I am sitting here inspired by certain individuals in my neighborhood. People that I know and love and who live nearby maybe or maybe I just heard about them and they are half way around the world. I am stretching the defination of neighborhood here. But what is important is the notion that there are amazing things going on in the world. There are amazing people doing amazing things.
They are quietly inspiring me to carry on when I’m not red hot. Some people have such amazing projects or challenges or sketchy outlooks that make my personal trail seem simple and straight forward. I can look at what they are up to and say too myself, “Come on get moving you lardbutt!”
I guess this morning I am in the “soaking in” mode. Don’t we have to bring in the good stuff and internalize it and digest it. Maybe combine some things that seem to fit together. Maybe put our personal spin on it and then it is ready to try out on our friends. Then they bat it around for a while and we work with it some more. Then finally, hopefully, we have something useful to contribute to what is going on in the neighborhood.
I am going out to lunch today with a woman who has always amazed me. She has and has had huge challenges that she has gotten under control and moves on to help others, lots of others. How can one person do that and still have a good hair day, right? I better go and ask a few leading questions and then just shut up and really listen.
My life seems so filled with incredible personalities these days. Did I finally know what to look for and seeked them out? Did some seek me out? Were they always there around me and I didn’t know what I was looking at? Are there more now than there used to be? Ah, I’ll just try and soak it it in for now and that will be enough, Felipe.
Such good thoughts today, my friend. Although we’re not physically nearby very often– this work thing takes up my whole day!– and I miss your close company, I nonetheless feel connected every morning.
Today you wondered about connections with others that we’ve not been aware of before. I know the answer for me, and it lies in ‘us.’ We lived on a small island togsather for almost 30 years before meeting. Had we met without some blatantly obvious common ground between us, we might have said hello and figured the other wasn’t our type o’ guy. But– those Flat Coat Retreivers. Imagine– Sture and Trygve gave us a glimpse into the soft soul of the other– at least that was my experience. Then hammer and nails. Then birds and beautiful shotguns — not appreciated by all, but holding an artful beauty for some. Then the ‘guys are always campling’ turned into camping. Then archery. Humor all along the way ( whooooaaaa, Dr Slepyan…!). Mostly — I hope– an enduring sense of a reliable friendship, even when I’ve had to keep myself light-footed to marry the woman I love, to find enough good work, to expand my family to include stepsons and in laws… all of that which has put some physical distance between us. Of course, galavanting around Spain as a conscientious Pilgrim wasn’t exactly a trip to the grocery store, either!
Point is– if WE are any kind of template– it’s all out there for the picking. We so get in our own way; miss Good all over the place. A lesson for me that arrived far later in my life than I now wish, but, (yeah yeah) better late than never.
Keep writing. I’ll try to soak.
Wow Steve-O ~ best comment ever, thanks. Let me know when you think it’s time to get some more dogs. There’s an idea. Phil.