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LIFE IS SURPRISE
Thursday Dec. 19, 2013
If any one of us vanished from the earth, it would continue on virtually unchanged without us.
So, then, if that is true – does it matter what we do?
If we have a dream, make a choice, take an action or float an idea, can it really matter?
Or, if we stifle it, will that make any difference either?
When we get surprised by life, is it shock at the difference between a reality and our perception – or wide-eyed and child-like amazement at what is possible?
To be clear, I’m not advocating lawless or ill-tempered behaviour – but I am advocating free thinking, adventuring, imagining and creativity.
My point?
Do what has never been done. Try what you’ve never tried. Believe you’ll make a difference in someone’s day – even if that is only you – if you stretch out to imagine life differently.
Because you will.
This time of year, when people tend to review this year behind us, predict a new one ahead – analyzing each. As if we had wisdom on our side.
But we don’t.
We only have our point of view, vantage point, way of seeing things.
Occasionally we are awakened to a new way of seeing things – nuance, or revelation. In shock and awe, or with a giggle, our reactions range from brilliant to absurd.
My friend Frances told me yesterday she hadn’t paid much heed to news at all for over three years. We laughed and confirmed our agreement the world had managed just fine without her vigilance. I laughed even more because – as a confessed news and politics junkie – I can’t imagine being out of touch with something I care about that much for three days let alone three years . . .
Yet, if I too ignored news of the world, my result would be the same – the world would get along just fine without me.
But that isn’t the point, is it?
The world can get along without me, or Frances, but can we get along without it?
We don’t need the whole world.
We need pieces of it, some of its people, goods and services.
And we need to matter, if not to the whole world, at least to someone.
We aren’t perfect and people we need are unlikely to be perfect either.
Their motives and ours don’t need to be same to be compatible, their values and ours don’t need to be aligned perfectly for us to be perfectly aligned.
Caution, patience and reluctance are pretty commonplace things. Though I often rail against them, they are in me too – but not as much as they used to be. My view, my analysis and prediction, reviewing this past year – and my looking glass into this one just ahead:
“Life is full of surprises.”
How many times have we heard – seen, felt and realized that is true?
Life is full.
Life is surprise.
Surprise is life.
Life is more full, I think, when every moment is surprise – unexpected, unplanned, un-figured out.
It just happens.
Like a toddler learning.
Or by what we learn about life, in our amazement, watching that toddler learning?
Mark Kolke
200,440
column written/ published from Calgary
morning walk: -20C / -4F, brrrr, clear, we walked our long-loop and found sidewalks actually walkable for once, snow abated for a couple of days. Considering winter’s official first day hasn’t arrived yet, the season certainly has
Comments Received:
The internet is painfully slow here, and I haven't been able to get to your website to check all columns, but I did read today's. Wonderful revelation yourself, Mr. Kolke. Indeed - we are all we ever need - and I'd take it a step further and say that we can manifest whatever else we think we need and/or want from within. I truly believe that, but am having some trouble in practice, CM, Calgary, AB (sent from Loreto Bay, Mex.)
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