This morning after some real-body-floor exercises, my nose started bleeding. So suddenly and without warning. This event reminded me of recent conversations I have had with friends and acquaintances about “control.” This “nose-bleed”-event was a clear example that I do not control my life. On the contrary, Life has control over me.
Subsequently, with a tiny piece of cotton up my nostril, I proceeded to take my slightly delayed early morning walk and while striding up and down the hill in the neighborhood I felt surrounded by “life” and felt immersed in it, as if on the crest of a giant wave, pushing forward.
The words “control” and “choice” are very satisfactory type terms, used to give a sense of power, and a feel that I may have a “say” over my actions. After my retirement, I have been pondering the value of these two words, and slowly but surely, I have come to the conclusion that they are nonsensical. I haven’t come to the point that I have alternative terms for my day-to-day conversation, but it is crazy to think that, we, microscopic specks in the universe, can control our lives and that we have a choice in the matter.
Your thoughts?
1 comment:
I suppose the knee-jerk, idealistic, American response is to say, of course we have choices and control of our own lives. But I have found that this absolutism can be paralyzing if things don’t go as planned. My experience leads me to believe that I don’t have a choice of what life throws at me, but I do chose my reaction, and perhaps too slowly sometimes. “You play the hand you’re dealt”, so to speak. Isn’t this what defines us, what gives us the frown lines or the smile lines in our faces as we go through life?
I don’t think the words “control” or “choice” are nonsensical, but I do think that they are much more fluid, interactive situations than we are comfortable accepting.
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