Hypothetical Situation I

Aquinas' refinement of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, considers docility (the acquisition of knowledge through others) as an integral constituent of the virtue of prudence. Vital to this notion is willingness to ask for advice, exercising the virtue of courage.

Personally, I recurrently stray from the mean. Rarely am I virtuous. At times I desire to seek advice and yet the courage to do so is lacking. I am hindered by an ethereal hand, pulling me back by the collar and that hand is indeed my own.

But for what I lack in courage, I make up for in guile. I obtain my advice through riddles and querying responses to 'hypothetical situations' (adapted to my personal circumstances no less) and so ultimately my advisor is none the wiser in regards to my inner secrets or motives.

And woe behold, a hypothetical situation?

I am walking down a mundane street, along a path of dull gray concrete. The weather is pleasant yet there is a distinctive and inexplicable unnerving ambiance. My journey is relatively unperturbed (imagine The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony) until I encounter an eccentric and unfamiliar store adjacent to a crossroads. On the display, behind the perfectly clear glass, is a vintage Gibson ES-339 in a beautiful sunburst finish. Price? "Inquire within". But why bother? It would be clearly too expensive for me and my lackluster guitar abilities would render me unworthy of such a fine instrument. Besides, I wouldn't have time to genuinely appreciate it.

But everyday henceforth, I will make the same journey, pass the same store and relive the same sentiments. With each successive day, I will slowly begin to believe that I do have the means to purchase this guitar; that I am deserving of this guitar, yet still I will not "inquire within".

At home, I will begin practicing profusely. The Gibson has reignited my passion for music. Inevitably however, my lack of improvement will spell the demise of my enthusiasm and eventually I will be convinced that I should give up on this instrument. Life goes on.

One day I will be dismayed to find that the guitar is sold. The tag will hang flippantly around its neck, taunting me with its very existence. What do I do then?

a) Empty my bank account, burst into the store, offer what I can. Fuck the considerations.

b) C'est la vie. I wasn't destined for this guitar anyway.

c) Continue practicing and find a similar guitar eventually.

d) Purchase a balaclava with the accumulated savings and roll the guy who bought it.

e) Make my own guitar out of pieces of Lego and hug it to sleep at night.

f) Have a cry.

Decisions, decisions.