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| Articles: Now Where Did I Put That Thing? |
Posted by
Raina on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 04:52 AM PST
There are so many paths in each of our own lives, how do we know where to go? What if we get lost? Who do we go to and ask for help? What if we're too tired of all the confusion to even look?
I think at birth (in each world) each of us is given a map. Some people lose theirs, some throw theirs away, and some even sell their copy. Everything we've learned, all the hard times we've lived through, all those hard lessons - we come to understand their purpose and meaning. It eventually leads us all to the sea where we are reborn again for another life in another world complete with a new map.
The map is just that, a picture of key "places" each of us needs to visit in this life. Some of us take longer to realize this, but that's the best thing about the map, it is not an appointment book. The only goal is to pay attention and learn as you visit these locations before you die.
As each of us makes our way, we can take the high road, we can take the low road, or even travel off-road if we choose.
I believe that I've been on a mule too long, traveling too many paths along the cliffs, and frankly, my ass hurts.
Some days I can't read my map and crumple it up in frustration, other days it is full of pretty pictures but doesn't list the location, and even other days I wonder if it was all a figment of my imagination.
Anyway, I recently found a piece of my map in a dream and realized that I had missed a key place... My map comes in the form of dreams, numbers, deja vu, and sometimes spirits (and not always happy ones). Pay attention, I'm sure you all have experienced this too.
I performed a little winter cleaning, scrapped all my junk and trash and in the process found the rest of my map. It is easy to simplify your life. I am sending my mule on his way, he is no longer useful for the next trail. Instead I have a new pair of "boots". I have everything I need on my back and a whistle on my lips.
I can't read my map today, but at least I know where it is. I don't know what my destination is at this exact moment, but I have an idea. That idea is much better than having nothing at all.
The sun is rising and my path is laid before me. Peace out.
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| Note: I deeply regret missing Shmengfest over the summer. I have missed you all and can only wish you the very best as we go into the New Year. "Places" was not meant to be taken literally - it is meant to include many things such as friends, work, relationships, and situations, as well as physical locations... |
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| Now Where Did I Put That Thing? | Login/Create an account | 9 Comments |
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Re: Now Where Did I Put That Thing?
by Devin (devin-at-vibechild-dot-com)
on Dec 23, 2004 - 12:51 PM
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I think part of the challenge with these maps is learning to be able to see when things in your life correspond to things on the map. Maps are written in metaphor and imagery - full of ideals and fantasy. They are easy to look at and sigh, but hard to relate to real life. I think the way most people deal with it is to convince themselves that the map can't be real. This way when they're hoping and wishing and real life still doesn't match up, they can blame the map instead of their perception. It took me about 5 years of hermiting and staying away from people to learn how to meet a new person and notice "hey, you're on my map". Spending that time that way was frustrating, but it's probably the best thing I've ever done. If other people would take the time to learn that stuff, I wouldn't have to try and convince them that if they're on my map, I'm probably on theirs too.
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Maps and forks in the road
by Maranda (maranda@somewhere.com) on Jan 20, 2005 - 06:41 PM
(User info | Send a Message) http:// | I agree with you completely, but I've also noticed that on many peoples' "maps" there are lots of "forks." Astrologers call them transits; historians call them turning points; metaphysicians of various stripes call them alternate visions of reality. Still, the effect is the same. On one person's individual map, there are several ways he or she can go. Sometimes the hardest moments have to do with recognizing that two or more paths are right for you in different ways, and you can learn different lessons from each. You have to choose one. Unfortunately, many people just sit in the middle of the road and refuse to decide. That, in itself, is a decision, one that almost certainly results in a stagnant and unstimulating life. Keep walking, whichever way you think you should. Only by seeing what's along that road can you learn whatever lessons are there for you.
And I understand the hermit thing. I'm prone to that myself. |
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Re: Now Where Did I Put That Thing?
by gothicmorman (litty_klj@hotmail.com)
on Dec 27, 2004 - 01:09 AM
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"There are so many paths in each of our own lives, how do we know where to go? What if we get lost? Who do we go to and ask for help? What if we're too tired of all the confusion to even look?"
I don't think it would be possible to get lost, life maps are a lot like choose your own adventure books, no matter what order you go in it ends up in the same place, no getting lost. People worry too much about what is going to happen and all the other ifs ands and buts that they forget to enjoy the scenery along the way, and to enjoy the 'places' they pass always looking for that final destination. others worry so much about the way that they linger and try to stay, mourning every passing moment, and in the end they did not really go anywhere. some are so intent on enjoying every part of the journey that they fixate themselves on constant action and forget to enjoy every part, big and small.
so who, then, really follows their map? everyone. maps are made as we go along to suit us individually. this of course could break into two theories.
1) our whole life was mapped out first and no matter what we do it has been predetermined.
2) we make it up as we go along and the maps are merely guidelines showing all possibilities.
being more liberal i prefer to belive the second one. i dont like the idea of having a path laid out before me. it is too easy, and i simply can't do anything the easy way.
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Re: Now Where Did I Put That Thing?
by MystryssRavynDarque (amanda-at-vibechild-dot-com) on Dec 27, 2004 - 08:10 AM
(User info | Send a Message) http://kauai.vibechild.com/~amanda/ | | Sometimes in the choose your own adventure books you'll read the first page, make your first choice, and you'll be dead by the time you turn the page. That always sucked about those books. Same thing can happen in life, make your choices carefully I say. |
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Re: Yeah, I think people do get lost.
by Raina on Dec 28, 2004 - 05:56 AM
(User info | Send a Message) | I believe option number one. Our lives are already mapped out for us but evolve with us as we move through time. For example, you wouldn't use a thirty year old map to visit a city you've never been to. Even though a lot has changed in thirty years, the main roads and streets should still be there, just improved, and there's probably all sorts of new stuff. Of course a whole section of the city could have burned and it's now a newly developed area with new names.
And to become lost is to lose purpose in this life. To become lost is to take pleasure and delight in the harm, pain, or taking of another life, whether it be human or animal (or even your own life). To destroy parts of the world around us for fun or entertainment... |
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Re: Yeah, I think people do get lost.
by gothicmorman (litty_klj@hotmail.com) on Jan 02, 2005 - 11:23 PM
(User info | Send a Message) http:// | | if life was already mapped out then would it not be already mapped for the changes that would occur? what if taking pleasure and delight in harm, pain, or taking of another life was part of the map in the first place? if the entirety of ones life was pre-mapped out then so would all of the 'mistakes' be pre-mapped. with the pre-mapped idea there is no way to stray because everything you do not matter what has already been forseen. at least that is how i see it though personally i got for the second option. |
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Re: Yeah, I think people do get lost.
by Schizo (Aranea@Spidersdance.com) on Jan 03, 2005 - 01:56 AM
(User info | Send a Message) http:// | I think we all start from a pre-set starting point, and there are several possible desirable destinations available to us. From there, we start taking steps and making decisions. Learning more about certain destinations on the map, choosing paths, taking detours due to road blocks, maybe even off-roading for a while, using nothing but our inner compass.
Some people reach their chosen destination and are content, some go from destination to destination. Some people keep looking, but never find what they are looking for. Some people wander in circles. Some people get hopelessly lost. Some people backtrack. Some people lay traps for others along the way, and some people fall in them. Some people travel together, and some travel alone. Some even follow a guide. And some people don't ever really have a destination, but just enjoy the hike, while others are so bent upon their destination that they never stop to smell the roses. |
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Re: Yeah, I think people do get lost.
by gothicmorman (litty_klj@hotmail.com) on Jan 08, 2005 - 12:34 AM
(User info | Send a Message) http:// | i quite agree with that. it brings up the question of personality, whether one's personality was predictated in genetic coding or whether it develops due to experiences in life. scientist seem bent on making it one or the other. personally i don't like the idea that everything about a person is genetically coded in them to be that way.
It is a mixture of the two really. a baby is born with a temperment of course and their temperment affects their experience which affects their develping personality. The path one takes on the map could be symbolic of their developing personality and the ultimate destination is when they become fully formed as a human being and can rise to something higher than human. descisions on which path to take effect the experiences one has which effect future descisions which effects the destination one ends up at. |
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Re: Now Where Did I Put That Thing?
by daria_4 (-)
on Jan 02, 2005 - 08:12 AM
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I'm not going to lie and say that I can relate entirely to this article (I'm not the best with life metaphor), but I do get the sense that it's got a little something to do with your homecoming--if I may call it that--to Shmeng.
You seem happy about it, and I am happy for you. This place has done some amazing things in and for my life; may it always be on your map and bring you happiness as well.
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