How to Read Old Man and the Sea

I came across this inscription in a Harvard bookstore’s used section. It seems to be advice that a father is writing to his daughter about reading the short, simple book, “Old Man in the Sea.” The advice resonates me with not only as words of wisdom about the book, but also as guidance to live by. Slow down. Enjoy. Savor the space between the words, the meaning tucked into the simplicity.

The Passing of Time

Mark time with life.

How do you mark the passing of time? Is it the changing of the leaves that announce the rotations of the earth? What awakens you to the fact that you are older than last year? We live so much of our lives in streams, beautiful thoughts which grow and evolve without stopping, thousands of emails and Facebook updates daily which have no memory, they only know more. How do you know when time passes then, is it when the day turns to night? And then do you greet the morning? Do you say hello when the night shifts from light blue to dark blue to black, do you?

I’m pictured here with my one year old niece. Last time I was home, she was less than 10 pounds. Since then has learned to walk and talk. Recently she said “cat.” How nice it is to mark time now. No longer am I measuring on the how long ago did I graduate college or high school, or the distance between now and 9/11.  I am now marking my time as she grows.

Mark time with life.

Here Again

Colour and Snow, originally uploaded by TORIMBC.

Before there was urgency, there was the silence, and before that, the hum. I never knew what called to me, and now I still do not know: The empty heart full of snow; a mountain of ash; skies looking up to see cities. Here again is the dream. I have opened myself to all the things that frighten me, the death of this body, the opening of this mind, there is nothing here: a fallen leaf against my head. Answers, at last, answers and not questions leave me empty – a universe swallowing itself to safe face – a star needing to but refusing to explode.

And End Like This

Sunday Is Gloomy, originally uploaded by Hamed Saber.

At some point you arrive at the end. There is always more beyond the end; there is more to sort and more to see. But the end must be greeted with the still pause of life, must be welcomed, a final and needed stillness within the motion surrounding everything, the silence within the noise, the place where the brain rests inside a hammock of peaceful pondering unbound by time, free from agendas, and protected from ever being perfect–perfectly content in the solitude of an ending fit for such a day.

Funeral thoughts

I attended a funeral tonight of a man who made people laugh, who was honest, joyful and real. It was an honor to call him a friend. Unlike any funeral I have attended, the joyfulness of his life was felt in the room. When the speakers spoke, they shared experiences that all pointed to the joy he brought to this world. One of the speakers was a lifelong friend, and as adults their families spent time together. This speaker said of his friend, “you were the father that I wanted to spend my fatherhood with.” That really moved me.

Random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness, originally uploaded by merfam.

I found this picture on Flickr when looking for an image to illustrate a random act of kindness that just happened to me. A small thing really, a grocery store clerk saw what I wanted to buy, knew there was a coupon for it and scanned it for me without me asking. He did not expect to be recognized, and he didn’t do it for praise either. This small act gave me a big idea. What if instead of simply focusing on inspiring ideas and big sentiments for this blog, also including the small moments when things like this inspire me. I believe that collecting them in one place, celebrating them really, will be good. So, tell me about your random act of kindness story?

What We Save

notebook page 1, originally uploaded by rachelyra.

I moved recently and threw so much away. Boxes with board games, wool sweaters, blenders, toys for kids and dogs, paintings from flea markets, pictures, ads from vintage Life magazines, a broken vacuum cleaner, holiday greeting cards, socks with holes and a cowboy hat to name just a few things. As I created piles for Goodwill, to throw away and for the new place, I found myself not just sorting items into categories, but actively looking for a certain thing to save…The small notes I wrote on napkins, the line of poetry scribbled on a meeting agenda, a ticket stub meant so more more to me than most of what I owned. Why is it that it’s not until you get to throwing away items and sorting them that you realize how important they are?

This made want to bring these reflections and notes into my life more often… And it also now reminds me of a story a close friend told me. She asked me about my favorite restaurant, and I told her. Then she said how often do I eat there, and the answer was far less than many other restaurants I frequent monthly. You think if it were my favorite I would visit it more often?

On the Wall in Harvard Square

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this photo from my iPhone while wandering around Harvard Square.  It’s a Sherpard Fiery piece located on a random wall near a hospital and a frozen yogurt shop. What I love about the work is how others have added to it. It’s the aging from the street, combined with the local graffiti, that makes this so beautiful.

Building vs. The Now

O velho no caminho, originally uploaded by jaci XIII.

I have a ritual, a small one but an important one. It’s listening to the On Being podcast during evening work outs, very late, when no one is around. The subject matter is compelling and complex, and it’s exhilarating to exercise the mind and the body at the same time.
Yesterday, I listened to the On Being podcast on “The History of Doubt,” recorded in 2007. Two anecdotes about Alexander the Great were discussed, which I want to share with you. I’ll share one today and the other soon.

Here is an excerpt from a conversation between Alexander the Great and the cynic and philosopher Diogenes:

“One day, Alexander the Great visited Diogenes. Alexander was Diogenes’s biggest fan and had dropped by to pay his respects. At the end of the visit, Diogenes asked Alexander what his plans were. Alexander answered that he planned to conquer and subjugate Greece. Then what? Diogenes asked. Alexander said that he planned to conquer and subjugate Asia Minor. And then? Alexander said that he planned to conquer and subjugate the world.

Diogenes, who was not easily dissuaded from a line of inquiry, posed the question again: What next? Alexander the Great told Diogenes that after all that conquering and subjugating, he planned to relax and enjoy himself. Diogenes responded: Why not save yourself a lot of trouble by relaxing and enjoying yourself now?”

This theme is timeless and reoccurs in different cultures. I know you’re familiar with the Carpe Diem concept. It’s also something I struggle with, this tension between building for a great future and living fully in the present. They do not have to be mutually exclusive.

At least I hope not.

the poetry voice

Coming down the hill, originally uploaded by Steve-h.

Why do people read poems like they are yawning, or trying to awaken some great fog in their throat. Whose voice is that they use, whose voice that says those words as if using that voice – that poetry voice – makes the world more holy. That’s why I love images more than these words, spoken in this way, because no voice is needed for an image.