No man steps in the same river twice.
This post was inspired by recent events, a friend who has fallen ill, an e-mail from a friend (Anita), an audio book, The Secrets of the Power of Intention (Dr. Dwayne Dyer), and all of you who stop by and take the time to share your story. And last, but in no way least, my darling life-partner, my wife, Vera who helps me to believe.
Don’t die with the music still in your heart.
I have no idea who said that, nor does it matter. I want to explore what it means in this post, at least what it means to me.
Growing up, our well meaning parents tell us what is right or wrong. They tell us what to do. What not to do. How to do, etc. Though well meaning, it puts a clamp on things. It writes a script for us to follow in later years. On a larger scale, there is our society. If you look at different societies, you’ll see what is important varies by culture. In the middle east, perhaps it is religion and doing things the old way. In the United States it’s independence, having a good job, and making a good ‘show’ of things. Being successful. Being thin. Being the right color, the right size, the right _____, as if there were any such thing as the ‘right’ way to be.
Each day we march dutifully to the job that we were trained for, perhaps, or the one that we could get that would support our lifestyle. What is a lifestyle anyway? Is it a series of paychecks to allow us to have the right car, the right house, and the right stuff? We continuously put of things that we would like to do, things that may fulfill us in favor of the ‘script’ that has been written for us. We are minor bit players in our own lives. We should have the staring role, not a mere mention at the far end of the credits after the Best Boy and Gaffer! We trade our life for money and give over control to the ‘system’, or matrix if you will, as if we don’t have a choice. We do.
No one is promised tomorrow.
Africa: Anatomy of a decision
For starters, I have a very deep sense of responsibility. A sense to do what is ‘right’ for my wife, for my family, for my friends, paying bills, etc. For my entire life, I have been a very responsible individual.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to go to Africa. Perhaps it all started while I was watching Alex Haley’s Roots miniseries. Perhaps it started back in grade school when we learned about the exotic animals of the African plains. Perhaps it started with my subscription to National Geographic long, long ago. Perhaps it started when we studied slavery in school. I don’t remember, but it seems to be a constant companion. When I saw the advertisement to go to Africa with David DuChemin, I immediately felt it tug at my song, my heart strings. Immediately, I squashed it back down. Responsibility.
“I have these bills to pay. Tony is in private school. We are trying to help my wife’s parents. etc. I cannot possibly be irresponsible and go. No can do.”.
Knowing myself, I sent an immediate e-mail to my wife telling her that it would be nice to go. She responded the way that I knew she would:
“You need to go! You’ve been wanting to since I’ve known you. We can make it work!!!”.
Perhaps not an exact quote, but certainly the exact meaning. Will this trip be a life changing experience, certainly. Everything that happens in our lives changes it in some small way. As they say, no man steps into the same river twice.
Which way will you turn the volume knob?
How many times have you squashed that tiny voice that is telling you to follow your hearts desire? It doesn’t have to mean acting irresponsibly, but it does yearn to be set free. One of my other things that I feel that I ‘must’ do is to meet a lot of you. I’m already planning a trip with Chris, who just discovered my blog only a week or two ago. We are going to White Sands later this year.
How many times have you been affected by the sickness, or perhaps even the death, of someone close to you or someone you knew and said that you were going to make a change. You said that you were going to live your life out loud and unafraid, only to sink back down into the ego-protected space. That great pretender, the ego, a mere drop who thinks that it is the ocean. That ‘other voice’ telling you that good enough is good enough. Well, it isn’t. You deserve to give yourself much more. You are special.
I’m starting to hear the music, and by the way this blog is a big part of my music, and my feet are starting to tap …
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