Hello everyone,
The Big Lebowski has always been one of my favorite movies. One of the most quotable and memorable movies of all time in my opinion..
When I stumbled upon Dudeism, I was flabbergasted. I thoguht, "Really??? a religion based off of Lebowski??? No way....Someone's messing with me...."
Well, I just thought it'd be funny to go ahead and get ordained. At first, it was a joke to me.
I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church and anything outside of that is considered a "Cult" O_O
Well, after going to the same Church for over 6 years, building all of those relationships, having people practically become family to me.... I moved in with my girlfriend and her family and was suddenly Disowned from the Church....
People would barely speak to me anymore... Well, I found Dudeism about a year after that...And again, starting off, It was all a joke to me. I was ordained June 03, 2010 and didn't look at Dudeism again for almost a year...
Well, I work as a Customer Service agent for a major payment processing company.... Customer's are brutal. Being treated like crap everyday by people that don't know you at all (going on three years now...) can take its toll on someone.....
Well, about a year after I was ordained, The stress of the job.... the Losing of all my "Friends"....My own self-deprication....
I broke down... On my way home from work one day I just started crying. With me being a generally laid back guy who doesn't let things get to him, I freaked my girlfriend out. She asked me what was wrong and I unloaded everything on her. She didn't know I was letting everything sit down inside and fester...
She pulled me close and wiped the tears from my eyes and said two words that changed my entire life....
"Fuck It"
It was literally a life changing moment. From that moment on, nothing could touch me. I was about as high as the Dude chasing Maude through the skies. Since then I have read The Abide Guide once and am working on it a second time now and am waiting on Jeff Bridges' Book "The Dude and The Zen Master" to come on the mail so I can relate to the Ol' Duder directly.
Dudeism is not a joke... It is lifechanging.
I feel like I'm rambling, But the whole point of all of this is... Did anyone else have one of those life-changing moments with Dudeism???
Welcome.
Personally I didn't have any such moment or it was so long ago I don't remember.
I just like to kick back and smoke a fatty from time to time. (Yeah yeah I get the taoist stuff)
I've been saying fuck it since long before there was a Lebowski.
FTW Dude.
(http://tattoos.files.wordpress.com/2006/12/swallow-tattoos-abdomen.jpg)
Why Thankie Biker Dude. I had always been laid back and generally "Dude", This was just the first thing that completely and wholeheartedly made sense. With just about any other religion out there, there's a million and two questions left unanswered. With This, there's one answer to the millions of questions. Fuck It.
I can abide that man.
B{D>
Having "Ah ha" moments is awesome, it means you jumped up to the next plateau. I haven't had one with TBL, though I do use it to apply the "fuck it" approach to life. I feel for you man; sounds like you really get shit on at work. I'd be looking for another job if it's all negative like that, though I don't know your whole story. But I guess if you're handling it, then it's a moot point.
Thanks for being transparent and sharing - I look forward to your contributions here in dude-land. Oh, and it's past the 10th... rent's due. ;-)
Eh, I've realized that it's all just a game. No need to flash a piece out on the lanes and cause such a fuss. I only work to support my lifestyle. The job is just that, a job. The only reason why I'm still here is it pays decently, and it's monday through friday. Coming to the realization that I force myself to wake up every morning and drive to work all on my own volition has made the biggest difference in the world.
Abou the rent, I uh.... I'll just slide it under the door..
B{D>
I appreciate your story man, thanks for sharing!
'Fuck it' definitely helps me endure the rat race, gotta feed the monkey ;)
Hey man, cool of you to share such a story dude. I too worked in "customer service" for about three years myself only as "filler work", as my career in construction slowed down a little lately. Man I feel where you are coming from. People who don't even know you, treating you like a piece of shit day in and day out. Coming home angry and beaten down... I got one piece of advice man, find a new job. One that gives you some sense of fulfillment. Life's far too short a comedy to deal with boatloads of paraquats on a daily basis! It was so bad there that I eventually ended up getting canned because I could no longer eat people's shit and was being outspoken about it not only to my managers, but to customers as well. Fuck em. They were being horrible as human beings and they needed to know it. Anyway, I got some unemployment clams for a while, practiced a lot of Dudeism, and eventually my career in carpentry picked back up. Now I'm building things which is in itself rewarding, but what's best is I no longer have to deal with strangers treating me like garbage. Abiding by the "fuck it" way is good, as long as you are getting done what you need to get done and are happy. If you can't leave said job just be sure you aren't letting people treat you like the chief of police of Malibu treated the Dude. If they get into your shit, tell them to just take it easy, man! If they don't tell them this aggression will not stand and walk away for a minute to let the situation simmer down.
Of course this is all just like, my opinion, man.
ABIDE.
Quote from: Judd Dude on January 18, 2013, 12:27:02 PM
Hey man, cool of you to share such a story dude. I too worked in "customer service" for about three years myself only as "filler work", as my career in construction slowed down a little lately. Man I feel where you are coming from. People who don't even know you, treating you like a piece of shit day in and day out. Coming home angry and beaten down... I got one piece of advice man, find a new job. One that gives you some sense of fulfillment. Life's far too short a comedy to deal with boatloads of paraquats on a daily basis! It was so bad there that I eventually ended up getting canned because I could no longer eat people's shit and was being outspoken about it not only to my managers, but to customers as well. Fuck em. They were being horrible as human beings and they needed to know it. Anyway, I got some unemployment clams for a while, practiced a lot of Dudeism, and eventually my career in carpentry picked back up. Now I'm building things which is in itself rewarding, but what's best is I no longer have to deal with strangers treating me like garbage. Abiding by the "fuck it" way is good, as long as you are getting done what you need to get done and are happy. If you can't leave said job just be sure you aren't letting people treat you like the chief of police of Malibu treated the Dude. If they get into your shit, tell them to just take it easy, man! If they don't tell them this aggression will not stand and walk away for a minute to let the situation simmer down.
Of course this is all just like, my opinion, man.
ABIDE.
Working in customer service i can agree with everything you say, but i would like to add that dealing with boat loads of human paraquats has made me appreciate nice people all the more, and allows me the ability to not let the a-holes of the word get me down anymore.
Quote from: WildManWizard on January 29, 2014, 01:33:38 AM
Quote from: Judd Dude on January 18, 2013, 12:27:02 PM
Hey man, cool of you to share such a story dude. I too worked in "customer service" for about three years myself only as "filler work", as my career in construction slowed down a little lately. Man I feel where you are coming from. People who don't even know you, treating you like a piece of shit day in and day out. Coming home angry and beaten down... I got one piece of advice man, find a new job. One that gives you some sense of fulfillment. Life's far too short a comedy to deal with boatloads of paraquats on a daily basis! It was so bad there that I eventually ended up getting canned because I could no longer eat people's shit and was being outspoken about it not only to my managers, but to customers as well. Fuck em. They were being horrible as human beings and they needed to know it. Anyway, I got some unemployment clams for a while, practiced a lot of Dudeism, and eventually my career in carpentry picked back up. Now I'm building things which is in itself rewarding, but what's best is I no longer have to deal with strangers treating me like garbage. Abiding by the "fuck it" way is good, as long as you are getting done what you need to get done and are happy. If you can't leave said job just be sure you aren't letting people treat you like the chief of police of Malibu treated the Dude. If they get into your shit, tell them to just take it easy, man! If they don't tell them this aggression will not stand and walk away for a minute to let the situation simmer down.
Of course this is all just like, my opinion, man.
ABIDE.
Working in customer service i can agree with everything you say, but i would like to add that dealing with boat loads of human paraquats has made me appreciate nice people all the more, and allows me the ability to not let the a-holes of the word get me down anymore.
WildManWizard dude, just dropped in to give you a dude like welcome to our beach community. Nice to have you here, mang! Grab a place on the rug and abide, dude! Bars' just over there.
Nice thread going here. I dig yer styles, Dudes.
I'm not sure I can pinpoint a moment, but I can say something about what Dudeism means to me. I think the biggest thing Dudeism gives me is a paragon -- the Dude embodies a philosophy, makes it alive and accessible. So unlike a philosophy, Dudeism doesn't operate by abstract principles or constant reminders of the ultimate nature of the universe. When I feel myself getting uptight, all I have to do is imagine what the Dude would do in my current situation and try to do something closer to that.
Come to think of it, imitation contributes a lot to the Dude's repertoire -- he's constantly repeating phrases and words that others have said. Maybe that's a lesson to us all.
I have to agree with Biker, I was doing, and thinking, and acting in a dudeist fashion before I was aware of the term. My only revelation was that there was a name for it.
I was just an asshole before my conversion to Dudeism! Nah, just kiddin'! Actually, I think we all have had some Dudeism in us, and perhaps that is why we are here? It was written in our genes, maybe.
Quote from: WildManWizard on January 29, 2014, 01:33:38 AM
Quote from: Judd Dude on January 18, 2013, 12:27:02 PM
Hey man, cool of you to share such a story dude. I too worked in "customer service" for about three years myself only as "filler work", as my career in construction slowed down a little lately. Man I feel where you are coming from. People who don't even know you, treating you like a piece of shit day in and day out. Coming home angry and beaten down... I got one piece of advice man, find a new job. One that gives you some sense of fulfillment. Life's far too short a comedy to deal with boatloads of paraquats on a daily basis! It was so bad there that I eventually ended up getting canned because I could no longer eat people's shit and was being outspoken about it not only to my managers, but to customers as well. Fuck em. They were being horrible as human beings and they needed to know it. Anyway, I got some unemployment clams for a while, practiced a lot of Dudeism, and eventually my career in carpentry picked back up. Now I'm building things which is in itself rewarding, but what's best is I no longer have to deal with strangers treating me like garbage. Abiding by the "fuck it" way is good, as long as you are getting done what you need to get done and are happy. If you can't leave said job just be sure you aren't letting people treat you like the chief of police of Malibu treated the Dude. If they get into your shit, tell them to just take it easy, man! If they don't tell them this aggression will not stand and walk away for a minute to let the situation simmer down.
Of course this is all just like, my opinion, man.
ABIDE.
Working in customer service i can agree with everything you say, but i would like to add that dealing with boat loads of human paraquats has made me appreciate nice people all the more, and allows me the ability to not let the a-holes of the word get me down anymore.
Couldn't agree more man, nice people are great and certainy offset the plentiful
assholes!
Quote from: BikerDude on January 15, 2013, 10:41:33 AM
Welcome.
Personally I didn't have any such moment or it was so long ago I don't remember.
I just like to kick back and smoke a fatty from time to time. (Yeah yeah I get the taoist stuff)
I've been saying fuck it since long before there was a Lebowski.
FTW Dude.
(http://tattoos.files.wordpress.com/2006/12/swallow-tattoos-abdomen.jpg)
Why the gun in the mouth? She certainly has a lot to live for!
I think like most people here there was always a little lebowski inside. I just wasn't ready to accept it going through life always thinking about doing the expected thing job house family blah blah blah. That's what people do right that's what everyone tells you you should be aiming for when your growing up. I have always just cruised through didn't really have any goals or future plan and always thought there was something wrong with me. Like my life wasn't living up to the expectations of what life was supposed to be. I came to the site as a kind of joke to get ordained I was toying with the idea of presiding over a friends wedding. But then I started reading the website and forums I got a copy of the Dude de Ching and the abide guide. The more I read the more I came to realize there is nothing wrong with me I'm happy with where I am. My bills are paid food on the table cold oat sodas in the fridge and still some cash in my pocket to feed the monkey. What the hell else do I need. That moment I released the inner dude who had been hiding down there somewhere. Some days I need to remind myself to just say fuck it but I'm on the path and I'm enjoying my frame a lot more weather I'm throwing strikes or gutter balls.
For me it was the time I wrote of here, the time a few months after I'd gotten out of the Army and was watching TBL by myself, after having a jay and a few beers:
http://dudeism.com/smf/general-discussion/where-were-you/ (http://dudeism.com/smf/general-discussion/where-were-you/)
This was my singular "light bulb moment", and I've been living the life of a dude ever since. In other words, I too was a Dudeist before I'd ever heard of this thing that Ollie came up with.
I first heard of "Dudeism" (as in, Ollie's Church of the Latter-Day Dude) while reading an article about "parody religions" on Wikipedia. Then, I got ordained right away.
As I'm already an ordained minister for the Church of the SubGenius and have legitimate, legally valid ordination credentials through the Universal Life Church; additional ordination as Dudeist seemed like a good fit for me, in terms of enhancing my Slack. Yes, it fits right in there.
Quote from: WildManWizard on January 29, 2014, 01:33:38 AM
Working in customer service i can agree with everything you say, but i would like to add that dealing with boat loads of human paraquats has made me appreciate nice people all the more, and allows me the ability to not let the a-holes of the word get me down anymore.
Years of working shops, bars, and restaurants gives me the same attitude. In fact I think everyone should do a year or two compulsory behind a bar or in a shop, preferably where there is alcohol that the customers are allowed to drink but you are not, just to see how bad people really are.
I always talk to staff in shops and supermarkets, and station staff, I have to deal with them as though they are actually human beings even if it's only saying hello in the morning (no mattter how bad I feel).
Quote from: meekon5 on January 30, 2014, 12:15:05 PM
Quote from: WildManWizard on January 29, 2014, 01:33:38 AM
Working in customer service i can agree with everything you say, but i would like to add that dealing with boat loads of human paraquats has made me appreciate nice people all the more, and allows me the ability to not let the a-holes of the word get me down anymore.
Years of working shops, bars, and restaurants gives me the same attitude. In fact I think everyone should do a year or two compulsory behind a bar or in a shop, preferably where there is alcohol that the customers are allowed to drink but you are not, just to see how bad people really are.
I always talk to staff in shops and supermarkets, and station staff, I have to deal with them as though they are actually human beings even if it's only saying hello in the morning (no mattter how bad I feel).
I dig that, meekon5. Yes: I used to be a waiter myself (a long time ago), have worked many retail jobs, and have seen the "dark side" of how people can behave when they are treating you more like an
object rather than a
subject.
And what I have learned (basically) is this: every individual human being is entitled to respect, and to be treated as if they have some value in this world,
simply because they are a human being.
I am and will always proudly wave my Walter flag high.
We all need a fair amount of Dude and Walter in us.
Real life is not a movie.
Quote from: BikerDude on January 31, 2014, 10:29:06 AM
I am and will always proudly wave my Walter flag high.
We all need a fair amount of Dude and Walter in us.
Real life is not a movie.
Right on.
Quote from: BikerDude on January 31, 2014, 10:29:06 AM
I am and will always proudly wave my Walter flag high.
We all need a fair amount of Dude and Walter in us.
Real life is not a movie.
Calmer than you are
Quote from: The_Sleevez on January 31, 2014, 03:55:29 PM
Quote from: BikerDude on January 31, 2014, 10:29:06 AM
I am and will always proudly wave my Walter flag high.
We all need a fair amount of Dude and Walter in us.
Real life is not a movie.
Calmer than you are
For me I realized Dudeism is a balance between Walter, Donny and Dude; We should see the inner child and see the world in wonder. We should have mind to guard and act when needed in times of trouble etc. We should take time to be concerned for others and our selves. A few times in the movie Dude had a balance of all three, but once in a while shit happens you realize it and move on... Life goes on. Walter at one point brought Dude back out of a dip in balance.. "You're acting very undude...".
Well that is my opinion... And it was last year that I realized my balance was way off and Dudeism fit right in there for me.
Great post Dudenheimer. I dig your style Dude.
I always loved the BOL but I think what made it click for me - like Shagbeard is saying - is to understand that the Sacred Source and Dudeism are NOT ONLY about not giving a fuck. It's BOTH about knowing how not to give a fuck and knowing when to draw a line in the sand. For a long time, I only thought Dudeism was about taking it easy and was skeptical about it because it looks like Walter is a "bad guy" at first sight. So for me, it always seemed like Dudeism excluded a crucial part of being a man - I like to call it "Tylerism" if you've seen Fight Club. I don't know if it's the appropriate nomenclature though. After untightening my mind a little bit though I've understood that in the BOL, Walter and the Dude are two extremes that oppose one another for the sake of illustration. In reality, Walter and the Dude are like the Kahlua and the Vodka in a white russian - two complementary ingredients that you need to balance out to get a good beverage. Forget one or put too much of another and you caucasian won't taste much like a caucasian anymore...
I am glad to read very similar stories to my own. It can be easy to take a religion that's not mainstream as a joke. I've done it myself on more than one occasion. It was a friend of mine who helped me believe in Dudeism again, though. A friend who doesn't give two flips about Dudeism ironically enough. He said that if it's true in your mind, it's true. In a way he was echoing the words of Walter, "If you will it, Dude, it is no dream." I'm just glad to be a remember of the congregation!