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What's It All About?
"Really!?" she said, seemingly surprised. I felt an invitation to commiserate: Yes, isn't it awful? Try as we might, we'll never find lasting balance, peace, or center. Maybe it was the glorious October sun or my invigorating morning swim, but instead I said, "Yes, we're all human. Isn't it great?!" Where Is My Spirit? I didn't always feel this way. Thirty-seven years ago, just married, I went through a particularly rough patch. My dad died unexpectedly six months after my wedding day, I was living thousands of miles from home in an apartment with paper-thin walls, and nothing seemed to make any difference any more. My mantra from Stevie Wonder's current hit album was, "Where is my spirit? I'm nowhere near it." One evening, angry and sad, I told my new husband that life was meaningless, pointless. Why work? Why do anything? We're here for such a short time and then it's over. What's it all about? Jim - a philosopher - who actually thinks about questions like "What's it all about?" surprised me by agreeing with me. He said that meaning is an illusion. To some this is depressing. To others it's freeing. The Buddha found it enlightening. After sitting under the Bodi tree for seven years, as the story goes, it was the seemingly small and meaningless action of a woman offering him a bowl of rice that precipitated his awakening. Jim continued to expand on the slippery subject of the meaning of life. I listened, touched by his kindness, but philosophical theory was no match for my state of being then. It took many years and life experiences to develop my own reasons for being. I've come to believe that I construct the meaning of my life through words, actions, and thought. This is what Jim had in mind when he said meaning is an illusion. Life happens. Things just are. We create the meaning. I may still not know exactly what it's all about, but I believe that the meaning I make can have an impact for good. You may know the story of the young boy assiduously picking up starfish on the beach one day and throwing them, one by one, back into the ocean. A passerby, seeing this, pointed out the uncountable starfish still left and asked the boy why he was bothering; he could work all day and not make a difference. The little boy picked up another starfish, threw it into the ocean and said, "It makes a difference to this one." Every day, every moment, we make a difference. Our actions create ripples like the aftereffects of a pebble thrown into a pond. These actions emanate from our beliefs. Remembering this helps me choose my beliefs and the meaning I make of what life throws my way. "This being human is a guest-house." (Rumi) Notice the gifts. And return to center. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict and the award-winning e-zine, Ki Moments. Judy is a black belt in aikido and nationally known presenter, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a positive work environment. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit www.JudyRinger.com |
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