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EXAMINING LIFE
Thursday Feb. 4, 2016
Life puts us in handcuffs sometime, most often when we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations that, when we trace back, are product of our own action (or inaction), our own thoughts (or failure to think), wanting to be on-purpose when so much feels on-accident.
Aimlessly, shamelessly, selfishly – doing what I want when I want with whom I want has become intoxicating contradiction with what society, community and friends imply, which is to what is expected when expected in the way that is expected … thinking which shackles the body as well as the mind. I’ve never been physically shackled …
Our journey comes alive, is brought to life, when we recount our stories, when we recall glorious happy times – those memories, and telling of them, illuminates us. Lifts us. Lifts whoever we laugh with, or who we have lunch with. What are men (women too I suppose) supposed to do when, so far into their journey, they find a friend they wish they’d met so very long ago?
I am my path.
My path is me, my journey is me.
You, you there …
And you over there – you take your own, make your own – sometimes as leader, sometimes nearer the end of the pack. On purpose, deliberate. Calculated. Reasoned-out. Or, sometimes, without reasons. Not some path of least resistance, as water would choose – determined to find its way to the sea, my path batters away at barriers the way a ram knocks heads with his rivals, no victory without a few headaches along the way.
Sometimes beginning with the end in mind.
More often, without clue where each day might lead.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: Yesterday I sat with my writing mentor – someone I met thirteen years ago. We had lunch, and I interviewed him for next week’s issue of FACILITYCalgary. My respect for his mentorship grew, my understanding of his humanity – his brilliance as a person grew. I used to think him much older and wiser than me. I realize now the gap isn’t so great – and our paths, while different, have been created in some perversely similar ways. He made my day, possibly my whole month – when he sent me a text last evening which read: Plato (or one of those Greek guys) said: “the unexamined life is not worth living”. So today you made my life more worth living
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -3C/27F, overcast, gentle breeze – Gusta doesn’t understand, ‘could you hurry up please – I have to get back to make the bed, fold laundry and tidy up before the cleaning ladies arrive at 9’, so I was herding … as if she was a cat it seems ...
Reader feedback:
EVERY DAY PLANTING
Hi Mark – Simply stated but powerful. The old adage “It is better to give than receive”, perhaps should be changed to “It is good to give and be open to receive”! Have a good day, MK, Calgary, AB
I've been making a more determined effort to sow seeds of friendship the past few years - as I approached my 60s. We lose more and more friends and family as we age - but we don't stop needing people in our lives. My friendship garden is a treasure. :), RL, Calgary, AB
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