Marlow's Musings 10/6/24
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
The salty sweat stung my eyes, but I barely noticed, focused on my goal. After nearly two hours of battling, I was nearing my highest score ever. And then it happened—the aliens got me.
Back in the early '80s, video game arcades were all the rage. When my wife Alicia and I were dating, we spent a lot of time at the arcade for two reasons: our small town didn't offer much else once you'd seen all the current movies, and it was something we both enjoyed together that didn’t cost a lot of money.
My favorite game was Galaga. I'd gotten so good I could play for hours on one quarter. On a typical Saturday night, Alicia would play a few rounds of Dig Dug or Pac-Man, then spend the rest of the time cheering me on.
We were regulars at the arcade near her house. I'd pick her up, and we'd often spend a few hours there—something we'd been doing for almost a year. One night, as we were leaving, the owner casually said, "See you next week." We replied, "Oh, you won't see us next week. We're getting married."
After our honeymoon, we returned to the arcade. When I finished my first game, the owner - whose name escapes me now - called us over. "Hey, I've got something for you," he said, plopping down a canvas bank bag full of quarters on the counter. "Here, it's your wedding gift."
Of all the gifts we received, that was one of the kindest. This guy had paid attention, knew us, and probably gave us more money than I'd ever spent in his arcade. It was a godsend too—money was really tight back then.
Just this past week, I was at Costco and saw a table console with Pac-Man, Dig-Dug, and Galaga. I bought it for a lot more than a bag of quarters. Now, I'm going to teach the grandkids how to play.
Word of the Week
Determined (adj.)
/dəˈtərmənd/
Set or established, bound limited, or restricted: This meaning refers to something that is fixed, decided, or defined. It's often used in contexts involving boundaries, rules, or predetermined outcomes.
Resolute or purposeful: This meaning describes a person who is firm in their purpose and intent on achieving a goal. It conveys a sense of strong will and persistence.
The key difference lies in the active versus passive nature of these meanings:
In the first sense, "determined" is about something being set externally or in advance. It's a state that's established and often doesn't involve ongoing action.
In the second sense, "determined" is about an internal drive or attitude. It involves active, ongoing effort and willpower to achieve something.
In case you missed it…
This week, there were again two Ikigai Thoughts for Today…
The first…Creative Paradox
Exploring the idea of you as both a creation and creator.
The second…New Every Day
Embracing the attitude of a learner.
Ikiquest+
This week’s Coffee Contemplation: Wonderland
Ikigai is expressing who you are and why you are here in harmony with whatever you do. The whatever you do isn't as important as the who you are.
Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.
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Inspiring Thing
My grandmother had an expression for when someone was determined. They were going to do what they wanted “Come Hell or high water.” Meaning nothing was going to stop them.
David Jones, an Ikiquest reader and friend, may not have used those words though he certainly lived out the meaning. It seems David was trapped by the floods in Tennessee and unable by normal means to make it to his daughter’s wedding.
So he took matters into his own hands or perhaps I should say feet and he walked the near marathon distance to make it in time to give his daughter away.
That’s why I changed this section from an interesting thing to an inspiring thing for the week. The whole inspiring story can be viewed in the video.
Blessings of a lifetime of happiness to the beautiful bride and her groom.
Comment of the Week:
This week’s comment came from Lisa about last week’s “If Agatha Christie wrote a murder mystery about purpose.”
Digitalis in the tea. Classic Christie. Loved this, David. And an excellent point about how finding our purpose is so personal. Not everyone will get it or agree with it's value.
She’s right that all too often those who should be the most on board supporting us in living out our purpose can be instead the biggest roadblock. Not everyone understands that though at some point we all will experience it. Hopefully not the way poor Mr. Blackwood did.
Quote I’m Pondering
This thought is from Franz Kafka…
“A book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us.”
If a book doesn’t break through the frozen ice of our existing thinking, what good is it? Our art—for me, my writing—must make a difference to be a difference.
Final Thoughts
This week, I thought a great deal about the word determined, both being determined and something already predetermined, and I find myself caught between the two.
In some ways, a level of acceptance to what is helps us tremendously in living out our purpose. In others, we have to be that determined person, to live our Ikigai to the fullest.
For me, this week I've been pondering the times when I need to apply the one and when I need to apply the other.
It's tricky—sometimes I catch myself pushing when I should be accepting, or vice versa. I'm starting to notice patterns in different areas of my life, which is interesting.
As with much of life, it remains a work in progress.
Quest Well.
Very cool story. Thank you
Thank you for posting the news clip of the determined father! He is certainly an inspiration and you are as well.