Unlike a well written story, life is not an orderly series of events with a catchy beginning, conflicts in the middle and an ending where everything is neatly resolved.
Life is a black velvet bag filled with sparkling, multicolored gemstones. The bag opens at birth and we are free to reach in at any time and select anything that catches our eye: rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds. There are no restrictions except those that we impose upon ourselves.
There is no obligation to reach - or even look - into the bag. Some are content to stare at the velvet blackness, convinced that there is nothing there. And they are happy.
Others are overwhelmed. They take one stone and hold it to themselves for a lifetime. They assure you that this one stone is perfect for them; there is no need for another. And they are happy.
Still others reach in, take a stone, measure it, weigh it, count its facets, study it, categorize it, and when they finally understand everything about it, they place it nearby and select another. Slowly and methodically they create a colorful line of stones. And they are happy.
Some reach in with both hands pulling as many stones as they can from the bag. They spill them all around, spinning and laughing with joy at the rainbow they are walking on. And they are happy.
And, finally, there are those who see the bag and rather than move toward it, they move three steps away before taking a deep breath, two bounding steps and a final, diving leap, head first into the bag. They submerge themselves in the shimmery kaleidoscope of stones, spilling them over the edges as they swim back and forth in the stained glass brilliance. And they are happy.
No, a life well lived is not a story, it is a bottomless pool of sparkling moments spilled from a bag full of endless possibilities. Go ahead, take what you like; the bag can never be emptied.
You're back! I loved it. This kind of writing is where you sparkle. Pick up that "gem" and fly with it!
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