What happens when you are unconventional? You become different: you step into a world that is distinct from your confreres. Now, this presents a wide kaleidoscope. This uniqueness can extend from acts of criminality to simply wearing unorthodox clothes or dying your hair green.
One of the ways to truly go nonconformist is to take responsibility for yourself and your own life. Yes, you have a “cross to bear.” (1) There is something bad or several unfortunate incidences that have occurred in your life. Get over it! This is what Grandfather would say. It is in the past – put it in perspective! Now, of course, many can’t – or won’t! They need an excuse to fail and they have quite conveniently found one – or several.
This thinking must be altered if you want to find that elusive happiness, blessed peacefulness, awe-inspiring love and profound curiosity that lie within each and every human being.
Imagine this view on life: you find mornings always intriguing. They are invariably too early, but necessary to start a productive cycle. The blurriness of sleep leaves you after several moments and you “bolt upward” in appreciation for yet another time of life – yes, another day. What a gift to have consciousness for still another moment. It is this realization, I am sure, that all of us would like to pass on to the unwashed, the broken and the dissolute. Life is a bequest given to you and to you alone.
You are the only one who truly knows that you are alive. Your life greatness is just behind the door of your mind. Open it and the journey begins – avoid the handle or be unable to find it because of a lack of perception and the portal never unbolts. Which approach would you rather adopt: the one filled with pain and anguish of times past or the one filled with joy of the present and anticipation for a dynamic future? The answer would seem straightforward, wouldn’t it?
A strange curse is given to each of us. If we choose to lift the veil of inauthenticity, (2) all is possible. Conversely, if I choose to live my life shrouded in illusions and falsehoods that is where I stay. The “why” is answerable only to you, that unique individual: “Why am I alive; what is my life mission?” Why is my life mortal?” These are questions that only the beautiful you can answer. I can’t feel your pain. I can only try to understand your perception of the world as you try to understand mine. In this sense, we are the same. We are all a little atypical, but we all strive to be better beings or at least should. The famous Star Trek (3) actor, George Takei (b. 1937) leaves us with a thought: My grandmother lived to 104 years old, and part of her success was she woke up every morning to a brand new day. She said every morning is a new gift. Her favorite hobby was collecting birthdays.
A closing thought: We often say that your perception creates your reality, but this is sadly true. It is the self that adopts the world through the five senses. (4) It simply requires training to view life as imaginative and infinite. If we teach our adolescent charges at school that, in life, all is possible — with the caveat that life is also fickle – we will change the world. This is according to scholars such as Sir Ken Robinson. (5)
To sum up: This week, we spoke about originality. If each of us views life as unique to me, we will appreciate its rarity and power.
A small joke: A Buddhist monk approaches a burger food-truck and says “Make me one with everything.” The Buddhist monk pays with a $20 bill, which the vendor takes, puts in his cash box, and closes the lid. “Where’s my change?” the monk asks. The vendor replies, “Change comes from within.”
Just for fun – Sibelius : Concerto pour violon
This week, on your thoughtful walk, please ponder your power and originality.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: Sometimes remember to be gentle with yourself as well as striving towards your goals.
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