I am supposed to be on my way back to Kentucky today. The weather here has conspired against me so I cannot leave. The problem is that it is too nice here to go back to cold rain and snow there. I’m not gloating, I’m just showing how weak I am. I do not like cold weather. I like it when I don’t have to wear my heavy boots and lined pants and heavy sweaters, and that is just to stay warm at work, inside.
As we prepare to relocate here (Palm Coast, Florida) and I contemplate my next chapter of life, my thoughts wander around to some of the philosophies of life that we have all heard. You know, the one where there is a “wonderful” purpose for your life. Or the one where if you think positive thoughts, you will have a great life. Or the health and wealth teachings that have no reality checks built in.
We can’t all be leaders. Who would be following? We can’t all be great public speakers, I know lots of people who are scared to death of being in front of a crowd. But we can all be the best human being we can. I think our “purpose” in life is to enjoy the people around us and help those who need help and to celebrate those who have the courage to live out loud and be themselves. I wear long sleeves sometimes so people won’t see my ink and judge me. Who am I hurting: me! I like my ink, it is there for a purpose and those who judge me are the one’s with the problem, not me.
I want to stop letting other people dictate how I live. If I try to not offend everyone, I will only be offending myself and who I am. Kierkegaard or Pascal wrote that there is a “god shaped” void inside each of us. I think that there is also a “me” shaped void that we refuse to fill as well. I want to fill that “me” void with life experiences and fearless living and memories of family and friends and fun.
I also think about how truly wealthy I am, not with money, but people. I don’t have a lot of friends, but I think the ones I have are the best kind of friends because they accept me with my wrinkles and tattoos and bad habits and character flaws. I want to be able to give that kind of unfiltered acceptance to anyone I meet. Underneath all our insecurities and hurts and perceived differences, we are all just human beings who want to live a good life and have someone love us for who we are, warts and all.
On an unrelated matter: if you enjoy my blog, please invite others to read it and to follow me. Have them go to http://purposefulgeek.com and have a look around.
Thanks, Charlie
The Purposeful Geek 