Chapter 2.3 The Me-World

The Me-World

“It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.”

John Andrew Holmes (1874 – ??), American Physician/Writer

We live in the me-world.  We all have our own little universes, our own 150 people.  Our 150 people overlap with others’ 150 people … somewhere down the line we all know someone who knows someone who knows that somewhat famous actor … what’s his name?  All of a sudden I’m hungry for breakfast …..

What makes our life so important?  Why is our life more important than that guy on the freeway?  What makes us so special?   (besides our mothers telling us so?)

“When we are really honest with ourselves, we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us.  So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are.”

Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), Leader of United Farm Workers

Now let’s just look at the first sentence by itself.  When you strip away all that can be taken from you, like your physical possessions, and all that you cannot control, like your friends, family members, Congress, actually people in general….Baby, you’re left with yourself, the only thing that is guaranteed to stick with you for the long run.  (Mark one for the Obvious!)

You can give credit or blame to others for your place in life, but ultimately you deal the cards.  You are the final designer, the final definer.  Even your grain of salt can season the faire.

“No two people share exactly the same universe. Every universe creates its own world.”

Gaelic Proverb

Our universe is what is important to us.  Whether you strive solely for personal gain or commit your life to help others, your choices define your life.  As Robert Frost poetically described in his The Road Not Taken, your “life is really a series of forks in the road” (and I thought Yoda said it.)  We have decisions daily on which fork to travel.  Once chosen, we normally continue onward.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Yogi Berra, Baseball Player/Quotemaker

Sometimes, we have difficulty deciding which fork to take.  We pace around in circles, trying to analyze the choices.  Many people walk around so long at these forks, that they wear a rut in the path.  Sometimes they get stuck in this rut and put their lives on hold.  The hardest decisions to make are often the ones that make little difference.  Those decisions won’t change our lives appreciably, we just need to get on a path.

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.

‘Which road do I take?’  she asked.

‘Where do you want to go?’  was his response.

‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.

‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’ ”

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), English Novelist

It is not easy to retrace our steps on a path once taken, and go back to the other fork and have it be in the same condition.  One fork may not be any better than the other, just different, or maybe faster. Many paths can end up in the same place, with some taking longer than others to reach the final destiny.

Sometimes the fork is at major junction in one’s life.  Is this where I shed some baggage and head up the hill of destiny?  Perhaps there will be another path later I can take, choosing flatter ground now until my children are ready to hike on their own.  Choosing flatter ground now because it is more secure, less risky.  Choosing flatter ground now because the hill path really is too steep and isn’t the right path at this time.

“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), American Poet

We will have other chances to climb the hill.  We don’t know whether the path will be flatter or steeper later.  The reality of daily life must be balanced with our dreams.  We should make our choices based on intuition, from the gut, from deep inside.  We know what is right and wrong.  Choose your Right.

“Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what’s right.”

Isaac Asimov   (1920-1992), Science Fiction/Scientific Writer

Once we have made the decision, though, we must walk our chosen path with a spring in our step.  That decision moment is gone, we chose to not take the turnoff.  Pull your shoulders back, breathe deeply, and continue your journey.

Be prepared for more forks ahead.  When you’re traveling around the base of a mountain, there will usually be other roads to the top. Don’t look back, stay the course.  (not a G. W. Bush original quote)

“Don’t look back – something might be gaining on you.”

Satchel Paige (1906-1982), Baseball Player

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