Ikigai Thought for Today: Grand Design
Embracing the world as a place with tremendous potential.
Audio narration by David Marlow
Here's your Ikigai Thought for today. I took this picture a short time ago on the trail that we often take with my grandkids down by the nearby farm to check on the sheep.
You’ll notice that the oak trees still have their leaves. Now this is springtime. You might also notice that there is snow on the ground and again, it is springtime.
A couple of things that are kind of incongruent with life as it should be perhaps at this time of year. Noticing those incongruencies has prompted me to do a little philosophizing.
We are all philosophers in the end, or so I’ve been told. It seems more accurate to me with each passing day.
In my life, I’ve ‘been’ many things. A radio deejay, U.S. Marine, engineer, executive, youth sports coach, son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather.
Philosopher sits well with me as a new thing to ‘be’ while being.
Something I read from Stacy Gleiss, the self-proclaimed ‘Six Foot Bonsai,’ expressed an idea that has stuck with me for years since I first read it.
“I see the world as a tapestry of man-made systems that fall short of the grand design but as a place with tremendous potential if we open our minds to that which we cannot readily see. I am an analyst by title; a philosopher in fact.”
Stacy Gleiss
There is an ideal, a dream, a grand design. Most things and systems made by humans fall short of that intention.
Yet there is beauty and potential in this place humans call home if we are open and willing to see and hear what is not easily seen or heard.
That, of course, sounds more like a philosopher than an engineer.
Quest well.
I had the same thoughts on the Oak Tree, David, as we have that in MA as well with leaves still on the Oak trees. Here is the explanation and philosophy to follow and yes nature has her way and humans are very limited in our comprehension based on solutions more for the short-term not for eternity. Oak trees, particularly live oaks, may drop their leaves in spring as part of a natural process called molting, where they shed old leaves to make way for new growth. This is not a sign of illness but rather a normal part of their life cycle, often occurring from March to early May. So it may seem like some of the Oaks are holding on all Winter to reach the Spring to finally, see the light as you will to a Spring. Some of we humans do hold off in some ways not to give in too early, but to embrace a sign of the next steps of seasonal and human life flow.
It is so important to try and see the world as a giant painting with mixed colors of who we are. Unfortunately, with the rhythm of life we rarely take the time to look at it and enjoy the view. Personally, I try to reflect and look at what's around me everyday and see everything as a creation out of LOVE.
I think this Ikigai thought fell in my hands when I needed it today and thank you for writing it, making it part of the Grand Design.
I like reading your posts as they are related to what I write about as well, you inspire me. Thanks 🙏