The punch
line of a rather unfunny sketch introduced to myself and two classmates, and
through us, to our entire tutor group, was "…. it is time amigos" (bad Mexican
accent obligatory). At this command, the three of us, seated on a desk top,
would re-cross our legs the opposite way we had been siting. Without exception
this proved the closest I ever came to displaying any talent with regard to
the stage. It was in fact my only foray into the ‘glare’ of the public spot
light throughout my entire time at secondary school. A lesson learnt by experience.
Conscious choice that. Fear of failure..?
Acting. Singing. Writing. Art. Are these the most difficult professions to
break into? Is it fair to say that the perseverance that it takes to become
able to even just make a living out of any of these four jobs represents more
of challenge than anything else? Yet then we can hold up the position of Politician,
or Doctor, and taking it further, any job or position that stretches you.
If you dream of being a middle level administrator, but lack the qualifications,
study 14 hours a day at night school, who am I to take away the value of your
achievement?
We look to positions in the public eye as being the most difficult to obtain,
and perhaps they are. However, working as hard as you can to achieve something,
no matter how much it can be belittled by other (ignorant and misguided) people
(including this author at times) it is still as important. Yet turning this
concept on its head. What if life never presents challenges?
Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? The answer to Shakespeare’s
rhetorical question is supposed to be a resounding no. Moving the context
around though, would a single rose smell as sweet in a field of roses? Technically,
surely it would - our chemical/physical reaction to the rose should be the
same. Yet the single rose is lost in a sea of other roses. It is simple economics
that it loses its value. Diamonds would be worthless if they were common.
Ditto gold. So does achievement have the same value subjective quality? Educationally,
having a degree in a peer group educated to A levels is surely more of an
achievement than having the same in a peer group who all have PhDs.
We can extend this to jobs. Does it simply matter who you compare yourself
with, or should one only compete with oneself? Not to put too finer point
on it, how do you know what you have achieved is great unless you put it into
context. When I run, the fact that my heart pounds, and I gasp for breath
means I am working hard. If I push myself until I collapse I know the limits
of my body. Therefore I know when I am working out hard. The same simply cannot
apply to cognitive non-physical achievement. Only a fool (on a hill) would
suggest that only those who have had nervous breakdowns are being true to
themselves.
Do you keep setting challenges, keep striving until you reach your goal. What
then..? set a higher goal? Give up. What if you were happier thinking you
could do better. Why take the risk. Is not anticipation half the fun? What
does it mean to be a success. Can only you answer that? I don’t want to change
the world, should I? It’s A Wonderful Life. Quantum Leap. Non-space sci-fi
at its best. The hero, Sam, (for those heathens not familiar with the series)
leaps around in time, changing history, for the better. In the final, tear-welling
(?) and thought provoking (?!?) the good he is doing is explained to him by
the notion his actions touching people, who’s lives touched others, and thus
the effect continued. Use the notion of pebbles spreading ripples in the ocean
if it helps. Can this be used to argue that no matter what you do with your
life, as long as you help others, its a success?
Yeah. Tell that to my bank manager (who incidentally exists merely as some
temp in a large call centre in Liverpool who will not tell me my bank balance
until I tell him the square root of 7921, or something equally as meaningless).
You’ll get your just rewards in the next life (either in heaven or through
your reincarnated form). Okay. I’ll just hug this tree. I’m to selfish. Having
decided that money is not everything (honest!), alas, rather than now dedicating
my life to world peace, or something noble, erm, I’m going for happiness.
Naturally with the proviso of helping others along the way (of course).
So what is the meaning of life. How should I live my life? Who is my judge?
Pick someone who you believe is a good benchmark, and compare with them? Should
I read eastern philosophy and set "personal goals"? (I didn’t study Management
Science!). Should I just know - like being in love (cop out). No one ever
knows. Sock it to the man (whatever that means). You may be a rose, and it
may be a really, really, big field. If at the end of the day you can look
at yourself in the mirror and not think you can do better… well, either you’ve
achieved your own nirvana, or you’re lazy. Either way, at least you’ve still
got the mirror.
"Can’t get there from here" eh Michael?
And I feel fine.
