Have you ever noticed that it is often the ones closest to us who attempt to limit who we want to become or dismiss what we attempt to achieve: why you may ask? The simple answer is fear. Though they truly love us, they are apprehensive to allow us to take a chance because they are afraid to take a gamble on themselves. To be fair if everyone were to be an adventurer, who would be at home tending to the animals and stoking the hearth? That said it is important for others to understand our apparent fearlessness. We too cannot truly comprehend this conservative approach to life.
What is necessary is for understanding. Both sets of individuals are essential to allow a healthy society to grow and prosper. The problem arises when one group attempts to suppress the aspirations or desires of the other. Explorers will never become conservative and people with a more cautious heart will never go and explore the moon. The advancement of human civilization, however, has relied on those with romantic or idealized attitudes for its development. Many of them on the cerebral or metaphysical side were duly punished – Christ (1) was crucified, Galileo (2) was sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest, and Nietzsche (3) was driven mad.
They were but a tiny segment of those individuals who stepped away from the conventional to something seen, during their lifetime, as blasphemous or anti-social. Yet, their approach overtime was recognized as essential to the evolution of mankind and his spiritual and intellectual thought. The easy stance would have been to acquiesce to the mores of the age and accept “good enough” – mediocrity and a conventional view of the world. They felt that they had a mission to be fulfilled or at least attempted during their “piece of life.”
This I believe is where the traditional approach and the intrepid perspective to life can find common ground. If each of us believes that life is a journey, then we can have a kindred association. It is true that we all want to lead successful lives – unless we possess a serious misunderstanding of life. The amount of resentful and unhappy older people (4) would indicate that this achievement is limited to but a few, unfortunately.
However, I have a friend, Keith, who is turning 90 this year. He still drives a car, has many friends and colleagues, and continues to teach art history and related subjects. He is not the bitter old man who slowly disappears into the ether. This person is still very much alive and continuing his mission of educating others in learning the skill of critical thinking and having an appreciation of our time on this earth. Let us thus do away with the anxiety and get on with the gift of fully living each and every day. Be an adventurer with your life, whatever that means to you.
The great writer and philosopher, Henry Miller (5) leaves us with a thought: By acceptance of all aspects of life, good and bad, right and wrong, yours and mine, the static, defensive life, which is what most people are cursed with, is converted into the dance of life – a metamorphosis.
A closing thought: We must take a chance on life – our life. This is an intrinsic part of what it is to be human. When we do this, we begin to comprehend humanity in all its beauty and creativity. The old will therefore feel valued and have something to return to the society and the young will appreciate their experience and expertise – not preaching but sharing.
To sum up: This week we spoke about the adventure of life – whatever that means to each of us.
To be noted: From Oliver Wendell Holmes (6) — The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.
Just for fun: Lynyrd Skynyrd Live Asbury Park 1977
For reflection: The Renaissance – the Age of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci
This week on your peripatetic walk, please reflect on the great explorer that beats in your breast.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: I must expose my great search for meaning in everyday life.
Footnotes:
1) Chronological Study of the Life of Christ
2) Galileo
4) Don’t let life make you sour, surly, bitter and cynical