JUST VISITING - Mark’s Musing Thursday Feb. 25, 2010

today’s Musing  written and published from Cranston in south- east  Calgary, near the Bow River valley

 

Morning walk: -2C/27F, more warm/melting this afternoon and through the weekend is great; it will mean a dirty coat for Gusta (and soggy on afternoon walks), but we like the fresh air, we were both doing a light sprint this morning; we’re happy!

 

So, do you know why we are here?  Where are we going?  Please, tell me, when will we get there?  It’s a another tough day, trash day, take on too much day, took on too much yesterday; woe, whoa, too many piles sitting next to too many piles, what can I do?

 

No right way, better way, wrong way; or ‘my way or your way’ – there is always at least a third way, one that may not require decision or action – which is, THE WAY we see it.  Some days all we need is a self-actualized perspective adjustment; no pill, just a reminder.  

 

We can’t ‘fix’ our friends or give winning advice every time; but, if their road is rough or journey sad, we can offer reminders that getting beyond our troubles is about perspective. ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ may work for most of us, but for some, down is down, blue is blue – they forgot why we are here. Goethe gave this gem: ‘What is important in life is life, and not the result of life.’ Just as important as McFerrin’s song. 

 

We are all life long tourists, just visiting earth, all with an open date return ticket for departure. We arrived on our parent’s initiative and may leave unexpectedly – but while here we should see as much as we can of this place, take pictures, buy souvenirs, enjoy people, make friends, soak us some culture and enjoy the hospitality because we are here for a long visit.  Being happy is not our mood every day, but why not?

 

Mark Kolke

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P.S.:  Oh yes . . .yes, Hammy, Olympics are on, Canada hosting the visiting world; we(Canada) are doing great – lots of fabulous news stories every day with Canada currently in 3-way tie for first, if we only count gold medals and in 3^rd overall. These are proud accomplishments  for Vancouver and our entire country. Yesterdays’ gold & silver medal wins in women’s bobsleigh plus another win for our men’s hockey team build on the momentum. I’m proud too – immensely so.

 

 

To those of you who don't follow 360boom e-zine on a regular basis, you might wish check out today’s feature article, OPERA FOR MULTIMEDIA by Derek Strahan.

 

 

RESPONSES/COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME; send to: mark.kolke@frameyourmessage.com  

 

February 24 Comments

 

February 24 – FLICK OUR SWITCH – Love the light touches in this one...anticipation of adventure is back and lights a shadowy room. JW-Cochrane/Calgary, AB

 

February 24 – FLICK OUR SWITCH - How can you say your best is behind you? No one can. Cause it simply means they have given up!  There is no doubt in my mind......today is the best day of my life. Why? Because I can make it be that way! I can accept what has been defined for it (out of my control) and then I can make choices , one by one, to enhance it.  I can choose the words of those who "flick on the light for us", like what I read in the morning before the business day starts .....and I  can be alert, open, and ready for anything that will light my path today.  And bravo to those who flick on the light for others.  You are correct, Mark, the "spirit"  within flounders in darkness.  we all need a "light" to get through the day, LAR, Winnipeg, MB

 

 

February 24 – FLICK OUR SWITCH - Mark , as a suggestion why not speak about Canada, Olympics and our success around the maple leaf which symbolizes our patriotism, the coming together to support each other and the youth of our wonderful country. You seem to be getting very deep, philosophically and reality is being missed., BH, Calgary, AB

 

February 24 – To Frances Ort, ( I Don’t Know where Grief Leads); Because it leads to an unknown.  There is no defined path. Your journey is unique. You will not find a widow to hand you a manual. (“Here Frances, you’re on page 47 of 842 in the Widow’s Story. Hang on, dear!….by page 182, you won’t tell everybody you meet that you weren’t always alone…..you were married ……before. Etc,Etc.  ) It’s not gonna happen that way.  What will happen…..if you can allow it. (And what choice do you have?) Is that you will embrace the uniqueness of your journey.  A journey that started with the unique relationship with your late husband. And before that, as the journeys of two joined.  ( I know not length of time, type of relationship etc….it doesn’t matter.)  All I know is that for you to write this article as you did, tells me, and all readers that you are on a plateau, a stone outcropping, on the face of a very high cliff.  And you want some hope that a rope will drop and lift you to the summit……painlessly.  Look deeper into Kahlil Gibran’s writings ..……….and see that the “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”  Can you imagine? The canyon in your being that still fills with pain and tears will someday be a vessel of joy? Why not take that chance?  Yes, you may feel that the grief defines and that no facet of your life is un-affected. If you need it now , if you need it to hold onto, there is no harm in that. There is process to this purpose and you are going through this because you need to , have to.  Who is out there to define our Journey of Grief. No one has the right to chart the course. It was a gift to you alone.  The day you see the blessing in that gift is the day your path will be visible.  No you have not become unscrewed. You had your direction changed …….sharply, harshly and yes……irrevocably.  It is your journey. Live it, embrace it.  Each painful step. But do not ever forget that it is with purpose and you will one day…….dance again, LAR, Winnipeg, MB