NEW BEGINNINGS?

It’s funny how we all land here on this big rock called earth, and we all have only a very short time here. For some it’s ten years, for others eighty. Nobody knows exactly. But yes, we are all born ad we all die, only what’s the real point of this time in the middle?

Are we human beings on a spiritual mission or vice versa, or maybe there is no deeper meaning at all? Is it simply a pointless quest or a journey? Again, nobody knows for sure. I find this exciting.

Now, depending on people’s religious or spiritual views, even if they’re atheist, the answer to this what’s the point question may differ greatly. Yet, where all these opinions tend to fall down is when we say “prove it”. I find this and these debates exciting. But I also think that this is one of the things that makes our finite time so interesting, the quest for answers.

Like there is so much that we know but there is so much that we don’t know, for instance, this could even stray to a question such as how  does electricity work? Nobody knows. Then take the complexities of the human body, what an exquisite gift. But how does cancer fail to be cured, why are some genes defective? How come the cycle of the moon impacts some people? How can quantum physics benefit our lives? I’m so curious.

But getting back to electricity, most of us are fortunate enough to use this every day. However, some just aren’t this lucky, in fact, some struggle to find enough food to eat every day. But why? Is this past life karma? An inherited curse? Or, why are some of us so fortunate when other folks live in such squaller and pain? It seems very unfair to me and a very unlucky hand. For this I am not curious, rather I’m perplexed.

Similarly, some of us blessed with fully functioning and capable bodies whereas some are not. But again why is this so? Why are some of us forced into a life of limitation and lack? Is this a challenge set by a higher power? Then, why do some of us get a full life and others have it cut short? A disease, an accident, gun shot, our fragility is so real. This gift of life can come crashing down so fast, sometimes we don’t even know what has hit us. I absolutely hate this.

So many questions, so few answers. Are we simply clowns in a circus act? I mean, I can definitely see parallels with a juggling act, even a balancing act, and for certain you could call this one big video game.

Only moving right along though… wow, connection and human interaction, another quest but this time for love (even acceptance). Now, this could be romantically, plutonic, whatever, but above all we crave to be part of something or a tribe. We crave to be seen and heard, which also in a way justifies our existence. We feel that loving another and that reciprocated love brings us worth. But again some of us are not quite so lucky.

Actually, this topic of worth might need more unpacking. You see, for some, beauty and the pursuit of perfection is what gives them worth – but no matter, I assure you that everyone is capable of doing a big fat smelly turd. Haha. Truly, deep down we’re just clever animals, I think people forget this. A brand name or the car that we drive doesn’t give us worth, it’s our hearts, it is simply that we’re here.

But while we’re talking about worth, contribution definitely falls within this scope too. We create, pass forth, help out, even work jobs. Primarily this is how we give back to something bigger than ourselves. However, in another regard, some people think their job is their identity and the only thing that brings purpose and meaning to their lives. Which to an extent, I agree with this, for instance being a human rights lawyer would be pretty cool, only what about the convenience store clerk. Don’t they have worth and provide value too? Doesn’t everyone have a place?

I don’t know, maybe I’m an idealist, but doesn’t everyone have worth?

And a story to tell, something to teach, give, offer?

We are all so unique yet all so similar, it is truly beautiful.

So, why all the war, violence and unrest? Aren’t people also inherently good? Well, for some reason people crave outwardly power, they forgot who or what they really are and let their ego take over. Actually, I’m still not sure what the fascination is with power, I mean I’d much rather lift people up than push them down. Maybe it’s significance? A misconception of responsibility? Maybe it’s even attention seeking or a lack of self-worth? But hey, this is definitely another thing that spikes my interest.

For me anyway, I’d much rather get my thrills from the pursuit of happiness and adventure. Don’t be selfish, be ambitious. The world is a truly amazing place, so much to do, see, feel, hear and smel, so relish in it. Create or build something, progress the human race, don’t waste your finite time on the meaningless.

Bring joy, have joy, be joy. Make someone else’s day better. Do the little things.

We all have this opportunity. To choose ourselves or to choose others. To educate or aggravate. Which, I suppose, it all comes down to what is important us individually. But again, this raises another question, where did we learn what is important to us? Societal pressures? Nature versus nature? Exposure? Cosmopolitan magazine? Or, have we once again let our egos take ever?

As I mentioned earlier, life really is such a balancing act. To do or not, hide or seek, laugh or cry. Only what is the real point to all this? Is it to experience as much as possible, to open your heart, to find what you love and do that? Even to pro-create or make a difference? Well, honestly, I don’t have definitive answers to any of these questions. Sorry. Yet I do have mu hunches and beliefs, so as a general rule I operate from these. I hope your inner guide is well tuned too

But what I do know for sure, this life is full of options and choices, especially for those of us privileged enough to be living in the western world. Then, another thing I know for sure, we will all die one day and the world will continue to go on without us. Mount Everest will still stand, probably the Taj Mahal too, plus, I’m sure this internet metaverse will blossom and we’ll most likely become an inter-planetary species.

It all makes me feel so small and insignificant – because in reality I am. Much like most of us, I won’t be remembered, my life will be a mere blip on a radar.

It’s sad to think about but I’d say this is a fate that most of us will face. In one hundred or so years from now nobody will know us let alone remember our names. Well, that is unless you’ve worked hard enough and get a bronze statue or have something named after you like Planet Musk. Still, it’s a pretty sobering thought.

Only again, this raises the question, so what is the point?

Well, I do like to keep things simple, so I’d say: give what you can, create a body of work, love deeply, ask yourself the big questions, find your answers. But most importantly make it count. Because, yes this could be that blip on the radar, when we die it may be the end, but this also could be the beginning.

Written for my friend Jason.