Friends come and go!

Friends: They seem to come and most notably they seem to disappear. Some are there for an occasion and then fade away. I have had some that I had for decades - at least, I thought I had them for that period, and then come to find out, they are no longer in the picture. Then there are the newcomers. I met a person at a coffee shop. We had a fine time together and then ... Phoof! Gone! Yes, I can insist meeting that person again, but that doesn't seem quite right. The reverse is true also: I drop people from my circle of "friends". Surely, with age, some die or move to far away places and I lose contact that way. And then there this: At different ages/times needs change, asking for different connections and they grow intense or stop when the needs are met or fade away.
I have lots of photo albums with documentation identifying the important folks in my life. So I can glance back and reminisce or cherish, but in the end, yes, toward the end of my life, I come to realize that I can only continue to be my own best friend. I have to get up in the morning with myself and at night time, close my eyes certain that I am still best friends with myself. That HAS to be the ever present balance.
Now, I am on my way to the next unexpected encounter. Life is full of surprises.

Change

CONTROL and CHOICE do we have such?

When did “control”, as in “I have control over my life!” start?

I don’t have an answer to that question and I don’t think that ANY-one can do any better than I.

Then comes the question: “I have a “free will” capability and therefore “I can choose which path I can take in life!”

So, here we have two interconnected terms: Control and Choice!

From that I have to conclude that one is dependent on the other. And what I hear from my fellow human beings is that with that capability they are in charge of life ... or in a milder sense: “I am in charge of MY life!”

Again: When did "I have Control" and "I have a Choice" become a “reality”?

A thousand years ago? When?

No one - so far - has been able to pin down a time period when this phenomenon became a “reality”!

I hear it with regularity! My son believes it, my friends and family members do and it seems to serve them well. It gives them confidence and that is good, and maybe I should therefore stop right here and let the next phase rest, but I cannot!

What do I believe (until someone can convincingly contradict me):

LIFE is in charge - Period!

We do NOT control LIFE!

Many say:

We pollute the air;

We make war:

We control our bodies, our movements;

We choose to take a job, a turn, a partner, etc.

REALLY!?

OK, here I go:

Do we breathe, because we want to? NO!

Do I choose to get sick or die? NO! 

Do I drink bad water, wine? I hope not!

Do I choose to have an accident? NO!

I trip and fall. Did I choose that? NO!

My kidneys fail and they didn’t ask for my permission!

It is raining and the outdoor event has to be postponed!

My car won’t start, I miss my appointment and my flight to Alaska!

My boss has a bad mood and makes my life difficult! My choice, my control?

I am about to make a presentation for 200+ experts in my profession! Am I nervous?

I change my diet/religion, because somebody/something convinces me to do so!

See, we are acting as if we are separate from nature, but People! we are part of it. NOT separate. Yes, with all the automobiles, airplanes, giant cruise ships we may seem to have lifted ourselves above it ALL.

So, why do we do this to ourselves? We don’t - Nature does! We have absolutely no control, no choice! That may seem fatalistic and discouraging, but it isn’t. Since we have no choice  and no control we will do what we are supposed to do. We are wired in a certain way and we interact with the rest of Nature in relative harmony - whatever that means. Just as much as  the dinosaurs became extinct, so will we. Nature has its ways.

So, relax, just simply relax. 

You will or you will not AND you will/will-not do so without choice. Fun stuff and so liberating.

Cheers!

Do try to convince me of it all being otherwise!