The December Frantasy and Reflection Upon a Year 2008
Well, it's that time of year again. Folks are frantically doing their requisite Christmas shopping and planning for that penultimate fantasy of getting together with family and friends.
Am I imagining this, or is it like ARTIC-COLD this year for December. Sure it is winter, but I live in California where the winters are mild and the living is easy. Not! Could it be...Global Warming...in reverse?
Or maybe I'm just getting older. Not!;-)
Anyway, for years now I have not bought into the frantasy - frenetic fantasy.
I love the spirit of love and closeness that the season can imbue. I love the getting together with family and friends. I hate the expectation and implied obligation of going into massive debt and spending stressful evenings and weekends looking for the right present for everyone you touch. That crazy-making, deeply meaningless repetition of institutional behavior is one I proudly can say is not a part of my repertoire anymore. And I am the better man for it. Truly.
I would rather spend my time reflecting on all the people, things and events that I am grateful for this past year. And what a year it has been!
December marks, for me, a full year of living life centered around my passion and purpose. Last December, I embarked upon a decision I had made after losing a very high paying job that took me quite a while in finding.
The circumstances for losing the job were baffling at the time and put me into a head spin of depression and a feeling of "okay, where do I go to now?"
The unexpectedness of it and the unwarranted reason for it made me obsess over how it could have happened.
Once I was able to get past the "how it could happen" somewhat successfully, I was able to focus on the "how can I use it to propel me forward in my life".
It was an "ah-ha" moment for me, to say the least. I realized that maybe the universe had already been talking to me, and finally I was listening...or was made to listen...or made myself receptive to listening.
I got it. Life is too short to be doing things that are not your purpose in life.
While I was making loads of money during this 8-month stint, I was not pursuing my passion, my purpose...performing...moving people in that way.
The universe spoke LOUD this time.
So I went out of the box, the comfort zone, the norm of the necessity of a secure 9-5 job and speculated that maybe I could swing surviving and pursuing my passion by making it the center of my life rather than relegating it to the periphery of it.
Through a patch-work of gigs and part time work and the discipline of spending time each day to cultivate it, I have managed to survive and thrive to a certain level upon using this paradigm. And I am loving the fact that I can. (Mind you, I have had help from the support of friends, both financially and emotionally.)
This is where I am most happy. This is where I can have true control over my life's direction to live my life's purpose : to move people through performing.
It is my joy, my pride and my rock.
The fact that it is a life long lesson to learn from and improve upon is a deeply ingrained value that I embrace and cherish.
So, I have been able to observe how my tenacity and perseverance have paid off. I have seen how planting seeds actually do create a bounty from which to create sustenance.
I do feel guided and watched over. It is a humbling experience. It creates great gratitude on my part.
This year has shown me that resourcefulness and stepping outside the box pays great dividends in accomplishment and satisfaction.
I often find myself thinking "I love my life". It is a life built for me. It suits me.
I have a mantra of "I lay down my sword and allow all good things in" and it has served me well.
This year has been one of setbacks and advances, all of which have made me better for it. I don't let the setbacks hinder me. They are just a change of direction. They are put there for a reason.
I am grateful for the wonders in my life. The birth of my grandson. Watching him grow each time I see him, his personality developing, the world ahead of him full of possibility. It reinvigorates me and reminds me that I am the same.
I look forward to 2009 and all the possibilities, all of the choices I will have, all the lessons I will learn.
I am grateful for the life I have.
Time is our inheritance. We choose how to spend it.
Till next time,
Ciao.
Rick
Am I imagining this, or is it like ARTIC-COLD this year for December. Sure it is winter, but I live in California where the winters are mild and the living is easy. Not! Could it be...Global Warming...in reverse?
Or maybe I'm just getting older. Not!;-)
Anyway, for years now I have not bought into the frantasy - frenetic fantasy.
I love the spirit of love and closeness that the season can imbue. I love the getting together with family and friends. I hate the expectation and implied obligation of going into massive debt and spending stressful evenings and weekends looking for the right present for everyone you touch. That crazy-making, deeply meaningless repetition of institutional behavior is one I proudly can say is not a part of my repertoire anymore. And I am the better man for it. Truly.
I would rather spend my time reflecting on all the people, things and events that I am grateful for this past year. And what a year it has been!
December marks, for me, a full year of living life centered around my passion and purpose. Last December, I embarked upon a decision I had made after losing a very high paying job that took me quite a while in finding.
The circumstances for losing the job were baffling at the time and put me into a head spin of depression and a feeling of "okay, where do I go to now?"
The unexpectedness of it and the unwarranted reason for it made me obsess over how it could have happened.
Once I was able to get past the "how it could happen" somewhat successfully, I was able to focus on the "how can I use it to propel me forward in my life".
It was an "ah-ha" moment for me, to say the least. I realized that maybe the universe had already been talking to me, and finally I was listening...or was made to listen...or made myself receptive to listening.
I got it. Life is too short to be doing things that are not your purpose in life.
While I was making loads of money during this 8-month stint, I was not pursuing my passion, my purpose...performing...moving people in that way.
The universe spoke LOUD this time.
So I went out of the box, the comfort zone, the norm of the necessity of a secure 9-5 job and speculated that maybe I could swing surviving and pursuing my passion by making it the center of my life rather than relegating it to the periphery of it.
Through a patch-work of gigs and part time work and the discipline of spending time each day to cultivate it, I have managed to survive and thrive to a certain level upon using this paradigm. And I am loving the fact that I can. (Mind you, I have had help from the support of friends, both financially and emotionally.)
This is where I am most happy. This is where I can have true control over my life's direction to live my life's purpose : to move people through performing.
It is my joy, my pride and my rock.
The fact that it is a life long lesson to learn from and improve upon is a deeply ingrained value that I embrace and cherish.
So, I have been able to observe how my tenacity and perseverance have paid off. I have seen how planting seeds actually do create a bounty from which to create sustenance.
I do feel guided and watched over. It is a humbling experience. It creates great gratitude on my part.
This year has shown me that resourcefulness and stepping outside the box pays great dividends in accomplishment and satisfaction.
I often find myself thinking "I love my life". It is a life built for me. It suits me.
I have a mantra of "I lay down my sword and allow all good things in" and it has served me well.
This year has been one of setbacks and advances, all of which have made me better for it. I don't let the setbacks hinder me. They are just a change of direction. They are put there for a reason.
I am grateful for the wonders in my life. The birth of my grandson. Watching him grow each time I see him, his personality developing, the world ahead of him full of possibility. It reinvigorates me and reminds me that I am the same.
I look forward to 2009 and all the possibilities, all of the choices I will have, all the lessons I will learn.
I am grateful for the life I have.
Time is our inheritance. We choose how to spend it.
Till next time,
Ciao.
Rick
posted by Rick at 12:38 PM
3 Comments:
I gave up that "frantasy" about the perfect presents and the guilt about not doing it long ago... like every Christmas I was broke! So now, I make something for my family that's creative and unique, try to send cards when I can... but basically just enjoy the company of my friends and family and the Christmas atmosphere...
I do have to tell you, you are an inspiration for me for someone making delicious lemonade from a pretty rotten lemon (I've got my share of them this year now... whew.). CONGRATS are in order -- so CONGRATS!!!
And may you have an even more successful love affair with your life in 2009!
Thanks Madley. How are things holding up for you?
Miss you. Do you have some time and do you feel up to and want to get together any time soon? Maybe a movie? I do have some discounted tickets for Landmark theaters, think Berkeley, that I can use and treat you to a movie. (I know Diane and you were supposed to go and then Diane had to back out. She's going crazy with preparing for the kids coming.)
Let me know.
Love you,
Rick
P.S. - Jake from ANMT is starting a choral group at ANMT. Did you get the email? It sounds really interesting. Wished I could do it...realistically.
Jake is now on facebook. He became a "friend" of mine. :-)
Would love a movie, anytime, especially since I know you've got as serious a movie-habit as I do! :)
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