Three Men Tub

Those three set out to see the world
And to have a great adventure.
So many ports through Ike's mind whirled
Where they might find fun and pleasure.
Ed plots up more practical plans
To fit all he can on budget.
But Samuel thinks of the clans
And how the others will judge it.

They have but that single vessel
That together they all must share.
At the helm, they argue and wrestle
To chose how and where they will fare.
"Let's follow the sparkle," says Ike,
"And go wherever it may lead."
"Ahead," says Ed, "are rocks we'll strike
If no caution we chose to heed."

Samuel scans around for land
And signs of civilzation.
"We could help more to lend a hand
And gain others' admiration.
We will enjoy ourselves onshore
With people to join our pursuit.
Let sparkles and rocks wait some more
And let's enhance our fine repute."

"What fun is that?" Ike does protest,
"We came out here to romp and play!"
"The fun," says Ed, "is in the zest
To do any task our own way.
We can frolic to our content
When we perceive the pleasure track.
Enjoy what is in your present
And the fun will always come back."

"So life's a game we daily play?"
Ike ponders so very lightly.
"We are a team, and so are they,"
He concludes with smile grown brightly.
"Yes, OK," Samuel agrees,
"If that will put us into gear.
Let's get out there now, if you please,
And give them a reason to cheer."

With all their hands on the wheel,
They resume the journey again.
For the moment, they have a deal
On how to guide their common brain.
Each with reasons, 'though not the same;
Ike, for fun in competing fight,
Ed, for strategy in the game,
Samuel, to do what is Right.

Who Else Would I Be, Dr. Maslow?

Who Else Would I Be, Dr. Maslow?

My thoughts, so seems, scaled a pyramid

To decide to do the things I did.

Each day I act within its shade,

As my wants and desires are weighed.

Physical needs are first to choose

With control that none can refuse.

Feed me, clothe me, and keep me warm,

Protect my vital, creature form.

But once my body rests at ease,

Fears for safety my mind will tease.

Save for later, and watch my steps,

Stay out of rain, avoid all streps.

Yet when those fears are reassured,

To other’s company I am lured.

To love, be loved, to give and get,

To belong, to owe or hold a debt.

I may linger in these thoughts long,

Building my links both wide and strong.

But more remains for me to want,

As to me of me I may vaunt.

Your praise and my pride blend a mix,

Confident, to set out to fix

All I am for all that can be,

To bring to life the inner me.

Who is this me who waits in queue

For all other needs to quell ado?

And who is real in other eyes

When I do not self-actualize?

A noble peak was placed atop

The mount for our most elite crop.

If no peek there I ever see,

You say I have never been me?

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An Alternate Arrangement of Maslow Needs

We react to our perceived needs.  All our needs areas are continually "shouting out" their wants and suggestions for what we should do.  As individuals, we might differ in the relative strengths with which they broadcast their demands into our brains.  But as we act to fulfill these needs, we develop remoteness from an imperative to listen further.  In this illustration, the needs sphere moves away from our inner decision appartus and its shouts fade like sound (inverse squared) traveling a greater distance.  We may also fatigue from repetitively hearing demands we cannot (or at least do  not) met and develop an acclimation that has the same distancing effect.  Or we may habituate to some demands as a sort of meaningless "white noise" as we find we so seldom respond to them.  But all the needs area are sending messages constantly, whether faintly or loudly perceived.  We are not always able to met all those needs in the moment, but we will tend to act to satisfy as many as we can, relegating others to the waiting list (or a later repeat request).  Thus, the hungry man, with a choice of door A to eat a doughnut in soltitude and door B to share a sandwich with a friend, might be expected more frequently to chose door B.  And the hungry parent might fetch his portion of the shared sandwich and give it to his child (or to a stranger's child acting on the faint calls from hypothesized nobility of the Maslow unrealized self).