Driven Like the Salmon of Capistrano
#OHMthoughts 9/20/23
The salmon were hustling up the rapids this evening. I don't know why I enjoy listening to them so much but I always think it's so cool
Hearing the fish work so hard to accomplish the one thing they're driven to do isn't so much inspiring as it is a testament to dedication. We're obviously not fish but we do share a number of things in common. At one point every person had to fight to survive against the odds. Many still do today which is pretty ridiculous considering the resources available but that's a different discussion at a different time. My point is that to a degree, we want to have a little salmon in us, (and a little dog, or dawg as the kids say, to get after it) to know for certain what our purpose is and have a good idea how to get there. Now I'll address the obvious problem with the salmon comparison-dying once the goal has been achieved. I think far too many folks look at retirement as the ultimate goal and don't know what to do after they reach it. Retirement is a goal that is hopefully part of a larger goal to live the life they sought.
We all know the saying fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, so on and so forth. I find myself in a situation like this at the moment. I think it's very important to stick up for ourselves but people make mistakes and I also believe it's important to understand their point of view and give them an opportunity to discuss the issue. If the opportunity isn't taken then follow your gut and handle your business without being vindictive or stooping to any level below below our own. The time of respecting someone while also disagreeing with them has seemingly passed but we can still keep it alive.
The fuel we use for our drive is different for each of us. I have a tremendous amount of anger, I do not deny that. My anger drives me to stay committed to having healthy outlets for the anger but the trouble with being driven by anger is you’ve got to be really fucking good at keeping it under control. Anger is a drug that is very easy to overdose on. I spent so many years pushing my anger down because the dysfunction I was bathed in on a daily basis for the entirety of my youth, and most of my adult life, taught me that my feelings didn’t matter, the only thing that mattered was to make sure I was upholding the facade of a “normal”, whatever that was. What a crock of shit.
Using our anger to accomplish positive anything is a win in my book. It’s important to stay engaged with our emotions, especially when we’re trying to use them as fuel. It takes a lot of willpower and focus to hone those feelings into powerful creativity and we can do incredible things for the world when we’re good with ourselves. I know you can do it, I know if you’re reading this (unless you’re one of my haters, then go fly a kite and keep stalking. You’re going to get yours and you know it) then I think you’re on a journey. Keep up the great work and stay strong.
