I was talking to a friend last night: a person of considerable talents; a person of deep and ingrained social beliefs; a person with a desire to improve the world or at least some part of it; a very serious person but a person with a highly developed sense of the absurd; a person I respect - a lot.
The conversation has made me slightly uneasy because it reminded me that, in my youth, I too wanted to change parts of the world. I had never felt the need nor desire to challenge my parents (who allowed us freedom on the tacit understanding that we never turned that freedom into licence) but I challenged the establishment of my small world in local government. I still have strong(ish) beliefs and hope that I also still have my sense of social and personal integrity. However I no longer have the desire to challenge nor to change as I once did.
I do, though, still have a sense of the absurd. So when our conversation ended I wondered to myself what had happened in my world during the day that was of any significance. This is what it all boiled down to:
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| Boiled down to!! I put three eggs in to boil and one exploded: big bang too! |
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| Catriona thought that my thumbs were both weird and awesome. |
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| Martin decided to cut down the 2 1/2 year old gum tree behind The Cottage - they grow at a fantastic rate and height (and there is already a complete paddock of mature ones ready for felling for firewood). |
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| This morning it is no more. |
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| and the second trailer load is filled with the remnants |
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| In the meantime I have a dead ride-on mower at the front of The Cottage |
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And I played a croquet match. My day was full from start to finish. But of what? Insignificant trifles.
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I'd say you had a very good day. We may not be out there in the fore front challenging the establishment but we are still mentors. I'm always happy to see an Idle No More movement in existence.
ReplyDeleteYes, Red, you do have a good point there. A point that goes well with the first of your two posts on communicating with children.
DeleteStill, the world would not be the same without you, Graham. Mine wouldn't and we've never even met!!
ReplyDeleteAwe thanks Monica. I would certainly say the same about you: particularly given your prodigious memory, our chats and the fact that I still owe you at least one explanation from several years ago.
DeleteSigning Monica's comment here! And I do agree with Catriona about your weird thumb (singular, since I have not seen the other one).
ReplyDeleteMy way-too-comfortable belief about changing the world is that I try to keep my tiny sphere of it good (= in order, helping those who need help, not harming anyone, not wasting ressources unnecessarily etc.). And if, as a side-effect, I contribute in a small way to make someone's day a little brighter by something I do, say or write, then that's fine.
Everyone who really MOVES things (in a positive way) has my utmost respect!
My thumbs both do that Meike and I'd have made the Johnny Walls sign (I tried to find a reference to that via Google but I can't so that's another explanation for a later date) but I'd need someone else to hold the camera.
DeleteI think your approach is a sensible and pragmatic one Meike. I never managed to change the world and if I can smile at someone and brighten their day then that's time well spent.
But were you nice to the people you were with or met? If so it wasn't an insignificant day or contribution to the world! (I wrote that and then read Librarian's comment which says it so much better.)
ReplyDeleteMy thunbs used to be like yours but both have seized up and I can't even straighten them let alone bend them back. I've just discovered that trying to get them straight has the slightly worrying effect of making me scream...
I always try to be nice to the people I meet CJ. Well, almost always. Well, almost always unless they are the sort of people you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night in the rain. OK, sometimes, provided they are not knocking on my door trying to sell me something - particularly salvation.
DeleteThe bendy thumbs are no longer bendy, John?! Oh no. I was pretty impressed with your bendy thumb, Graham. I didn't know that you had them, as well. There, we have something in common {mine still bend}.
DeleteRe your thumbs, my mother always said that was a sign of intelligence, so if the cap fits.......
ReplyDeleteI still want to challenge sometimes, but think I am now more thoughtful about how I do it!
The cap doesn't really fit Lizzie although I think I give a passable imitation of someone who is.
DeleteThe last half of your comment is sound advice Lizzie.
Your egg fiasco immediately reminded me of the US comedy called The Big Bang Theory.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the ladies above, even the smallest contribution, whether it be giving of your time, managing resources smartly, making someone's day, helping others, especially those who you don't know, makes a BIG difference.
I always feel so much better when I rest my head to sleep at night, if I have done something good, to help another person feel good that day.
Sometimes it's the smallest act of kindness that can save another from the brink of despair.
So who is going to check the mower out? I'd love to fiddle with it, and hear it spring back to life.
I don't have special thumbs like you, so you are special GB.
The mower is sorted Virginia. We simply attached it to my car's battery and it sprang into life. The question is why, having just had it fully serviced and a new solenoid fitted, should it have conked out. The battery was showing full on my tester too.
DeleteIt's always pleasing to have done something kind that is appreciated and, yes, I always feel I can sleep well if I have helped someone.
Darn, I was just about to book my ticket to come over and check out the mower for you mate....
DeleteAnd your little finger turns in, just like Hubby's.
ReplyDeleteHe and I used to joke around about getting a riding mower when we lived in places that didn't require such a machine. Moving to AZ, not only did we require it, but required it several times a week during the monsoon season in the summer!
Going through the process of getting Hubby's book done, we're so reminded of our youth and the challenge we felt towards so many things at that time. My how things change. :)
I'd never noticed that my pinky did that. Yes, Lisa, things and our attitudes to them do change so much as we get older.
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