DBW

Darjeeling, Bergamot and Walnuts

29.12.10

This holiday season, idleness is good ...

I would say I'm a philosophical guy: I've heard "the meaning of life is to give life meaning", and I think those are good words to live by.

Though, often I find myself thinking I am living a "get ahead" mentality. On thoughtful conscious contemplation, I'm pretty sure "ahead" isn't a nice place to end up, one of those recurring "us and them" scenarios, but then rarely can we afford a deep look-ahead into the implications of each or our choices in our barrage of daily dilemmas.

Humans are social animals, and much of the unknown factor in our daily lives is of human origin. Can you be trusted, or are you trying to "get ahead" of me? Do I have to "get ahead" just a bit to protect myself from "them", those others who never seem to rest? Our seasonal fellow, Mr. Scrooge, is a pedagogical example of the result of perpetualizing this humbug.

So humans and wolves, unlike most domesticated dogs, try to get ahead. This is probably instinctual. I'm finding taking this to heart, and being a good sport about it, is a step forward, without getting ahead of myself. It's not like there could be a secret code or handshake that one could gesture to cut through the crap and forge a bond of immediate trust: either it would be contained to such a limited circle to be of no use, or it wouldn't be secret for long. Relationships are a perpetual negotiation, aren't they? When I am conscious of this, I feel comforted. There is no shortcut to forging bonds of trust. With presumably so many trustworthy people in the world jockeying, why then should we feel entitled rest at another's expense? Well perhaps we might just let ourselves afford it. As a young boy, two weeks into summer vacation, I always did find myself getting pretty bored of cartoons, froot-loops and Nintendo ... and what satisfaction when a rejuvenated imagination finally set me free to entertain higher pursuits. My grandmother used to say: "Activity makes life sweet, while idleness strengthens the appendages."

And so may the idleness of the holiday season bring with it strength and inspiration for us all to pursue those activities and occupations with true and enduring meaning, meaning of life. And may you stay forever young ... in 2011 and beyond.

Sincerely yours,

darjebergamowalnu

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