“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

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ENYA – How Can I Keep From Singing?

My life goes on in endless song
above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it’s music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging,
when friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?

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What about you?

How do you handle the inexpressible? What do you do when the things you want to say (or write) cannot, or should not, be expressed? Do you believe, as I do, that hell hath no fury like a muse refused? Do you say it anyway?

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from Aldous Huxley: The Inexpressible is a post from: Quest for Balance

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[This is a quote from a 2005 interview. Vonnegut shares a story about telling his wife he's going out to buy an envelope.]

“Oh,” she says, “well, you’re not a poor man. You know, why don’t you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet?”

And so I pretend not to hear her.

And go out to get an envelope because I’m going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope.

I meet a lot of people.

And see some great looking babes.

And a fire engine goes by.

And I give them the thumbs up.

And I ask a woman what kind of dog that is.

And… and I don’t know.

The moral of the story is, is we’re here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that.

And, what the computer people don’t realize, or they don’t care, is we’re dancing animals. You know, we love to move around.

And, we’re not supposed to dance at all anymore.

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I love the internet… perhaps a little too much

Recently I went to see the movie Avatar and found myself in an absolute depression for a few days after that. Why? Because I recognized that my life was becoming like Jake’s.

Sure, the scenery in the movie is beautiful (it looks a lot like Costa Rica), and the story line is sweet, yet predictable (the boy turns against his own clan when he realizes what they are doing is wrong and that the other side has feelings, too). It’s been done.

There was that moment of idealistic optimism when I allowed myself to dream that the peace-loving naturalists would one day defeat the big, bad bullies, with just their bows and arrows, flying lizards, and passionate hearts.

There was all that sappy, movie-going stuff.

But under that, there was a guy who was not entirely happy with life and who, when he plugged into his virtual world, discovered a paradise he didn’t want to leave. The more time he spent there, the more he identified with his virtual friends and their way of thinking. He felt he was a part of something… he was important… he felt SEEN.

He started neglecting his “real” life, barely taking time to eat or sleep or shower or shave or… anything. He couldn’t wait to get back to Pandora, his perfect world.

Most of us have our own version of Pandora now

Kids get lost in their video games, not noticing the hours of the day slipping away. Grownups disappear into their blogging and social media networks, taking on any identity they want. Some may even be earning a living that way, so they have a “valid” excuse for why they haven’t seen the sun in three days, or a flesh-and-blood friend in three months.

Not that our virtual lives aren’t REAL, because they are. After all, anything our mind believes is real, is real. Period.

But, real or not, do we really want them to be our ONLY lives? Or even our PRIMARY lives?

Are we consciously choosing to let our non-virtual lives slip away as we amuse ourselves to death?

If so… great!

Enjoy your stay in Pandora.

In my case, No! I do not want to prefer my virtual life, tempting as it is, since I can create it exactly the way I want it. Call me old-fashioned, but I still think there’s beauty in the imperfections of this world. (I’m not even sure what to call THIS world anymore… since they are both real!)

As always, in my opinion, it comes down to Balance

We each have to find the sweet spot that works best given our set of circumstances. But are we being honest in our assessments? Are we down-playing the importance of our virtual lives, and under-estimating the amount of time we spend there? Are we fully aware of the things, and people, we unintentionally neglect?

At the end of each day, are we proud of how we spent our waking hours?

Do we have no regrets?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some fine-tuning to do. I want BOTH of my worlds to feel like Pandora so I don’t find myself choosing one at the expense of the other.

What about you?

Are you spending your time on what matters most to you?

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January 25 Update: In a strange twist of fate, this morning (Monday) I found myself following Mr. Vonnegut’s example. It was one of those things where I had to send X,Y, and Z to the Georgia Department of Revenue… or ELSE. We have one car, and Jeff takes it to work. So, I walked to the library to get copies of everything, then to the post office to snail mail part of it, then to the Pack and Send to fax the rest of it.

Clearly it would have been better to go JUST to the Pack and Send, but I was hopeful that one of the other two would let me fax, since they are much closer to my house. When it was said and done, I walked all over this village for about an hour and a half… I noticed something else. NOBODY walks anymore. People drove by looking at me like I was crazy because I was obviously out doing errands instead of jogging (or some other socially sanctioned reason not to be in a car).

Anyway, I had myself a little non-virtual adventure today.

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from Kurt Vonnegut: Life Beyond Computers is a post from: Quest for Balance

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Embracing the Way, you become embraced;

Breathing gently, you become newborn;

Clearing your mind, you become clear;

Nurturing your children, you become impartial;

Opening your heart, you become accepted;

Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.

Bearing and nurturing,

Creating but not owning,

Giving without demanding,

This is harmony.

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Have you found harmony? If so, what does it feel like? If not, what do you suppose you are missing? Are you still trying to do too much, to be too many things to too many people? Are you too busy and distracted to open your heart and nurture those who need you? When you let go of your illusion of control, harmony flows in to take its place.

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from the Tao Te Ching: Harmony is a post from: Quest for Balance

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From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.

Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:

From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,

From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.

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This time of year can be wonderful, and full of cheer… but it can also be the toughest time of the year when we feel alone. Four years ago I lost a very dear friend during the holidays, because he felt abandoned.

If you are reading this, you are not alone.

I’m here!

Try me: MyQuestForBalance at gmail dot com

Or, if you’d like to leave a comment, you will find a loving community willing to embrace you.

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone is a post from: Quest for Balance

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“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you, and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”

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I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to the Passion Paradox conversation this past week. I received so many comments, emails, tweets, and response posts about it, that I suppose I’ll write a follow-up post, at some point, with all the lessons I learned from this experience.

The main thing I learned is that Passion, in life, is vital. Whether you have a single passion, or infuse passion in everything you do; whether you make a living pursuing your passion, or enjoy it only in your spare moments, to replenish your soul… we all need a splash of passion to add meaning, purpose, and joy to our lives.

I think it’s important that we understand our passions are as varied as our means of pursuing them, and that we need to find ways to remain true to ourselves, and respectful of others, as we are all on the same quest.

If you have about 2 minutes, here’s a cute video (called “Prickles and Goo“) that illustrates the importance of finding this balance.

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THANKS!!!

PS: Arina Nikitina has published an interview today, in which I talk about finding my inner passion. You can read it at Real Self Help… if you are curious.

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from T. Alan Armstrong: Become Your Passion is a post from: Quest for Balance

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