I had two really crazy experiences recently. One with a well grayed hippie at drum circle two days ago and one yesterday with a bus driver. When I walked away I swear both said, “Have a good life”. The second one was probably just my bad hearing, but the first one was pretty clear.
This idea is profound to me. To be able to say something like that to someone as you are leaving their presence. Someone that you will probably never meet again. Just someone in passing. Not have a good day. Not have a good night. Have a good life.
It’s made me question what good is. I know what a religious type of good is. I never really trusted that. I wanted a authentic good that was really lived, not just upheld because that was the standard that everyone was determined by.
I know when I feel good. I know that sometimes its for the wrong reasons. Sometimes its for the right reasons, but my own past and dogmas that have been instilled for decades get in the way.
I know when others feel good, but then find reasons not to trust that good feeling and shy away prematurely and miss out on really good things that could have come if they had stayed open to it.
But then the idea of being open to a situation. To allow it to affect you and mold you as it chooses. To allow others to join in that experience and mold it by their experiences and pasts. To experience that with them in those moments and have that become the past that shapes you tomorrow. To trust enough to let go and stay open to whatever happens next.
Maybe have a good life is being around authentically good people and trusting them to lead you to good experiences that will make you an authentically good person.
Maybe its as simple as this
It’s good to be authentic
I like that hippie at drum circle. He had some good licks on that drum. And his songs were authentic.
I like that bus driver. He smiled at me and made me feel good about getting on his bus.
I like all the people in my life that offer me an authentic side of themselves and then invite me to be authentic in return.
And since I’m on a Tool kick right now we’ll end this off with some good lyrics.
Twirling round with this familiar parable
Spinning, weaving round each new experience
Recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing
A chance to be alive and breathing
This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality
Embrace this moment, remember, we are eternal
All this pain is an illusion