Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Lost and Found

In thinking of this as a post theme, I am aware of becoming mired in the lost aspects, allowing the past to pull me away from the intention to leave old business where it is.

At the same time, there may be losses that need to be considered, deconstructed or acknowledged for what illumination they might lend to today.

I will look at these sentences as preamble, less than an outline, more than a fleeting notion. The balance and opposition of the two extremes feel timely, they call to me but I know they are intolerant of superficial coverage.

At first I thought all finds would be seen as blessings, all losses the opposite. As I poked them around more - curious and possibly organic fragments found in the sand and stirred with a pointy stick - I couldn't swear that would be true. Entirely self-generated, the assignment now seems less clear and far less comfortable than when the words arrived.

This is the conductor, announcing what may be our next stop, unless I can cobble together some other less weighty material to tide me over while Lost and Found takes form. As always, your thoughts are welcome, either before or after the list comes to life. What I know is, this doesn't feel very jolly at the moment. What was I thinking?

7 comments:

Sultan said...

The Buddhists believe that much of the sorrow and grief in the world is connected to attachment to things. I fear that they are right, but of course I remain attached.

Kass said...

Did you come up with this prompt on your own, or was it suggested by another blogger? I await your creative response and will think on it myself.

Marylinn Kelly said...

Laoch - I, too, remain attached, not for want of trying to be otherwise. And the Buddhists, of course, are correct for it causes no end of needless suffering.

Kass - This is my own prompt, a posting about a found locket surely has some part in it...I thought I could just sit down and write it but it seems much more entwined than that. The fact that I resist it tells me a lot.

Artist and Geek said...

The foundations of sorrow for things lost are laid in childhood. Not necessarily with what happened to us in childhood, but with how we cope with what happens to us in life.

Like Laoch I've read eastern philosophy, it makes sense, but is not the philosophy I grew up with.

Close friends were born Buddhist, their approach to life is admirable, but difficult to duplicate. They are not ascetic by any means, remember past losses, while letting go without apathy. They just are. "It can't be taught, it has to be learned." I'm told. Much to learn, trite but true: the journey IS the destination. Work in progress.

Marylinn Kelly said...

Artist and Geek - It seems like covering the same ground over and over, yet there are losses which I seem not to have reconciled - as evidenced by the charge this theme holds. Much to learn, as long as we're here, I assume. One of the good parts is that being a work in progress holds no stigma, for we are in this boat together.

Erin in Morro Bay said...

it is interesting how often what seems like a loss at the time actually can open up the space for a great gain further down the road. I know this has been true in my life more times than I count.
Erin

Marylinn Kelly said...

Erin - It has been true in mine as well. Also, some things have to be wrenched from our fingers or we'd never let them go willingly. In the moment, I am not always a good judge of what I need most.