Two ways to look at life:
Life number 1:
At four years old, his mother dropped him off at a children’s shelter and never was a part of his life again. He saw her occasionally after that but only at the whim of the mother’s quilt.
At seven, his biological father died from Tuberculosis without establishing any relationship with him. His father was said to have been an interior decorator. All he knew was that his father’s name was John Christian and that he was born in Italy in 1897.
At twelve, his foster mother admonished him for being and rejected him completely.
At twenty one, he was corrupted by the military establishment during the height of the Vietnam War.
During his working years from age twenty five to fifty, he struggled at the lower level of competence and finally jumped at the chance at a buy out.
At fifty five, he had brain surgery and a resultant stroke which left him partially paralyzed on his right side.
At eighty three, he died.
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Life Number 2:
At four years old, he was befriended by a loving family who invited him into their home and provided him a shelter from the cold.
At seventeen, he graduated seventh in his class from high school.
At twenty one, he graduated magna cum laude from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He ranked fourth in his class. He then joined the military and was a training administrator for an aircraft mechanics squadron.
At twenty five, he became a civilian scientist for the military and successfully developed reverse engineering tools for the software that controlled the major Navy combat systems.
At twenty seven, he married the love of his life and, to this day, considers himself blessed to have been lucky enough to meet her.
At thirty, his wife had a beautiful son who was and still is the epitome of everything anyone would want in a son.
At thirty four, his wife had a beautiful daughter who is the apple of her daddy’s eye. She has met and then exceeded all expectations of her in terms of career and life itself.
At fifty two, he hit his first and only hole in one in his life. It was a simple pleasure but one that will never be forgotten.
At eighty three, he died.
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Yes, two lives, one filled with sorrow and despair, the other filled with happiness and hopefulness. How could two lives be so completely different but be so much the same?
Because, they are, in reality, the same life. In one sense, there are always tremendous lows and blows to the ego as one passes through life’s doors. But, at the same time, or at least in the same week, miraculous events occur which bring infinite joy and happiness.
But, alas, happiness is only a fleeting apparition. Just around the corner is the boogey man, ready to tear your head off if you’re not alert.
So, how can we reconcile these two separate lives which are lived simultaneously? Simple. We live in the present. We don’t lament the mistakes of the past. We don’t fear the joys of the future. We just enjoy right now, right here, this place.
Life number 1:
At four years old, his mother dropped him off at a children’s shelter and never was a part of his life again. He saw her occasionally after that but only at the whim of the mother’s quilt.
At seven, his biological father died from Tuberculosis without establishing any relationship with him. His father was said to have been an interior decorator. All he knew was that his father’s name was John Christian and that he was born in Italy in 1897.
At twelve, his foster mother admonished him for being and rejected him completely.
At twenty one, he was corrupted by the military establishment during the height of the Vietnam War.
During his working years from age twenty five to fifty, he struggled at the lower level of competence and finally jumped at the chance at a buy out.
At fifty five, he had brain surgery and a resultant stroke which left him partially paralyzed on his right side.
At eighty three, he died.
===================================================
Life Number 2:
At four years old, he was befriended by a loving family who invited him into their home and provided him a shelter from the cold.
At seventeen, he graduated seventh in his class from high school.
At twenty one, he graduated magna cum laude from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He ranked fourth in his class. He then joined the military and was a training administrator for an aircraft mechanics squadron.
At twenty five, he became a civilian scientist for the military and successfully developed reverse engineering tools for the software that controlled the major Navy combat systems.
At twenty seven, he married the love of his life and, to this day, considers himself blessed to have been lucky enough to meet her.
At thirty, his wife had a beautiful son who was and still is the epitome of everything anyone would want in a son.
At thirty four, his wife had a beautiful daughter who is the apple of her daddy’s eye. She has met and then exceeded all expectations of her in terms of career and life itself.
At fifty two, he hit his first and only hole in one in his life. It was a simple pleasure but one that will never be forgotten.
At eighty three, he died.
================================================
Yes, two lives, one filled with sorrow and despair, the other filled with happiness and hopefulness. How could two lives be so completely different but be so much the same?
Because, they are, in reality, the same life. In one sense, there are always tremendous lows and blows to the ego as one passes through life’s doors. But, at the same time, or at least in the same week, miraculous events occur which bring infinite joy and happiness.
But, alas, happiness is only a fleeting apparition. Just around the corner is the boogey man, ready to tear your head off if you’re not alert.
So, how can we reconcile these two separate lives which are lived simultaneously? Simple. We live in the present. We don’t lament the mistakes of the past. We don’t fear the joys of the future. We just enjoy right now, right here, this place.
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