·
Wednesday, 9 September 2009 (Observation
Apropos of Nothing: Today is 09/09/09)
I’m Back – I Think.
I
have not written here since late July.
Nor have I opened up my Pilgrimage of Gratitude blog to finish
transcribing my trip notes. I have barely
e-mailed nor written letters or used the phone.
Some
people have suggested that I am simply processing the lessons of the
Camino. Perhaps.
A Brief Facebook Digression
Of
course I am not entirely incommunicado – Facebook gives me a sweet, little window
into the lives of friends and family (and some strangers) and also allows me to
share random thoughts or little treasures of pathos, humor or foolishness found
as I stroll along the Internet pathway.
(I would like to record some of my thoughts on social-networking – it
seems to bring out some interesting responses to people. I am somewhat troubled by those who do not
seem to understand the value of these small social interactions. The people who withdraw from Facebook,
perhaps overwhelmed or afraid; but regardless of motivation seem compelled to
disparage the whole system and the people who participate in it. It seems to bring out a competitive,
side-taking ugliness that makes me flash back to the pettiness of high school
society. In any case, I am not about to
start a stream of consciousness flood on this subject, though this takes some
discipline on my part.) Frankly, I am
grateful for the casual nature of Facebook – it is like the Jerry Springer
series – based on nothing…the simple nothingness that comprises our lives and
proves we are humans. I am glad to read
the status updates…but I love Proust and I loved walking 500 miles. But I digress again…
So,
with the Facebook rant off the table (for now), let me see where else my
fingers will take me this morning.
Dangers of Daily Dog Walks or
Life Plans Unfold
One
of the dangers of a long dog-walk is you have time to think. Sometimes, inside my busy brain, I live whole
lifetimes as I make my rounds with my three-legged canine friend tugging at the
leash. I am convinced in a life where
people do not commit to daily dog walks they may not have too much time to be
introspective – no time to mentally explore options they may never pursue.
The
nature of a quiet dog walk allows one to think outside the box – even destroy
the box and create a whole new paradigm.
At least for the duration of the walk.
Today,
as I walked, I played with the future and found myself finishing up my VISTA
year and, using the end of service stipend to head off to
The
narrative in my head (ouch – that sounds a lot like voices in my head doesn’t
it and those have “connotations don’t they!?
Let me continue with a slightly different phrase.) Ahem.
So, the script continues with my return to the
The
day dream played out as I walked across the desert behind my prancing
pound-pup. Where do ideas come
from? What triggers them? And now I find myself still toying with this
daydream. What is my unconscious telling
me?
It
is an odd little vignette. Could these
delusions/illusions/dreams/plans be an effect of the altitude here in the
I
cannot seem to articulate this well, but I want to be among familiar people and
places and use my energy in a new, more introverted way.
For
many years, I have been living with a steep learning curve – moving to new
places, learning new languages, cultures and rules, taking on new roles – as if
I have been climbing mountains for many years.
The vistas have been beautiful and the air is pure when you reach the
top. Now I seem to be ready to simply
be. I want to use my energies for
something more private and personal – it may involve writing or perhaps it may
just involve living a simple, rich life, a more linear life with time to ponder
all the joy and opportunities that have been mine.
Maybe
my life is like a field and just needs to lay fallow for a season.
I
am grateful to have such a full, rich life.
I am excited about what may unfold in the future. But I feel a change in my focus, a change in
my energy and a change in how I relate to the world.
Time
to stop journaling for the day.
It
feels good to be at the keyboard, synthesizing my thoughts a bit…and tomorrow
there will be more post-dog-walk thoughts to explore.
________________________________________
.
ab
TO READ OLDER
ENTRIES,
RETURN TO THE
ARCHIVES ON THE LEFT
Our
Peace Corps (
January
2005 - May 2007
Our
AmeriCorps*VISTA (
August
2007 – November 2008
My
Santiago de Compostela Camino (
20 April -1 June 2009
Blog: http://pilgrimageofgratitude-mycamino.blogspot.com
Find
my Facebook Page & Picasa Albums too:
Virginia
J. Pulver
Life
is good!
ab