I have a reader that I
don’t believe blogs, but I could be wrong. I love when she comments because
while there seem to be many things we have in common in terms of life
priorities, how we choose to get there, and how life operates is vastly
different. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all viewed things the same? She seems
much more content in her choice of life style, where her home, family, and
hobbies keep her satisfied and fulfilled. I too feel fulfilled most of the time,
but I get gnawing mind worms about way too many things that chisel away
contentment. I feel like my life is always a work in progress, and I could be,
should be achieving more. What achieving more means is a mystery.
More. What a word. Why
does it take hold of me, and lessen my satisfaction with the status quo? While
I wouldn’t define myself as materialistic, there is stuff I like. However, it
is really experiences that I crave. I don’t want to just read about places, I
want to go there. Well, not every place-some are fine to stay in books and
on-line. I want to hear the music live and see the productions as part of the
crowd. A beer or glass of wine or coffee is fine on my deck, but I really love
meeting up with other people often enough to stay connected and feel like I am
out in the world.
Despite being a bit of
a social wall flower, I like to have the opportunity to be part of a social
network, have friends, entertain and be entertained, all be it, in limited
doses. My reader friend, as I like to refer to you all, seems perfectly content
with her home and nuclear family, though has discussed lifelong and deep
friendships with people who would be there for her if needed and wanted. While
having a full weekend at home is a respite for me, I feel left out of the world
if too many weeks go by without being part of an extended circle of friends.
Today though, I need to
stop, to pause. To put the mind worm aside and just appreciate what I have is
truly enough. The experiences I have had, while not complete, have been more
than many people imagine. The friends and family in my life, are what define my
life and the love I receive. Seventeen years ago so many average people with
their own dreams of a life with more, had their dreams end. I will never forget
that Tuesday, September 11, 2001, hearing the incredible news of a plane crash
in Manhattan, on the radio on route to a meeting, arriving and learning a few
minutes later it was more than just a plane crash. The hate and violence has
not ended. People in the US seem more divided than what I can remember in my
lifetime, though of course, I was a child during the civil rights marches and
Vietnam protests. Still, today, politics need to be set aside. I will turn off
all social media this morning and thank God I live in a country that while not
perfect, the people have ideals and values of freedom. And while people here
will continue to fight and argue and disagree on how to best govern and create
opportunity, I like to believe we really are united in hope for the future of
all people.
