Sun Disappears

It’s incredible what memories are brought back to life simply by hearing a song, getting a whiff of a fragrance, or walking through some location where our emotional memory reached a peak. Columbus is full of these places for me, as I’ve had my entire life to develop these projected realms of identity. Can we ever experience something truly new and undiscovered? I’m not quite sure if that’s possible. However, I’d be open to giving it a new shot.

In theatre, we watch as characters flit across the stage, recreating great moments of human achievement, romance, tragedy, and distress. Through the dim lighting of the stage, we witness something truly incredible happening; interpretation, intrigue, and the dutiful roar of applause given to those who have devoted their time to pursue it. It’s very easy for us to think of theatrical characters as being somehow false, or untrue, as their identity only exists within the realm of the stage. And yet, when we walk outside, the true show begins. The real masks are worn over very real faces. There is no applause, nor will there ever be.

Sitting here, I’m thinking about all of the things I have to do today. I often beat myself for not simply jumping into the work, rather than thinking about it prior to starting. But then I realize my productivity shoots through the roof when I’ve given devoted time to planning my execution of a given day. That’s one reason I stay in bed for a few extra minutes each morning. Planning is critical to success. You can’t hit a moving target.

I received two emails this morning that absolutely brightened my day. Each was from a mentor of mine, previously mentioned, about life/work opportunities. I’m beginning to wonder what it is that really makes me happy. Is it the roar of the ocean, or the harsh inhalation of industrial solvent and forklift fumes? Mountain air or stale pots of coffee? Bachelor lifestyle or long-term commitment?

At the start of this blog, I discussed the things that trigger our memories. As I’ve progressed through life, I’ve come to realize it’s our minds that make our worlds what they are. Regardless of where we are, who we are with, or what we are doing, our minds have full ability to make our world uniquely ours, no matter the circumstance. “The mind is its own place. And in itself, can make a Heaven out of Hell, a Hell out of Heaven.”

We choose the reality we exist in. To deny this fact is to make yourself a slave to your own mind, rather than a conquerer.

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