Mockingbird Karma: What's It All About Pippin?

I'm 52 years old. I still can't figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Perhaps that is why I don't feel all that grown up. I've often speculated, privately, that having children is one of those things that makes you feel truly 'grown up'. I'm not sure, as I've never had kids.

I saw the play "Pippin" many years ago in New York City. A place that I loved visiting with my grandparents when we would visit them on Long Island. My take away from the play was the line "What's it all about, Pippin?" Pippin was a young boy who did not know what life was all about. HAH! Even as I write that I realize, nobody really does.

I think we all have to figure out for ourselves what our lives are supposed to be about. What is purpose and all that. I've done some reading and so forth, I've cogitated on it a lot. I think the root might be
something to do with service. Service first to ourselves so that we can be healthy enough to be of service to others. Then, service to others, starting with those closest to us and then further removed and so on.

That's what makes it kind of easy, for a little while, for parents to figure this all out. They have children. First priority? Take good care of the children. Sadly, it doesn't always work out that way. But still, that's the priority. That's the purpose in life. Well, it is until they grow up and leave home. Sometimes.

One thing I can tell you is this: I've learned more about what I don't want to do with my life, after all these years, than what I DO want to do with my life. I don't want to spend years of effort making money for someone else, especially if they are not using it to serve anyone but themselves. I don't want to spend it grinding away at some small desk in a box. Maybe I'm like Tigger... I know what I don't like more than I know what I do like!

And as I think of it... I realize I know more about what I want than I thought I did! This writing stuff is great!

I want to be creative, every day if possible. I want to live in the country, where there are lots of forests and pastures and fields and plants and flowers and animals!! I want to live free. Free of debt and the burden of servitude called 'a career'. Yes, I have a career, and it's been good to me financially. And I've worked hard for it, so I plan to use it to my advantage. But no, my career is not something to cherish, not something to hold onto as long as possible. Heck, I'm already over it.

But I need it just a bit longer...

I started this by saying I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But maybe I know HOW I want to be when I grow up. Or rather, maybe I just want to be the better person I know is inside, without necessarily growing up at all. Maybe I'll change the phrase and maybe soon I'll be able to say "I'm going to be more peaceful next year". I'm going to be more peaceful, more serene, more aware and mindful by this time next year. Yeah, I like that.

After all, I've been at this for years. It's time to get it sorted and spend the rest of my life enjoying what I've learned, who I've become, and how I spend my days. Don't get me wrong, all this is written in a good moment, on a quiet Saturday morning when nothing is wrong yet. But really, it's all a work in progress!

What about you? Where are you headed? Are you 'all grown up'? Are you happy? Do you know what your purpose in life is?

Thanks for coming by. I hope you are having a mindful, peaceful day of simplicity. Love to you, love to all!