“The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be.”
“Our job is to straighten out our own lives.”
“When everything is lost and all seems darkness, then comes the new life and all that is needed.”
–Joseph Campbell
(April 2007)
After my mother died, I experienced the reflectiveness of orphanhood and jotted down some bearings which I rerecord here.
What about “me”? (in no particular order)
-How much longer will I live? How and when will I die?
-How long and how much do I want to continue to work? At what point, is work interfering with more important things?
-What things need doing? should be done while there is time and personal energy?
-Travel–where and while able
-What are the `missing pieces`, the unfulfilled dreams?
……………………………………………..
What Are People Most Afraid Of? (in no particular order)
-cancer, serious painful illness
-death
-lack of money to survive
-losing their worlds
-aloneness, loneliness, isolation
-not being or never having been loved
………………………………………..
What Is the Crap of the World?
-greed
-gossip
-toxic people -lies, dishonesty with self and others, personal and social hypocrisy
-lack of common sense, stupidity and choosing these
-pursuit of sex and money above all else
-games: manipulation and control of others: treating others like crap
-selling of everything, advertising everywhere, exploitation of others for profit
-material acquisition per se, `show`
-betrayal
-thinking one is better and superior to all others (EGO)–privileged, entitled
-inability to listen to others–total selfishness; I am IT, there is no one else
-overindulgence and intemperance–junk food, smoking, drinking, drugs
-bureaucracy, red tape
-politics
What Is Good?
-family, friends: their support, protection, nurturing
-people who listen and help others
-good luck and good timing (never discount these)
-Nature, natural beauty–birds, animals, pets, landscapes
-excellence in choices and one`s skills or talents
-those things that work, that one can rely on
-fulfilling work and its distractions–how it satisfies self
-having something one is really looking forward to
-touch, love and its distracting involvements and healing powers
-good food, air, sleep, health
-larger spiritual matters–deep inner nourishment of the soul
-literature, music, the arts
-thoughtful, sensitive conversation with kindred spirits