But I am enjoying my life as much as I can, because just by being myself, I'm opening up more opportunities than if I was trying to become famous by being someone I'm not!

I enjoy my fame, even though the Jules is flat broke! Ha ha! Good luck, dude. Just be yourself, man.

How to make Peace with Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:26:00 +0000

The past is only that, the past. Do you know what you can do with the past? Well, two things. You can learn from it and move on.

You may be thinking "You make it sound easy, but it's not!" I completely agree, man. Letting go is hard, but what is easier to do is to learn from it. If you have thoughts of guilt, then examine those thoughts and note how you felt. Now ask yourself, do those thoughts and feelings matter to this very day in the present moment? If your answer is no, then you may find that you were suffering off of nothing but the thoughts themselves.

Like a wise Dude before us once said about Stoicism, one of many precursors to Dudeism, it's not the event or events themselves that made us feel bad, but rather your thoughts about the event!

Learn, forgive, and forget. Those three words describe how you and I should handle the past. It ain't easy, not even for me, man. Just be happy with your present situation, and stop feeling guilty about the past. On that note, I need to learn to take my own advice! Ha ha! I'm a nut...

Dealing with Mental Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 23:58:00 +0000

To admit you have a mental illness is not the easiest thing to do publicly. I have schizoaffective disorder, psychotic disorder, and the rest are developmental disorders, ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. They can be a hassle, man, you don't even know half of it!

So, how do you handle mental illnesses as a Dudeist? Simple, don't be ashamed of your mental illnesses. There are still places on this Earth where admitting your mental illness publicly is dangerous, so whether or not you disclose your mental illnesses should be considered very carefully and with scrutiny.

While you should accept yourself fully and not be shamed of your mental illness, faults and strengths alike, you should be the person who decides whether to publicly disclose them. If you need help deciding, seeing a therapist should be a big help in making that decision, not to mention you will feel better when you have a licensed professional to listen to your problems, who you know you can trust with your privacy and dignity!

There are so many ways to get help, but a licensed therapist(and if you are able, a licensed psychiatrist) is your best option, because they have been trained for confidentiality, and they understand the human condition better than anyone you'll ever meet, dude! Being a Dudeist while with a mental illness isn't a a contradiction. You have an even better chance of keeping your mental illness in line if you talk to your peers, especially other Dudeists who understands you, like the Dudeist group on Facebook or I the Dudeist forums! It's up to you what you do about your mental illness or how and whether to disclose it.

Addiction: What to do About it

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:32:00 +0000

I must admit that I am addicted to nicotine(who isn't these days?) and caffeine(again, who isn't these days?). At first I thought that addiction was unDude, and to some people it is, but nobody has the right to tell you that what you should or shouldn't do, even if it has to do with addiction. Your addictions are personal to you, so if you don't see a need to quit your habits, then who are we to say you are Dude or unDude?

I love smoking, a little too much I might add. I would like to consume less caffeine, but the withdrawals are off the charts for even sodas and tobacco cigarettes! I have no support for them in my area, except for a smoking clinic. My appointment got canceled and I never tried to get back into the smoking clinic. Bummer...

Don't feel ashamed of your addictions, dude. You can't always control your cravings. The Dude once said "Smoke'em if you got'em". If you want to get help, then by all means, man, get help! If not, then so be it, man.

When You Miss Them

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 05:01:00 +0000

This time of the year can be hard for those of us who have lost loved-ones, especially if they didn't make it to the holiday season...

Look, man, this is not an easy problem to fix, and it's even harder to talk about. But, Dudeism shares one thing in common with Ralph Waldo Emerson's view on life, even after the passing of so many of his loved ones and compeers.

Emerson remained happy, even though many of his friends and family died of teburculosis. How he did it is a mystery to some of you, but to Dudeists who share Transcendentalist beliefs we know that you never cease to exist. The Tao or the Oversoul is where Dudeists may say they return to and merge with, as energy is never created nor destroyed, it's only recycled. That's a scientific fact that most scientists still think doesn't prove life after death!

If you miss your dearly departed loved ones, dude, talk to them. They may not exist as an individual anymore, but you can rest assured their energy is still out there somewhere spreading out around you, or even in you.

Just talking to them, even if you talk to them with your mind, your visual and audio cortex's will behave as though you are really talking to your loved ones! Don't be surprised if you find warm signs that they are still around, man. I do from time to time.

Here is to all the angels up there bowling for us sinners, and toast to their fond memories they have left us with. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, dudes!

How to be Happy with Less

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 21:27:00 +0000

So, you may be asking yourself, 'how do I bring in more money, so that I can have this and that?' Well, dude, you bring in money only after you make peace with your situation, no matter how bad your financial issues.

Have you ever felt grateful for what you have, just this once feeling as though you have enough and are enough, that you have everything you would ever need?

Let's slow down a little. You have a roof over your head, right? You have food to eat and fluids to drink, right? Right! Or, at least I hope you do, since you're here reading this essay. You have gained so much over a gradual period of time, so why not reverse that habit so that you can have more at one time by setting back some loose change, and maybe put back the occasional $1 or $5 bills? If you would cut back on spending, and spend a little less each time, you won't believe how much money you have saved!

But hear this! The biggest key to having more money is to be thankful for what you have before you decide to buy something you know you won't need or something you will get bored of fast. It's better to be happy with less, rather than constantly craving for more!

Make your oath now, dude, to show appreciation for what you already have, enjoy your things to their full potential before buying more and just admire your stuff, man.

Mysteries are Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 20:08:00 +0000

I was recently pondering how I could deduce who the homosapiens' common ancestors were and how far back could we trace our lineage? That is not an easy question to answer.

But when I came to the only rational conclusion that ancient astronauts transitioned the homoerectus into homosapiens', I understand now why a famous astrophysicist once said that he'd rather have questions he can't answer versus having answers he can't question... There was no more magic. No more wonder...

Dudes, just enjoy life's mysteries, and if you never want to be bored again, I'd advise you to leave the big questions of life just that, unanswered.

If you do get bored easy, Dudeism has the solution! Sit back, relax and enjoy the peace that comes with occasional solitude, just listening to the complete silence, or if you prefer, some relaxing music or sounds. Nothing beats just melting into your bed, couch or rug. Enjoy life's simplicity, man.

What's Enlightenment Anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 18:24:00 +0000

Is there truly such a thing as enlightenment? We're talking spiritual or metaphysical enlightenment, man! The way I see life, everything and anything in this universe comes in threes.

Dudeists tend to not wanna worry about that shtuff. Some think you have to be a Buddhist or Hindu monk! The three things I see in enlightenment are 1) Self-acceptance, 2) Being yourself, and 3) To live your life and nobody else's.

In other words? Accept yourself wholly and fully, be the person you want to be, and live up to your own, albeit realistic, expectations! I know you can do it if I can, because I have; with debilitating pain, mental illness, intellectual disability, and so many other things that make me an even stronger survivor, because at least I know I am truly-truly alive! Choose to live, because only you can decide your own fate.

When it Only Hurts...

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 17:21:00 +0000

Even though I am improving bit by bit, life bears a lot of pain on me... I do have weak moments, even though I consider myself as the next Dude in Training. I am an incredible survivor, but my kind heart often got stomped on, by people who wanted too much from me without really ever returning the favor. But, why do I need anything in return since I'm a Dudeist? Isn't that just their opinion, man?

I am moving away from expecting anything in return, even though I wish I had all the credit I deserve, but being in the background is like that. The backstage areas are my favorite places, so that's why I never get the attention that I would like. It's great meeting and greeting new people like me, from behind the scene, but even more rewarding is when I get to meet some of the greatest musicians and celebities from time to time!

I'm getting over myself the best that I can, as soon as I can. I am very, I mean highly competitive in "Hearthstone" and "Magic: The Gathering"! I hate losing. But I'm even transcending this stage of my life and annulling my bad habits a piece at a time.

Please know, gutters are just as important as strikes. You get the strikes, because you are living as you and only you. They get the gutters because they have strayed from Dudeness. Be happy, even when you hit only gutters, because there will never be anyone more important in this life than you! Live for you, because this life is YOUR life, and NOBODY else's!

Now let's toast to the Dude, who always knows what to do. Cheers, my dears!

Life as an Autistic Dudeist

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 17:04:00 +0000

Life as an autistic Dudeist may seem contradictory to those who are familiar with the stereotypical behavior and all the anxiety that comes with it. Anxiety is bad, comfort and pleasure are good. But what does being Dudeist and autistic mean to me?

My first step toward breaking the chains and shackles of autism was to accept myself as much at a time as I am able, as there is no shame in picking up pieces as you go.

I accepted that my behavior is severely stereotypical; I accepted that I have anger issues; I accepted that anxiety is always gonna be in my life in one way or another; I accepted that even though I cannot change my past, I have the courage and strength to just be the best damn me I can be! And most of all, I accepted that I contribute to the world by my actions, so I choose to be a survivor, rather than a victim!

There is Dude

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 16:54:00 +0000

There is Dude! Baby come to me, come to me, come on. Yes, Dude is very much a thing right now, man. You can see it all over the internet, sometimes in the news media, with all The Big Lebowski references, and unfortunately a spin off for 'The Jesus'.

What does it mean to be 'Dude'? It means whatever you define it as. Dudeists are often debating what is or is not Dude, according to a section of the official Dudeism website, which states that everything has to be up for debate one reason or another. Sounds exhausting...

Lifting Your Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 11:18:00 +0000

Thinking about things, makes you feel things, which feels like other things. Ah hell, done lost my train of thought. If you are down in the blue, ask "What would the Dude do?"

I tend to forget that epitaph, but one thing I remind myself of is that I should live the way I want, not living up to others expectations, not unless I know they are right for me.

If you are ever blue again, just remember how special you and all other life is, that the Earth is a giant space station(albeit natural). When I think of the Earth like that, I feel more whole, and I feel like I'm floating through space on a ship, man! Ha ha!

Acceptance

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 05:48:00 +0000

One of the greatest things about Dudeism is it's general attitude of abidance. The best place to start as a Dudeist is to accept yourself and embrace yourself as you are already!

I have begun to accept myself only recently, but that doesn't mean I can't be certain of how life would be better if you came to complete acceptance of yourself, man. Think about how life would be much better if you accepted yourself fully, Your Dudeness.

Lazy Is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 05:43:00 +0000

If you've been told you are too lazy, don't let that get you down, man. If you are lazy, own it. Don't be ashamed of being lazy, because I'm not. I've already accepted my laziness as a part of me.

Dudeism is about being true to yourself, even if you are lazy, something most people use as a pejorative. Don't be someone you're not for the sake of pleasing others, because this is your life, dude!

Be Yourself Dude

noreply@blogger.com (Joseph D. Smith) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 05:16:00 +0000

If you should do anything, it's to be yourself, man. Cool dudes aren't cool cats like you see in high schoolers wearing leather jackets or trench coats, unless of course that's what you are into. Cool dudes try their best to be themselves.

I couldn't imagine being someone I'm not. But hey, if I could become someone better, I'd rather not, because I am already good enough, dude. Don't let the gutters keep you down, man. Just enjoy the moment, the present, man.