Way back in undergrad, I majored in Philosophy
because I actually wanted to study wisdom.
At the time I didn't give much thought to how that choice
would (not) benefit me in the marketplace.
I didn't think about it because I did not view myself
as a market dweller, but as an earth dweller.
I don't live in a mall.
I live on a planet.
Thirty years later, I am even more disconnected
from the myth that our lives are intended
for constant gorging, buying, wasting, numbing, rushing.
No.
My identity is anchored in love. Not stuff.
And I'm organizing my entire life around this truth.
I know the things my soul longs for,
and it's not merchandise.
Well, maybe a little is merchandise (technology!),
but it's not the main thing. It's the supporting thing.
So one day I just found myself completely out-of-step
with culture's push to earn, and burn.
My heart demanded more of me.
When I tried to make it conform (ouch!) and go mainstream,
it called me a liar.
That is no way to live, in constant disagreement
with yourself, and your values.
I started daydreaming about a simple, unhurried, low-carbon life
that would support my desire to study, write, create, explore,
and make beauty and harmony.
Because those are the kinds of pursuits you can give yourself to
when you're not chasing dollars, like a rodent on a wheel.
After coming to peace with the fact that I was not put on this planet
to collect and compare possessions,
I took on the tingly assignment of asking myself:
"Well, why then? Why were you put here??"
You are welcome to share your answer in the comments.
I hope that you do!
The above was a "memory" of a Facebook status FROM FOUR YEARS AGO!
So I can draw some comparisons between "then" and "now."
I have made a lot of internal progress since that original writing.
And a decent amount of external progress as well.
The simple meaning of my life has been to do as plants do,
and grow toward the light.