It’s been a while since I posted anything here. Earlier this year I found out I was having a daughter, who should be here in the next couple of weeks. So for the better part of the last year I wrote her a series of letters which I will give her one day. They are for her to and share if she wishes. But I did want to make this one public as the advice in it didn’t come from me. I feel lie I merely transcribed it from the world around me and therefore should do what I can to set it free.
Sometimes wisdom reveals itself in foolish ways. Maybe this is to test us, to see if we are worthy. If we can see through the distraction to glean the insight. Maybe God has a sense of humor. Maybe being a fool much of the time myself, this is the language that gets through to me. Regardless I'm about to share one such foolish insight with you. It came to me many years ago from a shirtless man on a bus who may or may not have been high.
The shirtless man on the bus was doing the street sage thing, talking to an audience of people who only existed in his head. At least that's what I think he was doing. He said many things, most of which I had long forgotten. What I do remember and think about to this day is he said everyone needs to do 4 things: build a house, write a book, grow a garden, and start a family.
We all have to build our house. But what is a house? Houses are shelters from the elements, a place of protection. Everyone has to find a way to establish safety in this world. Build yourself a home that’s not only safe but cozy and even inviting to others who may need protection.
Writing a book is organizing your thoughts in a way so they can be expressed coherently to others. It’s about being the author of your life so you won’t just be a minor character in someone else's story. Write your book with tenacity and care and don’t be censored.
A gardener is someone who cultivates land in a way that creates an abundance of food. To do this they have to understand the rhythms and properties of the soil they are tending. They have to understand the plants. They have to provide what is needed long before they receive anything in return. But if they learn to do this they will be rewarded with a bounty of food.
We can apply this process to anything though. To be a gardener in the real sense isn't limited to toiling in the dirt. It's about understanding how to and then doing the work to create abundance. Yes, that abundance can be fruits and veggies. But it can be money, relationships, experiences, or anything else you can think of. Become a master gardener of the life you want. And don’t forget to weed what's not needed from your life.
Finally, we get to raising a family. Family can be those we are connected to through blood. Family can also be those we choose to bond with. But it's not those who pass in and out of our lives. Not that there's anything wrong with those people. It just that we are not fully committed to them. Family is who we choose to fully commit to. We can only extend ourselves fully to so many people. So be careful who you let into your inner sanctum. But do establish yourself a family, people who will have your back throughout your life. Support them. The stronger they are the stronger you will be.
I don’t think it's an accident I just happened to be on the bus when this guy was going on his tirade. There is a reason I kept it in my consciousness all these years. Now I know the reason.
All right get busy now.
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