Life Without a Safety Net
Wednesday, 14. June 2006, 01:27:21
: Today's Reflection is about a life with, or without,
: safety nets we keep around us.
Leo is a young man who decided that he is ready to leave everything in his current life behind, at least for a while, and go see the world. He is particularly attracted to the life in Paris. The arts, the culture, the 70ies with its poets and artists and the anarchists, in little cafes, discussing the metaphysics and the meaning of life.
While this is very much against the parental advice from his Italian family, he is determined to go. Fine, says his mother, go. Just remember that with freedom come responsibilities. You think you are ready to go? Go! But you are now an adult, fully responsible for yourself.
:: "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go
:: into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll
:: discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is
:: yourself." - Alan Alda
Leo loved Paris. It was all he imagined, and more. The exciting life, the stimulation, the new culture he only heard and read about when he lived in America. The new friends, who were all to happy to share his wine and food, which Leo supplied in abundance.
And then, money ran out. No more free food and wine for friends. The friends have miraculously disappeared, once the free supply of entertainment dwindled at Leo's place. Down to his last few coins, he sent a telegram to his mother back in America, hoping for help: "Starving. Leo." Next day came the reply: "Starve. Momma."
Some years later, when he talked to his mother about this episode and how much of a learning it was for him, his mother said: "It was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life." And Leo thanked her for doing what she did.
:: "The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man
:: perfected without trial." - Confucius
I am thinking about how tempting it is, and can be, to play safe in life. Certainly a familiar theme for me. We take carefully calculated risks (and then still call them "risks"). We keep lots of safety nets under each and every step. Travel insurance, backup plan, emergency phone numbers, savings "just in case," spare parts, hotels booked months in advance, and many other safety nets of all imaginable kind.
I wonder... what would a life without a safety net look like?
A sunny week to you all, inside and out.
Simon
