The roots run deep

I was raised under an umbrella of priviledge. What my heart desired, I received. I was appreciative of the bounty of my life, but not to the extent that on retrospect I feel it deserves. But as a young child, sometimes we are unaware of our gifts. I feel as though that is what being a child is about. I was having a conversation about this very thing with my mother this morning, discussing the notion that "the problem with our society is that it is dominated by the habits and desires of adolescents" (Bill Plotkin from NATURE AND THE HUMAN SOUL). He believes that adolescence in an essential part of the development of the human being. The adolescent proceeds through life very egocentrically, thinking that what is happening around their life is of the utmost importance. Needless to say, I was your typical adolescent.

What is incredible today is that so many adults (and many that I have come across in the past and still do to this day) maintain that selfishness throughout the course of their every day lives. So many of my elders behave more foolishly than I can imagine. And you wonder, where along the way did they miss the part about us all being in this world together to help each other out? And you wonder where that kind of behavior is rooted. Does that start as a young child and just maintain itself? Are the parents to blame? Is it to maintain a sense of control? Which could transcend into its own topic: control is an illusion. Nothing in this world is really within our control, no moment is even ours. So lets make it a point to learn this first lesson and attempt to live it at each point of our day: live each day/each moment with gratitude, embrace and gentility. Be utterly appreciative of this precious life, don't spend your days consumed with the insignificance of trivial issues. Life is too short.