Confessions of An Unabashed Soul-Searcher
“Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent. He is not born for the development of society alone, but for the development of his self.” ~ B. R. Ambedkar, Indian Political Leader and Philosopher
Hmmm, is the journey inward the most important journey of our lives?
One of the first posts I wrote for this blog several years ago was titled “46 Chromosomes”. I had learned that each human being has 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes, which are coiled pieces of DNA, each have up to 1,000,000 nucleotides in a long chain.
The point is that each of us, from a genetic perspective, is unique and one-of-a-kind. Genetics is not just about how tall we are, the colour of our hair or eyes or how fast we can run. It is about who we are from a self-identity perspective. The perplexing thing is how long it can take us to find and claim our identity.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” ~ Oscar Wilde, Irish Writer and Poet
It is very easy to fall into the trap that Oscar Wilde is describing. There is certainly less resistance if we choose this path in life. There are pressures all around us trying to make us fit in. Square pegs jammed into round holes may have the outward appearance of fitting in. But it’s a forced and false fit that gets more painful with every passing day.
Earlier this week I¸ordered new field guides for moths and spiders – yes, you read that properly. Moths and spiders. I was quite delighted when they arrived. They join my library which already includes field guides for birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.
I plan to spend this winter afternoon studying a handful of photographs I’ve taken over the last few summers. Photographs saved with the files names like “Unidentified Moth” and “Spider TBD”. I will quite enjoy the activity and look eagerly forward to expanding my nature study this coming summer to these species.
“Find what makes your heart sing and create your own music.” ~ Mac Anderson, Founder of Simple Truths and Accessories Inc.
Yes, I am a nature geek. These creatures hold an endless fascination for me. There is nothing I enjoy more than strolling through conservation areas on the hunt for a bird, butterfly, dragonfly – and now moth and spider – that I have not seen before.
The journey inward to discover what makes my heart sing took many years and is continuing still. It took many years to realize it was more important than any outward journey I would ever take and far longer.
I do realize that one cannot be entirely self-focused. We all must live in the world at large, earn a living and relate to our fellow man. But we are only able to do that successfully if we make the inner journey and embrace the identity we find there.
Nature and its creatures have become my living metaphor for who I am and how I must live my life. I am unique, one-of-a-kind and a mystery that continues to unfold. The last word on the subject:
“What a gloomy thing, not to know the address of one’s soul.” ~ Victor Hugo, French Poet, Novelist and Dramatist
~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel” – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog. Visit www.smashwords.com to download a free preview of the e-book version.
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