Serendipitous by Design
Have You Ever . . . Wondered
Welcome to my Blog.
I’ve decided to blog because I’m told it’s therapeutic to write down your thoughts and feelings.
To avoid waste, by that I mean, to avoid writing to have only a personal, momentary benefit, I decided to share — perhaps others may benefit from my ponderings and find peace by adding their own. Everyone has some things that keep them awake some nights. Here, It may be comforting to know: You Are Not Alone. Here, I am providing a space to exchange thoughts.
This is not to say that my mind is exciting. In fact, I would venture to say I’m common enough that if you looked up the word average, my face would appear there.
Except that I am so average — I’m not unique enough to be the chosen representation – ugh, the irony.
During my matriculation I was never Saluta- or Valedic- torian. Not even close. But I finished what I started – I stayed the course – I never dropped out. My average education, however, has served me well.
So, Here we go. Our first Blog together:
If this is the Journey,
What is the Destination
One day on my personal daily walk, I thought about a colleague (a former CPS teacher) and a story she told me about when she had taken her 4th grade students on a school field trip to the Botanical Gardens.
As many students tend to do on a field trip, immediately upon exiting the bus, the students’ excitement was obvious as they laughed and talked with their peers; paying very little attention to their surroundings. They walked through the garden at a speedy pace, in some cases running, in a rush to just “get there”. They moved with purpose and anticipation to get to whatever was next.
My colleague continuously tried to get her students to understand that they needed to slow down, take in the sites and enjoy the beauty of the grounds: The plants, the flowers, the landscape design; The sites they were rushing past, were the purpose of the trip.
Isn’t that just like life?
Here’s the question which I am sure you have heard numerous times: “What is the meaning of life’s journey?” “What’s life’s End Game?” “What is the destination we seek at the end of this journey?”
Is the totality of life just to live? Oh, yea, . . .
. . . if you are honorable, life is to help others live.
But at the end, unless you believe in something beyond this life, there’s nothing — so what’s it all about?
All living beings are instinctively programmed for survival. Humans in particular generally strive for survival of the species. Reproduce. Protect the young. Protect the leaders. Maintain livable standards. Why? Even people that aspire to go to “heaven” are not in a hurry to get there.
Like the students at the Botanic Garden, many people sprint through life not enjoying the beauty of their surroundings, the people, the events, the relationships; the conversations, the interactions, and especially now — the moment(s);
the beauty of the trees, and flowers;
the wind in their faces & hair;
the cuteness of the wild animals, their pets, including the irritable crawling bugs and flying creatures.
But This is the trip!
And when it’s over, there’s only,
(for the students)
the bus ride back
- We study and sacrifice time and effort in hopes to attain a desired end . . . a diploma or degree.
- We practice and train to attain an end . . . the gold, silver, or bronze medal or trophy — to win!
- We exercise and practice restraint in our diets to attain and maintain an end . . . a desired physical body shape and/or good health.
What is life’s end goal? After a lifetime of joy, pain, happiness, sadness, accumulating wealth, enduring lack, gathering material and non-material (memories, wisdom knowledge) things.
After a lifetime of. . . let’s call it “training“, what is the prize? The material items we accumulate throughout life are for what? . . .distribution? . . .destruction?
Valued material possessions are passed on and the inherited items are sifted through for value, passed on to Goodwill or . . .trashed.
The non-material, non-matter things (energy, that which can not be created or destroyed: thoughts, wisdom, acquired knowledge) is … well … can it be that it’s dispensed into the atmosphere and thus what is received and recognized as intuition or the little voice we hear as guidance from the unknown. Is it simply a form of waste?
What Are Your Thoughts?
It’s not lost one me that not everyone will agree with, or give credence to, what is said here. In no way do I even think this question is unique. Some of it may even seem to be quite radical, non-sensical, or perhaps appear to be a response too much time at home.
One of my mantras, though, is that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”, Gundi. I have started reading many books that I didn’t finish and later picked up the same book and couldn’t put it down.
I employ you, if you don’t find interest in the readings now, try reading it later, a few days, weeks, months or even years later. You may see it differently – or not ?
Nevertheless, when you are ready, make your comments, or not, but pass it forward. Perhaps, hopefully, someone else may find it entertaining and comment worthy — pass it on. I & perhaps others look forward to reading what you and others may have to say about the subject. Inquiring minds want to know.
I never ever . . . but perhaps I should. What are your thoughts on the question: If this is the Journey, what is the Destination?