Life's
a Trip!
“Whether
drifting through life on a boat or climbing toward old age leading a
horse, each day is a journey and the journey itself is home.”
Basho
I'm
working on a wall quilt at the moment that is titled, “Going with
the Flow.” Since it was commissioned for someone's lake house, I
felt only a water theme would do, but something about it has been
unusually difficult. I finally realized that 'going with the flow' is
an alien concept for me—I'm more given to swimming against the
tide. How about you? Does drifting through life on a boat feel
native, or would you be the one leading a horse you could just as
easily ride?
I'm
sure scientists would tell me that all dispositions have to do with
brain chemistry—if you have enough dopamine, serotonin, endorphin,
blah, blah, you're more likely to float through; the less you have, the rougher the ride. I'm sure that's true. But I also think we come
here with an orientation toward life that determines how we attack
everyday challenges. Some of us just want to paddle our own canoe. In
fact, some of us want to paddle everybody's canoe, or at the very
least, tell them how it should be paddled. Some of us want to
be rescued from endless plowing through the water, and will happily
turn the oars over to anyone who will take them. Some of us just quit
trying to get where we're going, and let the water take us where it
will. However we approach the journey, we're all on this
river together.
At
some point, we realize the journey itself is the destination.
Everyday is new; carries with it unique ebbs and flows, sometimes
dangerous rocks, sometimes smooth sailing. We may as well settle in
for the ride. We can hone our net skills and maybe catch a few
glittering fish along the way. If we're fortunate, we meet other
sailors who teach us what we need to know. And, there will be a few
who turn our boat upside down. It's a trip, brothers and sisters! I
hope you have some well developed muscles.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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