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NO BIG SIGN
Monday May 27, 2019
Life revolves.
Like earth around sun, our lives revolve around something.
Obvious ones – family, career, community.
Less obvious – hobby, sport, art.
Less obvious – church/religion, dietary habits, exercise.
Our sleep/wake cycles involve these things – not by design but as byproduct of what we are focused on, driven by and consumed with.
If you meet someone who is driven they don’t act fanatical, but their pursuit is likely unwavering.
Marathon runners look it, those who lift weights a lot look it too.
Those who motorcycling open roads or climbing peaks look it. But Harley fanatics only wear their leathers on the road, religious fanatics show it on their Sabbath – while extreme focus on other things is probably not known much outside the person’s tight circle of family and friends.
I wonder, if having my life revolve around writing will ever distinguish me from another face in any crowd? I was at a reading recently – that room full of writers and readers, and you couldn’t tell them apart. OK, everyone looked brilliant of course, but we looked no different than another group of people hanging out in a book store on a Wednesday evening. I’m sure if we were at a bike shop, a gym, hiking mountains or at a rock concert we wouldn’t have been distinguished from others there either.
My point?
Everybody’s life revolves around what matters to them, matter enormously. We won’t know unless we get to know them well enough to learn …
Few people wear a big sign or boldly reveal what their life revolves around.
For that, you need to get close to them.
Even then, will you see?
Reader feedback:
Hi Mark, My husband John and I have been travelling ( we just finished a 52 day cruise from Trieste to Tokyo) and was reading your columns intermittently. Whenever I caught up it always amazed me how the MESSAGE hit the BULLSEYE. Have you heard about THE THIRD ACT film festival in Calgary? I feel it would interest you. Check it out. In year 2 it is at Glenbow museum theatre between June 7 and 9. Keep writing … your words inspire, JR, Calgary, AB
Awe Mark…control…humm. There is a saying something like: Thinking we have control over life makes God laugh. We certainly do have the luxury of living in Canada for sure! We certainly do have control of our reactions, decisions, intentions, choices…but overall…I doubt control plays much of a role…’just sayin’. I hope you are being extraordinarily kind in your internal dialogue with yourself as you evaluate your journey of discovery! That you can control, SF, Lethbridge, AB
Good thoughts Mark. Cheers, TL, Calgary, AB
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