all things are one thing
Let me start by apologizing for the time since my last post. I’ve been concentrating more on my jujitsu notebook and trying to get over a sinus infection, which has left little energy or desire to write. Now, on with the post. Lately I’ve been getting some messages from the universe, on a regular basis and some of them are becoming increasingly insistent. Perhaps the most pressing of these is that the universe is asking me to choose the main direction my life will take for some time to come.
Recently I finished re-reading one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, The hero of the story decides to pursue his dream, making choices and doing things in a manner consistent with pursuing that dream. I feel as if the universe is asking me to make the same choice – to decide what my dream is, then to pursue it and achieve it.
I have noticed lately that people that achieve things in their lives, tend to focus on that one thing, at least for sometime. Interestingly, this holds true in real life as in fiction – though the mechanism or manifestation may take on various forms, it seems the idea is a truth that is not directly expressible, but rather requires an illustration. Looking back at my own life, I can see this at work in my past, and is responsible, in part, for where I am now.
But I’ve only addressed the actual subject matter indirectly so far. That all things are one thing is really a state of mind, an attitude, a way of looking at life. My one singular goal for the moment is to take and pass the black belt test. Everything else, outside of work, is secondary to that goal. I am learning to look at everything I’m doing in terms of whether it brings me closer to my goal, or pushes me farther away. So for me, everything has become about taking the test. Things that do not appear to be related to this really are, like dishes, laundry, and such. Yes, I know household chores do not in and of themselves constitute martial arts practice, but they enable me to attend practice. Clean dishes enable me to eat to keep up my strength, laundry lets me wear a properly maintained uniform to class and to work, so I can earn money to keep going to class. I think you get the idea,
I must confess, this is somewhat of a challenge for me. I am used to having several things going on at once, and it is likely why I have not gone farther than I have – my energy is divided between interests. I am realizing now that I have to distinguish between interests and my dreams – and that I don’t have time for them all in my life if I am going to achieve what I want. There is a part of me that is sad about this – that doesn’t want to give up certain things at the moment, that wants to explore several things at once. Perhaps part of the hesitation is the choice – once a choice has been made, then I truly can blame no one else but myself for not being and going where I want to go. But I shouldn’t be blaming anyone else anyway – it is my own choices that have moved me forward and held me back. It’s time to admit that I have made choices that held me back, and continue to do so, and to change them. It may not be easy, or comfortable, but I’ll be happier for it in the long run.