As I look out at the landscape of my life, I am aware of the vast amount of intersections that occur within and outside of my life. I am also struck by the many varying places friends and family members have created. The potential that we hold as people to impact others and create is amazing and can also be overwhelming at times. How do we respond to this potential?
When I visit friends, I always notice amazing creativity, personal choices, and their individual interests, hobbies, values, and choices. The way people spend time is evident in the places they live in, how they spend their time, and where they spend their money and other resources. As I notice this, there are always similarities and differences with my own life. As for the similarities, that gives us a point of connection, and for differences, that presents a point of reflection, questioning, and wondering about one's own choices. The differences make you wonder if that's a life choice you desire or if it's a choice that you don't want to spend time or energy on.
When I listen to the stories of friends and family members, I'm also struck by the vast array of intersections that impact our lives. We are impacted by others via relationships, work choices, hobbies, and happenstance. All day everyday intersections affect who we are and what we choose. Our inborn desires, interests, personalities, and even physicality affects who we are too--in a sense we are naturally called in particular directions.
When we allow ourselves to experience a mix of people and places, we, in a sense, open our eyes to the opportunities that exist in life. And when we open our eyes, we have to respond to that awareness by making choices for ourselves--choices that fit our values, dreams, needs, and interests.
There's more to think about with regard to this topic--more that I will think about in the days ahead.
