anyhoo... I started out... a long time ago... knowin', deep inside, that I was a Gypsy. When I was out on the open road somewhere was the only time I'd wake up in the morning, without feeling like my chest was in a vice.
Rodeoin' or just drifting... Wandering and Roaming... isn't a giggling joy to me... it's a calming, feels right, proper way of life for me... A way that suits my soul... whether anyone else likes it, approves of it... or not.
All my life, the folks around me... from close up to clear strangers, have tried to tell me I was wrong... It could't make me happy... that I needed to quit chasin' dreams, stop wandering, wake up and do what they were tellin' me... If... I wanted to find some peace... They Knew Better 'bout me... than Me!
Curious thing?... The whole time they were talkin' at me... They were poppin' pills for depression... Pourin' out another shot of whiskey... While lightin' up another Marlboro... Stuffin' twinkies (comfort food!) ... and Tellin' how exhausted and empty they were...
So... if they're all such experts on the Joy in Livin'... how come all the drugs, booze and groceries in a fruitless effort to find the Happy they were tellin' me they Knew... the right trail to?
It takes me more'n a week to kill a six pack (most of the time)... I don't smoke, turns my face an odd shade of green... the only drugs I take are mostly for softening the discomforts gained from bein' a slow learner when it comes to Buckin' Horses... I eat twinkies... 'cuz I like Twinkies! and the only thing that exhausts me... is sellin' plumbing parts to folks who can't tell a left handed screwdriver from duct tape... and are gonna argue with me 'bout which is which...
So... maybe I'm bein' a lil' arrogant here... but I feel like I got a pretty good handle on what hangs a grin on my face... and some calm, peace in my Soul.
Here's a lil' secret... It ain't doin' what people who's tails are on fire, and are tryin' to give you flyin' lessons as they go smokin' past on their rushing decent to the ground... Demand is the only and Right way to live...
It ain't the pursuit of stuff and dollars...
... and it ain't the throwin' ever'thing in the street, and living on nuts and berries to prove to everyone else how frugal, minimalist, and Green, you are...
That's just another tormented version of the fellas who run on down to the big white building at the end of the street... the one with the big cross on the roof? ... every Sunday to repent... so they have a clean slate to get back out to cheatin' their neighbors come Monday morning...
All that don't do a dang thing for yourself... it's only the impotent effort to impress other people with your righteousness and environmental sensitivity ... not the Boss... and not your own Soul... in less polite terms... it's the biological bi-product of the grass you feed a Bull...
Want to find the Joy in Living? First you've got to shut down most of the "Noise" around you... You've got to insulate yourself from just 'bout all the never ending drumbeats of bunk and baloney this Ol' world throws at you...
... hmmmm.... a long, quiet, walk in the Desert? :o) I'm tellin' you... that Carpenter was on to something! :o)
Find a nice hilltop that Looks out over some Far Country... Pull your thermos out of your ruck... and pour yourself a cup of Joe... don't say anything... don't THINK... anything... just sit quiet and... Look...
 |
| *and the Power of Freedom seeped into his Soul* |
If you THINK too much... you just paint your future with the bunk and baloney the world has filled your head with... No... just sit quiet and let that quiet vision... deep in your Soul... have time to find it's voice.
Learn to Trust that lil' voice that whispers to you in those quiet times... follow it's advice... when everyone and everything else... is clamoring and squallin' at you to obey... that lil' voice... will be there... whispering your dreams...
Learn to listen for it...
... Just sayin'
Finding My Way... in the Desert...
Brian
Return to the main site of goin' RV Boondocking or Visit my Sister website Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road
8 comments:
I sometimes fell sorry for those who have not realised the absolute truth of what you wrote today.
Hey Bri, sorry I missed you while I was in QZ. The desert ain't my cup o tea except for brief visits. This Cajun boy is more into woods and bayous, but you're dead on there. I did the rush rush rush corporate thing and it's almost killed me, never made me happy. Now, I'm much less stressed, even with the health issues, goin back to basics and living life, instead of working to live.
Biological byproduct of a bull eating grass... LOL, that was choice ;)
At the risk, or being one of those you talk about today, may I say ;
Sure glad you've heard of that carpenter
===Fred===
SURE
No worries Fred...
I try... don't always succeed, but I try, not to point fingers too much :)... just try to get folks attention, and try to coax 'em into lookin' at things from a lil' different perspective once in a while...
I don't try and hide my thinkin' 'bout that "Carpenter"... but ... I don't force feed nobody either... just plant a seed and move on... Folks are free to think and believe as they choose.
Finished buying your books today. No, I haven't read them yet. Waiting to finish my hard backs and return them. These take up no room, gotta love that. Since my wife died I've finally realized how precious retirement is. Keep it up,you keep my head on straight. Ed
Nicely done. For so many years people have been tryin to stuff their values down my throat. I've found some pretty sick folks out there. Somtimes it's hard to separate the organic matter from the good stuff. A little quiet meditation helps sort things out.
Remember " If you don't stand for something, You'll fall for anything "
Brian,
Thanks for your heartfelt, gently expressed wisdom.
People are different--we really are born with different innate temperaments. What works for one kind of person, therefore, very often does not work for another.
All the well meaning conventional-living people insisting that you had to settle down, get stable, put down roots, or other words for what they need--security, predictability, etc.--were wrong about you, because you probably need more freedom, variety, action, and nature...and times of solitude...than you need security or stability or crowds.
It's also likely, though, that for these stability-oriented folks, especially the extroverts among them, going to the desert, or living a life on the road, wouldn't work for them. They'd feel isolated, anxious, lonely, bored.
Still, everyone could apply the general thrust of what you're saying, and find the ways that make them feel more calm and centered.
In any case, I really enjoy your blog and your perspective. Keep it coming.
Michael
Thank You Michael. THAT, was exactly what I was trying to get across. Find that voice, that is uniquely your own... and follow where it leads You ... Follow your own "Different Drummer" ... Shining Times... and Celebrate when others find their own Shining Times... and maybe most important of all... Do what you can to lend support to those still looking... so they Don't lose hope... Yes! :-)
Post a Comment