Grand Silence
Spent yesterday in mostly contemplative silence broken only by two requests for directions from store clerks and a song I sang in my bedroom as I played my guitar. Did three loads of wash. Practiced putting on the living room carpet. Took a short walk. Fixed a pot of navy beans. Watched the PGA championship, and spent some time sorting out my needs and desires. I’ve found it’s important that one gets those in the right buckets because you can go broke financially and emotionally if you mix them up.
I’ve always enjoyed that sort of day, because I enjoy thinking, which is not to say I’m good at it, but simply to say, I like trying to sort things out, to have them make sense, at least to me. Usually, that works pretty well and I can find my way to peace and equilibrium. Of course, I might simply be honing my rationalization skills, but I feel as though I know how to set goals and follow through, so I’m not totally Aesop’s fox thinking the grapes are sour.
Besides, I think the fox was probably on to something. In the realm of needs and desires, disappointment is inevitable. One has to be able to bounce back and keep going, to make the best of the dealt cards and the worldly circumstances. To stave off the paralyzing disappointment of an unreached goal or unrequited love. It’s important to realize there will be other grapes and those were probably sour anyhow and everything is for the best, especially if you can learn from your mistakes.