It crept up on me today at work--this epiphany, this utter realization furthering my understanding of the human experience and what it means to live. It's kind of funny, the manner in which I happen upon these profound thoughts, because half the time, I find that I'm either working or focusing my attention on things impertinent to the aforementioned.
To put it succinctly, I've found that life is comprised of four distinguishable and inseparable parts–"keys," as I call them. And I want to share these discoveries with you. So here it is (brace yourself for some DaVinci Code shit, y'all).
Life is about:
1) discovering/finding yourself - there are certain (personality) characteristics, hobbies, talents, health anomalies, etc. that are born unto all of us that we have little or no control over, in a sense that "it's just the way I/we am/are." Ever heard that adage? Well, it is very true and honestly quite obvious to many of us. However, I have observed that placing oneself in settings remote to what one is accustomed to can lead to enlightenment of oneself. Moving out of state to a city you've never visited can direct you to uncovering so many hidden qualities, both good and bad, that you may have never guessed you possessed. Or trying many miscellaneous and new things that are perhaps idiosyncratic to your nature can bring you to reveal that you have unknown talents. Or maybe you just want to throw caution to the wind and by doing so you reveal to yourself that you actually enjoy watching Will Farrell movies (inside joke for you).
For example, I was not aware of how well I write (per the opinions of others) until the age of thirteen.
Either way you look at it, there is an innumerable amount of mystery within ourselves that is just waiting to be unearthed and explored, so long as we keep an open mind. The human potential is infinite. And you find/discover it within yourself.
2) creating/defining yourself - it is so apparent that as we grow older, some or even many of our interests change, as others remain. We "go through phases," another adage I'm willing to bet you've heard as well. And because we metamorphose as people, that which appeals to us evolves proportionately, whether it be tattoos to Abercrombie & Fitch, jazz music to opera, hockey playing to simply watching a game of golf, the revision is impending, and at different times in our lives. We gravitate towards things we relate to on bounteous levels, whether it be personal or impersonal, conscious or sub-conscious. And these things change, just as we do. But this almost goes without saying, that we, or at least I myself, never deviate from the things I/we primarily associate with, because those are the devices that define who I/we am/are: I/we simply create around that very infrastructure.
Allow me to give you a demonstration: in high school, I was all about the clean-cut, shaven, Abercrombie "prep" look. At that given time, it is what was alluring to me. Then I graduated and a couple years later, I've got a platinum blonde mohawk and a number of tattoos I would have never considered getting in my preceding years. As of now, I am so attracted to edge and mystique, rather than conventional ideas and appearances. I was, and still am, CREATING myself, or reinventing, as some would say. HOWEVER, though that part of me is like a revolving door, I always have and always will be a music artist/dancer/writer, despite what I look like or whatever else I may be intrigued by (at the moment). Music, movement, and poetry DEFINE my life and I could not conceive a world without. I build around it, with the resources I am presented. Those very tangible and/or abstract things we've felt a propensity towards since birth prove to be unyielding through the ages (most of the time and for most people, I feel).
Does that make sense? All-in-all, if you're not changing, you're not growing. If you're not growing, you're not creating (essentially, you're not learning a whole lot either). And if you can't create, you probably don't know what it is that defines your existence, you're not sure where to start. And that's OK. Maybe you can refer back to discovering and finding yourself. Everyone's internal clock is different. :)
3) accepting yourself/the you that you knew was there all along - this one seems to be the most over-looked out of the four. And it is the one I've just recently realized, so I agree that it can be a bit obscure. However, it is so paramount, accepting the innermost part of you that you know will never change, because without this piece of the puzzle, the other three cannot operate to their utmost capability. It doesn't matter if you're gay, if you're "the weird kid," the genius, if you're this or you're that. If you cannot fully and completely accept who you are as a person, trekking to attain the meaning of life is almost fruitless. (The labels are not meant to be emphatic, rather, there to make a point.) By embracing yourself, you can then branch off into other areas of your own world and begin uncovering the secrets (and meaning) of life. Trust me. If you haven't read, check out my post prior to this one (entitled "Defiance of Another Kind"). It may make more sense to you after. These four keys all work together so harmoniously. (Oh, and these three keys are in no particular order.)
Lastly, life is about:
4) finding that special person that makes you whole, your better half - in all reality, this isn't demented, even for those of you that do not believe in "love." BUT, it is so crucial to the human experience, that without it, or even just a taste of it, living a life of fulfillment may prove to be disputable (though not always). But then again, I'm not sure I would believe someone if they told me they could go throughout life without a lover/"life-partner" at least once. And our views change--but face it: at the very bottom of it, we all want to love and be loved. I've also arrived to the conclusion that at the culmination of the 3 mentioned keys, this 4th one I'm currently discussing comes more effortlessly and successfully, especially after you are secure in yourself. Most friends of mine that have been in successful relationships for years seem to have known and loved who they are pre-existent to said relationship. And with those very connections, those relationships, you can then embark even further and further into discovering the meaning of (your) life. You can discover things about yourself through your partner. You can create yourself with your partner, etc. But trying to accept yourself while with your partner complicates things. So if you ever plan on finding your soul mate, look to the three keys explained before this one. I hope it helps.
To sum it all up, if you seek (and eventually find) these four keys during your lifetime, then at least by my standards, I'd say you've lived a life of completion. You may argue that life is about only one (whichever it may be), not the other. And although that is only 1/4 of the picture, you're that much closer to painting the masterpiece that is your life. Remember: keep an open mind, and you'll find that life, life is so beautiful. And there is no end to that beauty.
It is through my own life experiences that I have learned what it is about. One of my very good friends told me I'm wise after I shared this with her. And I told her that wisdom, it is an undivided mixture, and sometimes even a combustion of love and loss, of naïveté and knowledge, of innocence and experience. Wisdom is viewing the world as a perfect place, even when you know it is not.
My world has been perfect for three solid years. And here's to many more (Lisa).
*cheers*
Reki*
copyright 2011
