This prompt made me think of the Koi Waterfall Legend.
Of course I'd want to write about that because it fits. Perfectly, in fact.
And it's interesting this came up today because, on my walk, I was thinking about not being able to find a partner that would put up with me, these days.
I mean... they'd have to be pretty fearless, huh? They'd have to really not give two, or even a hundred, fucks about what society thinks. Groups. Family circles. Office blocks. And more.
What are the chances?
I think we all believe we are different and special and unique. Or even weird. But here's the thing... when you begin to be curious about people... I mean really objectively curious about them... and you learn to ask with curiosity and non-judgement... and to listen actively... you begin to see just how similar we all actually are.
It made me think of the Fight Club quote again today. And this is true.
Most folks will find this threatening and depressing, I suppose. I only find it completely and entirely liberating. Because it is true.
And it is liberating.
I had an opportunity to choose the money or the box again, recently. I mean the fame or whatever may come again. And again I chose to keep on with my purpose.
Which brings us to the concept of purpose that I used to think was a load o' shite. As it turns out, when you find it there isn't much that can deter you from following your true path. And your own nose. And nor would you want to do anything else.
Even for a hot person who might offer you the world.
It's a weird one for sure.
Would you trade love, security and comfort for true purpose? A sense of focus, immersion and fearlessness that makes everything okay.
No matter how shit things may seem?
👆 This was in response to 20 February 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2288: they are all mainstream
And, as I've come to add more and expand on... 👇
Did you know the legend of the waterfall, where a single Koi were rewarded for its perseverance and determination and turned into a dragon? Read on, after the break...
One particular legend is the Koi fish’s claim to fame. An ancient tale tells of a huge school of golden Koi swimming upstream the Yellow River in China. Gaining strength by fighting against the current, the school glimmered as they swam together through the river. When they reached a waterfall at the end of the river, many of the Koi turned back, letting the flow of the river carry them away.
The remaining Koi refused to give up. Leaping from the depths of the river, they attempted to reach the top of the waterfall to no avail. Their efforts caught the attention of local demons, who mocked their efforts and heightened the waterfall out of malice. After a hundred years of jumping, one Koi finally reached the top of the waterfall. The gods recognized the Koi for its perseverance and determination and turned it into a golden dragon, the image of power and strength.
People don't seem to understand that I am happy despite everything and all of it, these days.
It's another weird one to observe, for sure.
When "mainstream" (and, again, I'd question what this even is, really, because most of it is an agreed upon psychosis. Or hypnosis, perhaps) catches a glimpse into my actual "reality"...
they usually withdraw.
They withdraw in a few ways.
- Embarrassment and guilt : Why, even? I'm not anybody's responsibility but my own - see what happens here? It's pretty interesting, huh?
- Fear of pain - understandable because we are wired for this
- Everything else can basically be linked to the second one up there - again - this makes it easy to not take the reactions of other people personally, see? Because they never are personal. Do your thing. Be yourself. The world will actually adjust! Misquoted from Einstein
There is no "mainstream".
There's a general consensus to abide by a bunch of unwritten rules and human constructs...
that the majority actually don't even agree with.
Rules and constructs that, generally, leave people feeling too afraid to be who they truly are.
Rules and constructs that force people to live entire lives of pretense. Pretense that makes them so unahppy that they need to fill their brains with substances to alleviate the pressure of their existence. Our mainstream "reality".
Our mainstream consciously agreed upon lie.
Our mainstream unconsciously agreed upon psychosis.
Now that is what I'd call "insanity".
Some people see it too clearly, though, and can't pretend as well others can.
And, at times, these people do actually go insane.
These days, I'm able to sit with pretty much all of my truth.
My personal growth. Epic!
My personal loss. Not so fun but hey... I had choices, you know. See the fame and fortune, money or the box bit up there. My choices. Why anybody should feel embarrassed or ashamed for my decisions is...
insane, really. Huh?!
Are you beginning to "see" it, yet... I wonder? It's hard to stay in truth, isn't it? It takes some years of peeling the illusions away. One by one.
My physical illness. I'm totally fine with it.
Folks don't "get" this part either.
It comes with time, is all I can say. It is what it is, is all I can say. This is life, is all I can say. It's not really a big deal, you know. Death. Honestly.
It's only how we've been encouraged to "look" at it.
Again.
In addition... I've achieved some pretty bizarre things by not buying into all that mainstream "medical reality", you know.
I'll stick with my reality, thanks.
Mainstream.
At your own peril, my darlings.
You will never find genuine joy or liberation there.
Or yourself, in all likelihood.
Because, the flip-side is... you are a unique being and one might suggest that your whole experience, in this dance we call "life", is to experience the goddamned thing.
Not hide from it. Not hide yerself. Not avoid the icky parts, either.
More... there aren't any "YucK" parts, you know.
Not really.
Not if you know how to "see" things.
Clearly.
I stopped and read a post today.
Yeah, I know. Not so mainstream on social media.
I tend to try and be real now, though. After taking so long to figure out who and what the real me is. Always in progress...
And I tell you summink... when we do this, and are fully immersed in it, magic happens. Yeah. Magic! And you thought I was all cynical and bitter.
Nah. Just over giving fucks about other people's reactions. In the nicest possible way. 😊
There are no finites and nobody knows and nobody's right and back to we all win and we all lose at times and things change.
Inevitably.
Why then... get so hit up about all of it?
Why not miss that deadline and stop and connect for a while?
Authentically.
Because this post led me to stick on my headphones and listen to a song I love. Which led me into a playlist that led me to a new song, I've never heard before.
Which made me remember how big this all is. And how marvellous human beings can be. And how little I actually know, still.
Inspiring, really.
Although some folks may find this frightening or depressing, I suppose. And we all have to follow our own noses/curiosity.
Or not, as it were.
Just please don't keep (trying to) foist your fear and/or alarm onto me, okay?
I stopped and listened authentically, with interest, because another person's perspective.
With no motivation for personal gain.
And I found something new and inspiring today. One of those moments, you know? When you're in the "Flow"? When everything seems to suddenly align and make some kinda actual sense. And is beautiful.
You can't buy this. Or take it in prescription anything. Or fuck it into existence. Or drink and drug it there. Or shop for it online. Or... well... you get it, I think.
So truth, see. Fuckin' walk it, man. Go on. I dare you. Be real.
See what happens next.
It's bizarrely incredible how 'the flow", or whatever may or may not be workin' the show, responds.
p.s. The Flow doesn't mean float down stream like a dead fish.
Someone once said this on Fakebook and I gave that some thought for some years...
?
And playing on with the next two songs that followed naturally on Spotify.
Music, huh? Magic, I tell ya.
Are we still wasting time today, beautiful people?
Ah... 👇
This one just reminds me of being in love and that yearning, yearning as a teenager. Love it! 😊
Not mainstream!
Thank the lords and ladies.
Pity so many of us insist that we are... we may have met him by now. 😒
