DRAMA NOT REQUIRED
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
today’s Musing written and published from Cranston in south- east Calgary, near the Bow River valley
Morning walk: 4C/39F, clear, heat on my back, we walked down to the lagoon where a cacophony of birds, frogs and crickets played, morning sun- their guest conductor; Gusta trotted along, undisturbed by her usual distraction-types.
I fell asleep last night, engaged in a compelling TV drama, but overcome by a greater need to ease into sleep . . . where drama takes a holiday and sweet dreams take over.
We all seek happiness, don’t we?
If we had a bad day, we want today to be happier. If we didn’t achieve our goal yesterday, today will be OK. If we don’t today, then tomorrow will work. My point is that happiness is not a destination, a prize or winning some contest, or someone. It is not drama, but more like anti-drama. I find that peace in gardening, golfing, writing, cooking and – of course – in sleeping.
I like to play golf. I like to play par golf, with the occasional birdie. If, over time, over a number of rounds, I can par each hole on the course, does that not make me a par golfer? In my mind, that works for me and keeps me interested. I don’t have to par them all on the same day to feel good; my satisfaction comes in knowing I can.
In every other element of my life – I know I can succeed. I have great ideas, clever solutions, incredibly diverse experience and know-how-to-do-it. I don’t succeed every time out, I don’t win every time I take a swing, but I know I can do it. I keep playing. I win some, lose some . . . and some are always uncertain.
I have learned, as Confucius warned – to know that I don’t know that which I don’t know, but I still love trying every time I try. Winning is great, tasting the prize is delicious – but every time I win at something, I don’t usually learn a lot. I feel good, but learning is minimized, because success is not usually dissected.
But, losing/failing - is another matter. We almost always learn from that. Maybe not in the moment of loss, but when we examine defeat’s entrails, answers are usually there – solutions to a future problem have been planted.
Some days, all we do is out-put. Yes, we put out!
We put out work, effort, sweat and emotion to achieve things we try. Whether taking out the trash, winning a project or just putting in a day’s work at a factory – we all have output, through-put, a measurable bunch of putting that can be mapped on a chart or measured in physical terms.
Some days are counter-balanced with in-puts (not to be confused with putts that go in).
Things come to us, things and ideas are planted in us by others, information flows from every pipe we are connected to – often endlessly in such volume it is hard to filter the value from the mass mess of it.
When I watch TV, some company is saying buy my car, a clear competition to make sure I don’t buy his competitor’s car because the advertiser knows I likely won’t buy a car today. He simply wants me to have his car in mind the next time I am shopping.
People market themselves that way too – laying out what we want to know, beckoning us close if we want some more of what they are selling; or, pushing us away if we aren’t their cuppa’ whatever criterion is in play.
Proof of happy life is falling asleep when fatigue and comfort demand it – and waking up to chocolate cake for breakfast. Not every day. Some days, apple pie works too.
Proof of happy in your life, is falling asleep content with who you are and knowing, whether you sleep in the arms or lap of someone dear, that you have no reason to fear waking up to greet a new morning, wherever you are, whatever you have for breakfast.
Mark Kolke
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May 10 - YES IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE - Comments Received
Hello 19 year old. As I’ve often expressed to you my impression that you are younger than you are, this surprises me not. youthful exuberance, no hesitation as you forge through people, relationships, experiences… 19 sounds just about right. Dvorak concert was lovely. I got a chance to visit with Yizak and Katherine today and enjoyed their stories and memories of my parents. It was lovely to spend time with people who knew and cared for them. Crazy schedule still, while I am becoming accustomed to the big hole in my house, I confess to being quite excited about the day in the future when I have a front door again. You sound well, hope that is true, FO, Kula, HI
