Random Thoughts - This Fleeting Moment That Is Our Life
Monday, August 20, 2007 at 10:45AM The Unraveling
I recently turned sixty one. This has been an interesting and challenging place to be in one’s life. It is also filled with a lot of helpless heartache. Losing people that we’ve known all our lives is difficult for the survivor for a number of reasons. Those we’ve known all our lives knew us when we were shiny and new and life was pregnant with possibility. They were there for our triumphs as well as our failures. 
When someone you love passes, there is along with the grief, a sense loss that is personal and somewhat selfish. The beings with whom we evolved, grew, shared time, all become threads that make up the fabric of our lives. As long as all those threads are interwoven, we have a sense of safety or some kind of order in the midst of this chaos we call the universe. When a loved one passes, one of the threads becomes unraveled, and as you know, once the unraveling process begins, there is only one outcome…total unraveling. You can mend, but it's never the same and eventually time unravels us all.
The first time a loved one slips away, we are stunned and frightened. Up until that time, we were demonstrably immortal. Now that person that saw you shine at a time when no one else noticed; the one who gave a legitimacy to your shining moment, the witness, is gone. The pet that greeted you every single time you passed; who forgave every transgression is no longer there to supply that kind of love.
But on a more personal level, if the threads of these beings that make up the fabric of your life begin to unravel, you know that your thread (which is interwoven into countless other life fabrics) is also involved in the unraveling.
And what is even more mysterious, is that we do experience this stunned surprize when someone slips away. We are involved in a denial of the inevitable that is epic in its span and influence.
We all go on as if this won't happen to us. We watch mindless television, read cult of personality headlines, and avoid taking the joy that is there in each moment of our fleeting existence. We are here such a very short time, it is a wonder we can ever give some of that precious time over to revenge, or rage, or depression. With the little bit of time we're given, you'd think we'd want to do nothing but spread joy and love where ever we are to everyone around us.
Why would we want to spend even a nanosecond of that time trying to make someone feel bad? Why would we want to get in the way of a dream? Why not make certain that every encounter with you makes anyone else in that equation actually feel better than they did before the encounter?
I suspect bringing this kind of consciousness into an altercation would effect an entirely different outcome than we've ever experienced. Try it, you’ll like it.
Reader Comments (10)
FREAKING COOL!!!!!!!!!...how long has this been up?
is that a cigarette in your mouth in the pic of you in the booking yourself article?...write something about recording when you have no money or eqpt...
also "With the little bit of time we're given, you'd think we'd want to do nothing but spread joy and love where ever we are to everyone around us." and "Why would we want to get in the way of a dream?"...are two of the most important statements in the world especially the latter cos the human species is very good at getting in the way of dreams and our dreams are our internal map of our true path
beautiful
LB
lb, this site has been up since the first weekend of july, so about seven weeks now...and we're getting an incredible amount of hits. thanks for checking us out.
and i'll write an article about recording on a shoe string tomorrow. look for it.
and thanks for resonating to my little philosophical post. it just came out of losing loved ones and recognizing our brief time here. i'm glad you got something out of it.
Hi James,
Finally had a minute to look at this – you know how you can quickly answer some e-mails and others that say, “read this” get set aside for a minute or three days.
Anyway, congrats on the blog. I also really enjoy your style and straight talk especially about dealing with buyers, building a buzz etc – some things I have discussed with artists many times but probably never so eloquently and with such a positive spin.
Should also mention I appreciated the philosophizing on losing loved ones etc – well done
I’m really buried in work at the moment and have had a long and intense Monday so I’m not feeling very creative or insightful with regard to comments you invited aside from the above but I did enjoy reading the first page or so of your blog. If you want to ask me some questions, fire away. Good luck in the meantime.
mike kappus
rosebud agency
www.rosebudus.com
Hi James,
You have such a beautiful way of looking at the world. It's so great to share thoughts with you. As I've gotten older I realize how important the people are that come and go in our lives. I've got friends that I've had since childhood and I treasure every one of them. I've also been lucky enough to meet people like you and they've really added special memories to my life. In the end that's all we can really take with us so why not make as many happy ones as we can. Take care.
Diane Archambault
dear mike and diane, thanks for posting and for the kind words. i'm looking forward to this being a free resource for us all. some extra help in navigating this turbulent planet.
Your essay was very good, in your articles I learned a lot, as someone who just learn English beginners. I'm honored to see such worthy of study of articles. This is the sea of knowledge.replica fendi shoes
This is my first time i visit here. replica hublot watches
I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion, if can more pictures will be better. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work. Replica Audemars Piguet
Thanks for the posts! replica oakley sunglasses Works like a charm but now some of my openGL games do not work right - namely Foobillards. Not that it matters much.oomega seamaster gmt white dial
I recently attended a lecture Cheap Newest Nike Shoes For Salewhere the instructor had showed how to snip the dangling threads
from the top of the piece by tugging on the top thread Nike Jordan 13to pull up the bobbin thread and
snipping both at the same time, rather than cutting Cheapest Nike Shoes For Salethreads from each side with a scissor action.
She claims to Retro Jordan 17save hours of time and strain on her hands. It works.Chain piecing saves
time, as we all know, but also Cheap Vibram Five Fingers Shoes On Saleincreases our accuracy by repeating the same thought
process before Five Fingers For Menwe move to another step.Know your strengths and weaknesses. If you
can Nike Shoes Discounted Saleneedle turn Cheap Jordan Shoesa smooth edge,
don’t spend time basting. If your Jordan Take Flightcutting isn’t as accurate, buy better
tools, take a class Nike Jordan 14or trade services with a friend.
so pretty.You are a good teacher. Lucky student! zsluxd zsluxd - Belstaff Jackets Sale.