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.
Lovely post for today. I think you are right--most of us are united in hope for "the future of all people." In my younger days, like most younger people, I felt the need to be part of something bigger than myself. As I got older, I realized I was indeed part of something larger, the brotherhood of man, and I needed to live my life in such a way that showed respect for this brotherhood. (I use brotherhood for the grammatical ease, mind you, not to discount women.) There are pleasant people with whom I disagree with vehemently, and boorish louts who share my political views. I wish all a harmonious, peaceful life.
ReplyDelete(And if you are referring to me, you are right, I don't blog--I have considered it, but endeavor to spend less, not more time on electronics. I still write letters, though, on paper, even, with stamps, if you want to be pen pals!)
You got it Meg! Yes, the reader to whom I take inspiration from. I love your train of thought, being part of the brotherhood of man, and that by showing respect, living a life where humans have value and nothing is taken for granted is big, and grand. E-mail me about writing-I'd be up for old fashion pen and ink.
DeleteI love what you've written, it's been the main thought for me today, how divided we are and yet how we come together to remember today. So many of the things that seemed important yesterday morning pale in comparison once we remember. Life does go on and tomorrow it will hit us smack in the face again but for today I believe we are united as human beings and Americans.
ReplyDeleteI might not even be so anti-Trump if he would just shut up about all his winning, stop tweeting his paranoia, and just put his best effort forward without needing to make everything about his own importance. That aside, I don't want his administration to fail-that would be downright dumb of me. I want to feel hope though, and want my friends, neighbors, and family to feel hope-and strangers too. I just found your blog-lovely and I plan to get caught up.
DeleteThank you. We are surrounded by all things that say we need more, we should want more and we all have way too much that we have to take care of and sort and clean and hoard, not only objects but the feelings that go with these. We have enough.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail right, Kim. We all could do with a good clutter stuff around our homes and in our minds.
DeleteI have a new office colleague (as of two days) and she is a young woman after my own heart. Sri Lankan married to a Frenchman, highly qualified but low down on the totem pole. To hear her talk about gratitude for what they have is really heartening, not chasing more but being content with what they have. There is hope when the younger generation are coming out with things like that.
ReplyDeleteMy kids give me hope. They all too have the travel bug, but material stuff, not so much. Ask a new immigrant to a a First World country and I bet they think we are all greedy guts.
DeleteI'm working hard at trying to be at peace with the life I have. It's hard for someone who has always optimized for "productivity". less for me about belongings, but "progress", which could be saving more money, taking more trips. . . neither of which are bad things, of course, but why am I so focused on accomplishing things & making progress, vs being satisfied with where I am in the moment. I'm definitely a "work in progress" in this area. :-)
ReplyDeleteHugs to you & yours.
I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my quest for more. Talking about what makes me happy helps keep overdrive in check. Hugs back.
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