In the opening part of the novel "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder the unknown and mysterious philosopher asks his young pupil, Sophie, a simple yet startling question. That question was, "Who are you?"
Who are you indeed? Try to answer this and see how difficult it is to honestly come up with an answer. We can easily come up with the simple physical characteristics. Height. Weight. Eye and hair color. That can be accessed by looking into a mirror, stepping on a scale or using a tape measure. We know our names, addresses and phone numbers. But do any of those things really speak to "Who are you?"
My wife asked me a similiar question. "At your 80th birthday party, what do you hope your friends and family say about you?" It seems to be asking the same question, only framing it differently. One wants you to step outside of yourself and look at your life as others would see it. Sophie's question begs her to dive deeply into soul work to determine who she is. No looking glass to reflect back who she is. She, as Alice in "Through the Looking Glass" needs to take a daring leap into the truth that is often difficult to face.
I will share who I am.
I seek to give more than take. To consume less of the universe's resources then I restore. To be "a truth" and not fall for the flim-flam of "Mankind." I have grown sure (or perhaps it is disenchanted) that there is truly little kind in mankind. I am a lone voyager, lost yet surrounded by many who love me and that I love. I am unique and there will never be another like me. Bits and pieces of me, either by DNA or memories that others will carry with them, will fly forward into time. Eventually that will be diluted to small dust--pieces of stardust, and "Who I am" will be so small I will appear to be gone. But for a short time who I was will be remembered.
I seek to give more than take. To consume less of the universe's resources then I restore. To be "a truth" and not fall for the flim-flam of "Mankind." I have grown sure (or perhaps it is disenchanted) that there is truly little kind in mankind. I am a lone voyager, lost yet surrounded by many who love me and that I love. I am unique and there will never be another like me. Bits and pieces of me, either by DNA or memories that others will carry with them, will fly forward into time. Eventually that will be diluted to small dust--pieces of stardust, and "Who I am" will be so small I will appear to be gone. But for a short time who I was will be remembered.
Take some time and share with yourself "Who are you?"Looking Glass - A Nez Perce Indian, in 1877, who still exists in pieces of the universe's collective soul.
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2 comments:
hopefully, the other people at the potluck will say i was good company. its about the best i have to hope for.
People will say so much more. You are one of a kind. That was my point--to know that there will never be another like you--ever again.
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