Me and the rest

Human beings can be solitary or societal, terrestrial or universal. We can live in a cave, or in a house with others. We can look around at the dirt and the buildings upon it, or at the stars in the night sky and infinity beyond. We can meditate with an empty mind, or fill it with the chaos of everyday life. At any point in time we can experience none, part, or all of the above. We can be happy, sad, indifferent. This roller coaster ride is normal, due to the fact that we are conscious beings with free will. Everything derives from that, is connected to that. It is not only the meaning of life, but the reason of and for life. We have no control, but at the same time are in complete control. "Impossible!" you say. But true. So what is my point here?

I am in a quandary. I work hard to control my life, to deal with events rationally, and to be either at peace or happy; to minimise stress and remain healthy so that I can be alert, mindful and useful. But...... as I write this I am none of that. I am stressed, I am deeply sad, and my life teeters on the edge of chaos - physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. I know this will pass, and I also know that it will come again, for ultimately that control I strive for is elusive and ephemeral. Why? Because it is not just up to me. It can be reliant on those around me, the people I love, and the world beyond. For example, the weather can cause chaos in one's life; political events can be uplifting or upsetting; love can waiver, disappear, or flood the senses. Like I mentioned above, life can be all or nothing and everything in between. Some much for control....

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Last updated: 4 March 2025

Michael Organ, Australia