Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for September 20, 2013

It’s nice to see he’s keeplng his distance from smoking.

Nice? IT’S better to keep anyone’s distance from smoking!

“…he who has braved the storm of life and lived…” until his forties “…or he who has stayed securly on shore and merely existed” until his eighties, has raised children and built a legacy?

“I’d rather die whie i’m living than live while I’m dead.” Jimmy Buffett

A couple of days ago I saw a Star Trek Next Generation re-run that had a theme like this, as Picard lived a life where he didn’t get into trouble: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapestry_(TNG_episode)

Hunter S. Thompson DEFINITELY “braved the storm of life”.

Yo Ho Yo Ho, A pirate’s life for me!

Oh, let me repharse that: IT’S better to keep your distance from anyone who’s smoking!

Depends on what happiness means to you.That is what he meant.Are you happy??? If you are……there is the Zen in it.If you are happy being the hero….be the hero.If you are happy at being the accountant…be the accountant.Most of all……BE HAPPY YOU ARE ALIVE.

I really love Zen Pencils, it is one of my favorite strips. But… the real existential question is… why do all of the women have freckles?

The cigarette in the holder is a connection to Hunter S. Thompson, yet the whole point could have been made just as well (if not better) without it.

I am enjoying my life and expect to have many more great years. I cared for my 4 children until they were grown. I did the work of mother AND father after I divorced a violent man (now he and a younger brother who cheated me are both deceased). . I can be happy that they passed on and I’m in good health. I would tweek a few things if I could afford it, but I will take no meds, I eat and love well and even DANCE!

“…he who has braved the storm of life…” hasn’t necessarily been happy or “lived”.

“… he who has stayed securely on shore…” hasn’t necessarily been unhappy or “merely existed”.

It isn’t just the cigarette in the holder. He seems drawn to look like Hunter S. Thompson.

hm… The guy who’s not smoking a cancer stick?