The Importance of Looking Up at the Sky
I’m a seeker. To depict this on my freelance-writing portfolio website,
UnderstandingXYZ.com, I purchased a stock photo of a guy peering out
into a bright sky.
When I was searching for sky-oriented images, I was reminded of when I
lived in Hawaii where the sky was always magnificent, constantly in view
and unobstructed by typical, mainland city infrastructure. I realized how,
since leaving the Big Island (40 years ago), I have adopted a bad habit of
not looking up at the sky as much as I used to. So, first off, I started
looking up more often; and yes, the sky is still magnificent, and gazing
up into it helps put things into perspective – amazing how such a simple
practice can have such a profound influence on your thoughts.
Then I wanted to come up with a slogan – some words condensed that
encompass everything I truly believe. So, after some deep thought and
several edits, I entertained putting these words into the sky: “Be
Marveled By The Universe & Always Honor Truth Above All Else.” From a
graphic design viewpoint, it looked awkward. So I took that out and just
left the open sky alone, although I do believe those words have deep
meaning and I practice keeping them ingrained in my thoughts.
I found another stock photo of a guy sitting at the edge of a rock
formation looking out into the panoramic distance. I tried this image out
as well, and I put the following words in the distant sky: “There is no
single way, no single religion, no single philosophy, no one solid answer
to why we are here; only our ability to pay attention and try to discover
what’s really inside.” That, too, seemed to look awkward, so I took that
out after a while and just left the distant sky as it was, although those
words do resonate and are also ingrained in my thinking.
I believe that being marveled by the universe and honoring your inner
self are two of the most important life-affirming themes that make life
worth living.
The world of work we pursue throughout our lives plays out in concert
with these two themes. Additionally, our pursuit of long-term life
satisfaction, in general, works in concert with these two themes.
Starting with the world of work, we all have our various material goals
for the things we want. Many want the big house, the nice car, the ability
to take wonderful vacations, nice clothes, a kitchen that will knock your
socks off. Others want only the bare essentials – a comfortable place to
live that has just enough room, a car or access to public transportation
that will easily get you from point A to point B, a modest wardrobe that
covers you well enough and is clean, comfortable and warm; and
enough in your pantry and refrigerator to sustain a healthy diet.
If you live in a studio apartment or a luxurious mansion really makes no
difference in the amount of long-term life satisfaction you may or may
not experience. The key is to be content with whatever you may have,
unless you are homeless and starving, in which case you’ll have to keep
trying to pull yourself out of your poverty misery and seek out some
help as well.
Regardless of your fate, the disturbing existential questions always
resurface. Why bother if nothing is permanent, everything is random,
and there really is no meaning?
Wherever you are in this regard, take another look up into the sky and
ask yourself sincerely if you need to do more or change. Ask yourself
what you need to pursue in order to become who you really are. Push
yourself to keep striving to obtain what you really want in life.
It’s really that simple. The key is to never stop asking those questions of
yourself and to keep looking up into the sky.
Thanks for stopping by,
George
“The sky is the
daily bread of
the eyes.”
- Ralph Waldo
Emerson