“Why do we exist?”
Ricardo Semier in his Ted talk entitled “How to run a company with (almost) no rules.” relates the story of his three-year-old asking, “Why do we exist?” As we begin this new year on the calendar - this new year of possibilities – I love the reminder from this three-year-old of the important question. It is what philosophers would call the a priori question; the question which needs to be asked prior to all other questions. It occurs to me that if I asked this question before I began any task or set any goals I would limit myself to those thoughts and tasks which really matter. In the few moments of this life journey not much matters. I know this. I have known this for some time. Mr. Semier begins his Ted talk asking the question of what we might do if we knew we only had a short time to live. He quickly reminds the listener that, in fact, we never know how much time we have to live; that we should not be postponing living in a way which has meaning for us.
In 1985 I was told that I had a short time to live. It appears from test results that my immune system was already beyond repair because of the work the HIV virus had been doing prior to diagnosis. Obviously, the prognosis was inaccurate, but, none the less, it was a lovely gift. It was a good reminder to keep asking the question of what is important today. I would, of course, like to say that in the past 34 years I have lived my life every day as if it was my last and the last of all those whose lives I daily touch directly or indirectly. I cannot say that, but I can say that I frequently return to this question. As I begin this new year with Mr. Semier’s Ted talk I am again asking this very important question. There are, of course, many ways to ask this question such as “What footprint do I want to leave today?” What is the purpose of writing this blog?
Soon I will meet friends for breakfast. Can I be present in love? Can I listen beneath their words to their hearts? Is my goal to be heard or to hear? From there, if time permits, I will attend a ceremony to honor a man who is completing an addiction treatment program. All present will put something in a coin for him to take with him. What gift shall I give him? Still later I will meet with various clients in my office. Again, the challenge is to listen with love and not attempt to impose an agenda on our meeting while, providing, if asked, some guidance for reclaiming their own sacredness and/or perhaps pointing them in the direction of asking this very same question.
Why do I exist? Why have I continued to exist long past my projected expiration date? Is my purpose directly connected to my role as a father, counselor, friend, brother, cousin, community member, a member of the body politic, or neighbor?
Ram Dass said we exist to walk each other home. Brene Brown says that we exist to belong to each other. Some would say we exist to give praise to the god of our understanding. Some would say we exist to love even in the face of anger, hate, or fear. Some would say we exist to embrace the paradox that we matter completely and we matter not at all.
If we listen carefully to the three-year-old we will know that we exist to “hear” each other. Perhaps this is another way of saying what Rene Brown and Ram Dass have suggested. First however we have to allow for the possibility the question of the three-year-old is the beginning of wisdom.
Written January 2-3, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Ricardo Semier in his Ted talk entitled “How to run a company with (almost) no rules.” relates the story of his three-year-old asking, “Why do we exist?” As we begin this new year on the calendar - this new year of possibilities – I love the reminder from this three-year-old of the important question. It is what philosophers would call the a priori question; the question which needs to be asked prior to all other questions. It occurs to me that if I asked this question before I began any task or set any goals I would limit myself to those thoughts and tasks which really matter. In the few moments of this life journey not much matters. I know this. I have known this for some time. Mr. Semier begins his Ted talk asking the question of what we might do if we knew we only had a short time to live. He quickly reminds the listener that, in fact, we never know how much time we have to live; that we should not be postponing living in a way which has meaning for us.
In 1985 I was told that I had a short time to live. It appears from test results that my immune system was already beyond repair because of the work the HIV virus had been doing prior to diagnosis. Obviously, the prognosis was inaccurate, but, none the less, it was a lovely gift. It was a good reminder to keep asking the question of what is important today. I would, of course, like to say that in the past 34 years I have lived my life every day as if it was my last and the last of all those whose lives I daily touch directly or indirectly. I cannot say that, but I can say that I frequently return to this question. As I begin this new year with Mr. Semier’s Ted talk I am again asking this very important question. There are, of course, many ways to ask this question such as “What footprint do I want to leave today?” What is the purpose of writing this blog?
Soon I will meet friends for breakfast. Can I be present in love? Can I listen beneath their words to their hearts? Is my goal to be heard or to hear? From there, if time permits, I will attend a ceremony to honor a man who is completing an addiction treatment program. All present will put something in a coin for him to take with him. What gift shall I give him? Still later I will meet with various clients in my office. Again, the challenge is to listen with love and not attempt to impose an agenda on our meeting while, providing, if asked, some guidance for reclaiming their own sacredness and/or perhaps pointing them in the direction of asking this very same question.
Why do I exist? Why have I continued to exist long past my projected expiration date? Is my purpose directly connected to my role as a father, counselor, friend, brother, cousin, community member, a member of the body politic, or neighbor?
Ram Dass said we exist to walk each other home. Brene Brown says that we exist to belong to each other. Some would say we exist to give praise to the god of our understanding. Some would say we exist to love even in the face of anger, hate, or fear. Some would say we exist to embrace the paradox that we matter completely and we matter not at all.
If we listen carefully to the three-year-old we will know that we exist to “hear” each other. Perhaps this is another way of saying what Rene Brown and Ram Dass have suggested. First however we have to allow for the possibility the question of the three-year-old is the beginning of wisdom.
Written January 2-3, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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