Day 16

Ray:  "What's wrong, Mommy?"
Dorothy:  "First class, that's what's wrong.  It used to be a better meal, now it's a better life."

That's one of my favorite quotes from Jerry McGuire, which is one of my favorite movies.  Having spent a few years working in sports television and being around sports agents I suppose that's not a surprise.  (How is it possible that it came out 10 years ago?!)

Today's Sunday Scribblings prompt is a Diane Ackerman quote, "I don't want to be a passenger in my own life."  We were also asked to share a favorite quote of ours.  The Jerry McGuire one immediately came to mind since, for me, they sort of go hand in hand.

How does one gracefully and graciously perform the juggling act required to pilot one's own destiny without 'bumping' anyone else?  How does one go through life staying present in a state of acceptance at every moment without longing to be upgraded to another class?  How does one stay grounded in one's day-to-day life while simultaneously visualizing a future dream life? 

We're all familiar with the admonishment, "Get your head out of the clouds!"  But, hell, some of my best, most unencumbered moments have been spent floating above and through the clouds!

I can't imagine that any of us want to be passengers in our own lives.  Don't we all ultimately want to feel that we're esconced in the pilot's seat and charting our own course?  How do we find that balance between giving and getting?  How do we continue to be compassionate and nurturing toward others while still meeting our own needs and desires?  How do our minds not grow dizzy from trying to sort through the conundrum of accepting what is while still feeling okay to long for what might be? 

I read a lot of personal blogs--identity blogs in blog-speak.  Those of us who keep these personal journal-type blogs are 'identity bloggers.'  How appropriate.  Ultimately aren't all the questions we're trying to sort through (there are nearly universal recurring themes in many of the blogs I read, and I'm including my own) simply about unearthing, resurfacing and reclaiming our identities? 

I believe that we had them once...and lost them.  Think about any small child that you know, and then tell me that they don't see the world as their oyster.  I believe that small children exist in a world of limitless possibility...until we cause them to begin withdrawing, to turn down the light on their bright essence. 

Have you ever seen a small child on a plane who's gotten a wings pin from the captain?  I doubt that they're sitting in their seat afterwards with those wings pinned to their shirt looking up the aisle with longing toward first class.  I think they're sitting there smiling from the powerful knowledge that they ARE pilots.

Don't wait for someone to grant you an upgrade.  Pin some wings to your shirt TODAY and tell the pilot to step aside.

[37 Days Challenge - I skipped the 37th page part of my challenge today because I was so moved to write from the Sunday Scribblings prompt.]

Comments

[Paris Parfait]

Marilyn, I love this post! Wise and touching, with an important message. You're so right about the confidence of the young - feeling invincible, not letting anything or any doubts deter one from attempting to achieve. I was always being told to get my head out of the clouds. Thankfully, I didn't listen.

[shelly]

Thanks. I really needed to hear that right now!

[ren.kat]

Well articulated. (And thanks for the 37 link- I'm going to go think too hard for a while now. . . )

[lizardek]

Thanks for the timely smack with the cluestick!

[Rethabile]

Initiative -- that's the whole spirit of the Ackerman quote, I guess. I'll remember to pin those wings on myself. Cheers

[tinker]

Great post, Marilyn - way to go, flying above the clouds with your pilot wings pinned on and packing your own parachute - remember that old commercial, 'it's the only way to fly!' Well, you just proved there's more than one way to fly, and that's by charting your own course, and shooting for the stars!