Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Discovery Mode

The wonderful souls and denizens of this earth, at times seem so set in their ways. I suspect I was no different at times.
We have routine, ideas, ideologies, philosophies, opinions, and "shades and blinders" we put on to keep things the way they are.

What a great loss that can be, if one travels the roads of life, never changing direction because "that's the way we always did it".
I catch my self these days doing things the way they always were done. Cups always in the same cupboard; same old places to grab a pita; drive the same road every day even though there are several routes. 

I read the same paper the same way with the same mug of the same coffee in the same cup. Yet life, at the speed of life, is changing every nano second. 
After 19 years of living with the same partner, we develop habits and nuances that "just make sense" But if we change it up, it feels odd at first; but kinda cool and good.

I have my opinions about things, but always keep an open mind to new ideas, thoughts, and ways of living. I just need to turn that on more I suspect. Routine is fine really, but life should never be about routine. We are just a spit in the ocean, and our time here is but a blip on the cosmic clock. So why do we not take in life's concerto at different venues?

The adventurous of us claim that "we love to travel and experience new things". But we still need to know that every Tuesday night "House" comes on. We shut down our discovery modus for these events, because there is comfort in conformity I guess. God forbid that someone drop in or the phone ring at the end of an American Idol show!

At a certain age or time in our life's we have our "set" of friends and family. If someone really interesting (how would we know?) were to walk by our house, or grace us in line at "Fourbucks", we put up a sign in our eyes that says: "Not looking for friends, set in that way. Not interviewing or accepting applications for the positions of friends".

Shame.

Bluetooth was a Danish Pirate. Bluetooth technology is named after the pirate. When you want to "pair" devices (laptop, cell phones etc) you have to put your Bluetooth device into "discovery mode".
Devices have to be in close proximity, so when in "discovery mode" they find each other and "pair".

I guess we reach a certain age, or complacency or maybe even a general laziness in life, and stop putting our minds, hearts and souls in "discovery mode". 

I wonder why?

The universe is filled with amazing things, but people are the most unique things we can spend time with. Watching, sharing, conversing, eating, or just hanging out with. It is nice to travel and see the sites that man made, and the geography that time created. But really it is people that we talk about after a trip. 
"Went to the Grand Canyon/Disney/Paris/the Nile.... and we met this amazing couple who....."
We have all heard it. It's the souls we interact with along the road that make the concerto really. 

But you have to be in "discovery mode" all the time to make the mundane trip to the A & P part of life's wonderful experience.
Head down, Bluetooth off, we miss so much.

I have spent the last several years in medical land. Taking care of someone, and getting David back to David was work and time. 
I missed a lot.

Nine months in a cone of silence my "discovery mode" in my internal Bluetooth system kicked in and on. 
I watched people.
I read lips.
I read eyes.
I looked inquisitively at life and enjoyed it with open mind and no sound.

Somewhere in my recovery and in taking care of my wife's well being, my Bluetooth got turned off, and I took myself out of discovery mode.

How wonderful recently to discover this tragic error, and flip back into discovery mode. If you give it time, and don't obsess over the details too much, life is fascinating again. Wonderful experiences happen every second, in every place, all the time. But you have to be in discovery mode to appreciate it, drink it in, wallow in it, play in it, and replay in your mind over and over.

One has to adapt to change really to take in the "new".
We have to empty our "cups" to put us in touch with the newness and constant changing about us daily. To experience what life has to show and teach us, we have to be in discovery mode, and make room for new "movements" in our concerto.
They are out there to be sure.

NAN-IN, a Japanese master  received a university professor who cam to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull.  No more will go in!"
"Like this cup" Nan-in said, "your are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Warmest,

David

29 comments:

Government Funded Blogger said...

Good post Dave.You have discovered what I had many years ago. WE live in interesting times.

bobbie said...

This is a marvelous post! You are definitely in discovery mode now, and have reminded me to put myself there once again. I spent most of my life there, but lately I have shut down a bit. Thank you, David.

Anonymous said...

Hear hear. (no pun intended). Great post.

How timely this post is. Just on the day I decided to go up to the attic, find anything that I haven't touched in a year, and give it to charity. I can feel the weight of these things keeping me from forging ahead. Need to empty my cup.

Kay Dennison said...

Thank you for sharing these wonderful thoughts! I try very hard to leave myself open to new things. I'm one of those people who has never met a stranger and is always eager to learn new things. I don't know why I'm that way; I just am. Maybe that's why I like blogging so much -- new people and new knowledge.

You, my friend have taught me much about strength and courage and love. Thank you!!!!

themom said...

Every single day is one of discovery - in one way or another. I am so glad that you are progressing. Your writing is still heartfelt. Thanks.

smalltownme said...

Beautiful.

Lori said...

I love this post. Your words are like food for my soul. What your described here is how I try to live my life but there are times when I am not paying attention that I get stuck and close myself off to all that is new and trying to present itself to me.

Thank you for your beautiful words today David. You inspire me to keep on moving in this wonderful amazing journey!

Nature Girl said...

What a wonderful post. You so inspire me..
Stacie

MsCatMinder said...

You really are amazing . How do you do it ?

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic, David! You are in discovery mode now! It's so easy to shut down -- I have done it with a lot less reason than you have had, but fortunately something, from somewhere comes at just the right time and opens the door, the windows and lets the light inside. Thank you, for the reminder! And you can see from all the comments how much your insight is food for us all.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

you never cease to amaze me with your way of thinking and voicing what you are thinking... I woudl like to be like you when I grow up... thank you David you are an inspiration!

The Old Tarf said...

thank you David for reminding me

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

Great post! I was thinking along these lines (nowhere near as eloquently, however) just last night -- how blogging has helped me to live in what you call "discovery mode." I have opened up to people I would have never met otherwise. Blogging has helped me to reach beyond my own knowledge and values, to see life from another point of view. While I don't want to be so open-minded that my brains fall out (ha!), I don't want to be small-minded, either. I have been challenged and stretched, and it feels GOOD.

Mary Ellen said...

I'm struggling to stay in discovery mode, but I find that visiting here is something that always makes me better, or at least makes me WANT to be better. Thanks, Dave.

Jan D-M said...

As I read this post, I had to wonder why I wanted to cry. I still want to cry. What this post touched is this---I live my life with enthusiasm and "in discovery mode". Life is a wonderment. The hard part for me seems to be that most people around me are walking with their heads down in Bluetooth mode. Attempting to connect is like spitting into the wind. I don't necessarily stop trying, but I've found myself retreating more so as not to get more spew on my face. It makes me sad.

You, however, are a delight.

Anonymous said...

jdm is right on the money, you ARE a delight! I gain something each time I stop by here and always click away with lots to think about.

foolery said...

Not sure where I fall on the Bluetooth "discovery" scale -- probably somewhere in the middle -- but you have made me think about it now. Making people think is NOT easy to do, do you know that?

You have a gift -- no, you have MANY gifts.

-- Laurie @ Foolery

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