Catching the moment

The first several weeks, of either the beginning of school or the return to work after an extended vacation, are turbulent, to say the least. We quickly forget the pleasures associated with rest and the joy of family and old friends. We must plunge “headlong” into the tasks at hand. Why does paper on a desk seem to grow exponentially when we are away? All of this, I remind myself is self-created, albeit the vacation itself or the anxiety that I now experience. Calming these feelings, is, of course, a lot easier “said than done.”

We often hear the expression, “small is beautiful.” This phrase was the title of a book published in 1973 of the same name. (1) Written by E. F. Schumacher, it warns us that big – meaning over-production and over-consumption – will be the bane of civilization. In short, to paraphrase, I must become small and modest as a life entity if I am to help save the planet. “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. … It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. … We must do what we conceive to be the right thing, and not bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we are going to be successful. (This is) because if we don’t do the right thing, we’ll be doing the wrong thing, and we will just be part of the disease, and not a part of the cure.”

What can this possibly mean? Everything about my life is big and designed to get bigger – bigger position, bigger money and of course, bigger (read more) things. The request to do the opposite is difficult to comprehend, in reality. One way that I get on a path in the opposite direction, according to many sages, is to look at the small life-forms around me – and there are many. This is a principle that we can apply to our busy lives. I know this, I thought to myself, and quickly filed this knowledge in my “I understand the world” box. Now I don’t have to deal with this.

Now to my story: The other evening, filled with self-importance and haste (Yes, I was busy), I was racing to a local university to present a class. I was in “full-stride” as I exited the parking lot and headed to the lobby of the institute. Just as I was to mount the stairs, however, I chanced to look down. There was a virtual highway of ants going “about their business.” I stopped and followed their teleological path into a dark and narrow cave beside the sidewalk. Then it struck me! “Wow,” I remarked to myself. “These ants certainly did not know how busy I am; how involved I am; how committed I am. Worse: they simply don’t know I exist and have no capacity to care about me, anyhow. I am, to put it mildly, irrelevant.” Whether I had a sojourn and then returned to school or to work, “to eventually solve all the problems of the world,” had absolutely no value to them. I was simply “not.” I did not breathe. Their action is a statement on the pointlessness of stress and anxiety. I had to ponder and remind myself that, though these negative emotions will not go away immediately, life is meant to be, ultimately, pleasurable and uplifting, not filled with disquietude and trepidation – and small is beautiful. But, I must find that out for myself.

The iconic scientist, Albert Einstein (1879-1855) leaves us with a thought: A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.

A closing thought: The point to all of this is to prompt myself that I have but one life to live, in this reality. What kind of existence do I finally want to complete? This must be up to me. I create my reality through my five senses (My sense of smell, my sense of taste, my sense of touch, my sense of sight and my sense of sound. There is a six-sense, I believe, for those more intuitive and spiritually connected, that links us to God and the universe). How I solve the personal crises we all experience will determine whether I finish my mission or not. It is an exciting life and this I must remember — but that I must determine, personally.

To sum up: This week we spoke about imagination and noticing the magnificent small creatures that live amongst us.

To be noted: (Again from Albert Einstein) Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed.

Just for fun: Hauser & Caroline Campbell – Czardas

This week on your grand walk, please take notice of the small creatures around you and the environment that they inhabit.

Every day look for something magical and beautiful.

Quote: I must awake every day with gratitude and anticipation.

Footnotes:

1) Small is Beautiful by E. F. Schumacher (ISBN 978-1473-569-53-9)