Wow. Just wow. As I have said many, many times, to many groups, often we find a message, a passage, a testimony, a Substack that we could cut and paste into our own journal. This is one of those times. Thanks Bruce.
I too, as I approach 60, find myself boarding the Tilt-A-Whirl for another ride (Doug Wilson). For most of my life, and certainly in the time that my "life coach" Sir Steven Wilkinson (also found here on Substack (Pitchfork Papers) - and somewhat tongue in cheek) has been listening to me, I have been on that quest for meaning, deeper connection and something to satisfy this soul. Honestly, I have been close, but it has been elusive. It required going inside - deep inside, and that is a scary task. But if you desire it, as Yoda says to Luke, "in there you must go, and the scariest thing in there........is you."
Fortunately, a dear friend has recently gifted me a text book from the late professor, Dr. David Daniels, MD (Stanford Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus) THE ENNEAGRAM, RELATIONSHIPS AND INTIMACY. I too am a single father. I too have chased every adventure, bikes, boats, motorcycles, flying, skiing, travel, cigars........but Dr. Daniels nailed it for me. As the good doctor says, "God built us for connection." Everything else is icing on the cake (me). i think, that soul satisfying experience is for me to be the best me, I can be. In order to do that, I have to be the best me to everyone else I can be. That means understanding everyone, their motivations, quirks and ticks, and accepting them all, without judgment. This book isn't about kids, or friends, or tribes. But then again, maybe it is.
What gracious words. Thank you for your thoughtful response. I will check my library for a copy of David Daniel's book. Right now, I think in need to channel Mr. Miyagi, "Man Who Catch Fly With Chopstick, Accomplish Anything."
This is getting close to the sort of conversation the three of us should be having in a log cabin in Northern Minnesota or a lakehouse on the Southern Alabama coastline or somewhere deep in rural Ireland within 5 minutes driving time to a good pub. I read recently that the world’s population can be divided roughly into 70% linear thinkers and 30% lateral thinkers. The latter group - to which all three of us belong - can be distinguished by the fact that THEY NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS which the former group do sometime in their early forties at the latest. Lateral thinkers find life in a linear world difficult from day one, especially their educational years and only the ones who have a reasonable IQ actually make it through to the other side where their own “hologram” of the world allows them to connect dots that others just can see. So: embrace your lateralism and know that you will never answer that question, “What will I be when I grow up?” because you will never grow up in the way linear thinkers would like you to. End of.
Wow. Just wow. As I have said many, many times, to many groups, often we find a message, a passage, a testimony, a Substack that we could cut and paste into our own journal. This is one of those times. Thanks Bruce.
I too, as I approach 60, find myself boarding the Tilt-A-Whirl for another ride (Doug Wilson). For most of my life, and certainly in the time that my "life coach" Sir Steven Wilkinson (also found here on Substack (Pitchfork Papers) - and somewhat tongue in cheek) has been listening to me, I have been on that quest for meaning, deeper connection and something to satisfy this soul. Honestly, I have been close, but it has been elusive. It required going inside - deep inside, and that is a scary task. But if you desire it, as Yoda says to Luke, "in there you must go, and the scariest thing in there........is you."
Fortunately, a dear friend has recently gifted me a text book from the late professor, Dr. David Daniels, MD (Stanford Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus) THE ENNEAGRAM, RELATIONSHIPS AND INTIMACY. I too am a single father. I too have chased every adventure, bikes, boats, motorcycles, flying, skiing, travel, cigars........but Dr. Daniels nailed it for me. As the good doctor says, "God built us for connection." Everything else is icing on the cake (me). i think, that soul satisfying experience is for me to be the best me, I can be. In order to do that, I have to be the best me to everyone else I can be. That means understanding everyone, their motivations, quirks and ticks, and accepting them all, without judgment. This book isn't about kids, or friends, or tribes. But then again, maybe it is.
wishing you the best in your quest,
Bubba
What gracious words. Thank you for your thoughtful response. I will check my library for a copy of David Daniel's book. Right now, I think in need to channel Mr. Miyagi, "Man Who Catch Fly With Chopstick, Accomplish Anything."
This is getting close to the sort of conversation the three of us should be having in a log cabin in Northern Minnesota or a lakehouse on the Southern Alabama coastline or somewhere deep in rural Ireland within 5 minutes driving time to a good pub. I read recently that the world’s population can be divided roughly into 70% linear thinkers and 30% lateral thinkers. The latter group - to which all three of us belong - can be distinguished by the fact that THEY NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS which the former group do sometime in their early forties at the latest. Lateral thinkers find life in a linear world difficult from day one, especially their educational years and only the ones who have a reasonable IQ actually make it through to the other side where their own “hologram” of the world allows them to connect dots that others just can see. So: embrace your lateralism and know that you will never answer that question, “What will I be when I grow up?” because you will never grow up in the way linear thinkers would like you to. End of.
Very insightful Steven. So you are saying the rabbit hole has no end? Definitely going the need a weekend with you two to unpack that one.
"When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head" -Grace Slick