Ponder Place

We are born. We are raised. We are educated. We choose a career. We reproduce. We die.

Metaphorically speaking, society is a huge clock tower. And we as individuals are cogs in that clock tower.

Where do I fit in?

That seems to be the golden question. Everyone passes through a phase in his or her life. Wondering which cog he or she might be.

Take yourself for example.

Who are you today?
Look back on your past. Where have you been? Where did you grow up?

The generic mold is that you attended grade school, Junior High, and High School. Then you either got a job or you moved right onto college.

During those years you might have met the one. You might have found that person who fills in all the empty spaces in your life; or at least, builds a bridge over those empty spaces.

You graduate school. At some point (before ending school, or sometime there-after) you get married. You’re starting your career and a family. You have a child.

You’re experiencing life. You have financial trouble. You and your family make it through. You find a new job. You move to a new house. You grow as a family.

Your kids grow up. They make mistakes, but you help them through those mistakes. They eventually go off to school. They have grown up.

You retire. You’re house is too big, your getting to old to manage the upkeep. You sell your home. You and your significant other find a single level house in a quite place, somewhere warm, it’s easier on your joints.

You eventually retire. You have so much time on your hands, what do you do with all your time?

You find a hobby. It’s something to distract you from the depression of uselessness. A feeling you found so prominent after retiring from a life long career.

You find new joys, turns out you love your hobby.

Your body eventually gives out. You die. It’s okay though, you’ve had a full life.

That’s from start to finish. At some point during my example, you’ll stop, you’ve come that far yourself. The rest of the story is yours to write.

What has lead up to this point in your life?
The schooling, the experiences, the joys and sorrows.

Who has influenced you in life? Or better, who have you allowed to influence you?

Where you are now is a direct result of the choices you made in your past.

Who do you blame for your failures?
You may not see them as your failures. If you see yourself as a victim, than you would have a reason for each failure. Maybe another individual, a group of people, or an unseen force.

On the other hand you may take each failure, and cherish it. Why would you do that? Perhaps you view failure as a flashlight in a dark room, pointing out your weaknesses. An opportunity to plainly see what needs strengthening.

Who do you praise for your success?
You praise yourself. That’s okay though, it’s healthy to recognize your progress. You see that each effort produces a result. In this case, your efforts have rewarded you. Congratulations.

What is the meaning of life?
“Meaning” is subjective. This is why it’s such an elusive question. This is why I cannot answer the questions I’ve brought up. It wouldn’t apply to you. That’s something you need to write on your own.

You’re doing that now. The actions of today lead to the results of tomorrow.

Title image used with permission and courtesy of edalod, check out the original here.