"This week, my grandchildren came running and jumped into my arms when they saw me." And not another word is needed.
During the time of Augustus in the first days of the Roman Empire, a large number of the old patrician families that had produced generations of senators disappeared because they consciously did not procreate. Why? Because their lavish lifestyles had made having children pointless. They lived in such luxury that kids were seen as a stopper to that, something that got in the way. The same is happening now, only the "luxury life" consists of social media, phones, netflix, concerts, cheap flights, celebrity worship, this whole culture of fast-food entertainment, communication, creativity, emotion, and relationships.
All these things seem more important and interesting than having kids. They are something that needs to be "sacrificed". This is the great lie that has found its way to the public mind: that your life stops when children come into it. It doesn't. There's less of it, sure, but you can plan and enjoy it infinitely more than before, while still being a perfect parent to your kids, i.e. without sacrificing their development. But in a culture of excess, this can hardly become trendy. Having kids is hard. Especially if you want to do it the right way. It just doesn't align with the ways of a society that instinctively chooses the shortest path from point A to point B, even though the path is barren and your destination, when you finally arrive to it, offers nothing of value -- no view, no treasure, no knowledge. The pointless road just keeps winding to the next empty place.
And there it goes -- what was supposed to be 55 words has turned into half a page. Sorry for the ramblings, David.
Having children is a hobby that’s going out of style. We have done so poorly at rewarding parents that so many people don’t want to take on the responsibility and inconvenience. My adult children will likely never have kids. It looks so unrewarding to them.
Another lovely musing David!!! And yes...it has been my observation that conventional "norms" of society regard sacred things like parenting, eating, breathing as having even less merit than a hobby and thinking, or worse yet...trying to "fix" how on Earth we got here...has never been the "way out" but rather...BEing (or embodying) the presence we need. Like...what if breath"work" (maybe more inviting to call it play?) is like holding our home close to our hearts...and in return...we felt embraced by the infinite? If what we practice grows, what if we asked ourselves not our purpose...but what we're here to be or rather...our presence? From there, well...as you mentioned, the magic that unfolds is epic 🙏
The compulsive "reverse engineer" (Isn't that part of being an engineer and therefore, a less than ideal description 🤷🏻♀️...why does language feel so "limiting" sometimes🤦♀️) in me that can't help dismantling? stuff as a means to help restore it ("Empty what is full, fill what is empty" with ONLY that which most closely aligns with the intersection between heart and mind...repeat...like breathing 😉LOL) FEELs that *wonder & awe* are a very intrinsic part...of trusting the process...that is surrendering...to BEing...us...& dancing on the journey toward the vague "destination" to the intersection between our hearts and minds 😊 It's a place where scarcity and judgement don't exist and we are not led by the delusions in our minds...but rather, the dreams in our hearts. And for good measure, we absolutely can quest there...because it already exists.❤️🔥 Oh, & grief is legit...it's one of those opportunities to ask for what we need and receive a warm embrace.
"This week, my grandchildren came running and jumped into my arms when they saw me." And not another word is needed.
During the time of Augustus in the first days of the Roman Empire, a large number of the old patrician families that had produced generations of senators disappeared because they consciously did not procreate. Why? Because their lavish lifestyles had made having children pointless. They lived in such luxury that kids were seen as a stopper to that, something that got in the way. The same is happening now, only the "luxury life" consists of social media, phones, netflix, concerts, cheap flights, celebrity worship, this whole culture of fast-food entertainment, communication, creativity, emotion, and relationships.
All these things seem more important and interesting than having kids. They are something that needs to be "sacrificed". This is the great lie that has found its way to the public mind: that your life stops when children come into it. It doesn't. There's less of it, sure, but you can plan and enjoy it infinitely more than before, while still being a perfect parent to your kids, i.e. without sacrificing their development. But in a culture of excess, this can hardly become trendy. Having kids is hard. Especially if you want to do it the right way. It just doesn't align with the ways of a society that instinctively chooses the shortest path from point A to point B, even though the path is barren and your destination, when you finally arrive to it, offers nothing of value -- no view, no treasure, no knowledge. The pointless road just keeps winding to the next empty place.
And there it goes -- what was supposed to be 55 words has turned into half a page. Sorry for the ramblings, David.
Ramble away! I loved the reflection here Dimitar. Grateful you felt free to share your thoughts.
Having children is a hobby that’s going out of style. We have done so poorly at rewarding parents that so many people don’t want to take on the responsibility and inconvenience. My adult children will likely never have kids. It looks so unrewarding to them.
I believe you are on to something. I feel lucky to be able to experience having grandchildren.
Museum of Memories of Things That Never Happened
Oh I like that Steven! Good one.
Another lovely musing David!!! And yes...it has been my observation that conventional "norms" of society regard sacred things like parenting, eating, breathing as having even less merit than a hobby and thinking, or worse yet...trying to "fix" how on Earth we got here...has never been the "way out" but rather...BEing (or embodying) the presence we need. Like...what if breath"work" (maybe more inviting to call it play?) is like holding our home close to our hearts...and in return...we felt embraced by the infinite? If what we practice grows, what if we asked ourselves not our purpose...but what we're here to be or rather...our presence? From there, well...as you mentioned, the magic that unfolds is epic 🙏
BE'ing more than doing. Like you, i wonder how we got away from that as a species and culture.
The compulsive "reverse engineer" (Isn't that part of being an engineer and therefore, a less than ideal description 🤷🏻♀️...why does language feel so "limiting" sometimes🤦♀️) in me that can't help dismantling? stuff as a means to help restore it ("Empty what is full, fill what is empty" with ONLY that which most closely aligns with the intersection between heart and mind...repeat...like breathing 😉LOL) FEELs that *wonder & awe* are a very intrinsic part...of trusting the process...that is surrendering...to BEing...us...& dancing on the journey toward the vague "destination" to the intersection between our hearts and minds 😊 It's a place where scarcity and judgement don't exist and we are not led by the delusions in our minds...but rather, the dreams in our hearts. And for good measure, we absolutely can quest there...because it already exists.❤️🔥 Oh, & grief is legit...it's one of those opportunities to ask for what we need and receive a warm embrace.
I love this idea..."a place where scarcity and judgement don't exist."