Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The opposite of belief is not doubt, it is certainty

I had an inspiring lunch with an old professor last week. Between bites of chimichanga and refried beans we talked about where I'm headed.

"Be a pessimist, then you won't be dissapointed."
"It's all about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" - which means your happenstance. Doing what makes you happy but not neccessarily the pursuit of being happy.
"The opposite of belief isn't doubt, it is certainty" - You can only be certain of something or have faith that is real enough to believe in.

I'm profoundly affected by the words of my teacher. Though our classroom this time was the brightly colored bench seats of a booth in a mexican resturant, I'm still learning. I expected many of the things we talked about, I already knew them - it's just that sometimes I just need to be told. My trip shouldn't be about finding happiness outside myself but within myself.

I'm traveling for the experience and the chance to learn new things. I'm traveling because I love to and because I may never be in the same place in my life at the exact right moment again. I'm traveling because I need to.







I also visited my other source of focus and energy. Lisa has had an incredible journey over the last several months and while I wasn't there for every moment of her battle with cancer, I never saw her be anything but positive and light up the room with her creativity and passion. I wasn't expecting anything when I walked through her door - except some hugs and good advice - so I was surprised when she handed me a teeny doll from Singapore. It was a gift from a pen-pal from when she was younger; it would keep her safe while it hung from her door and she was passing it on to me.


I couldn't be more thankful. And now there's lots to think about.

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