Monday, April 8, 2013
Grasshopper
"Patience, Young Grasshopper."
The term grasshopper refers to a novice, a beginner, someone who is just learning some new skill or information. It came from the Kung Fu series that ran on TV in the 1970's and was given to the young male character by an elderly blind man. The young boy thought that the old man was at a disadvantage because of his blindness but the master proved that his awareness of the world was much higher than that of the young boy. Even though I am well educated by the culture's standards, I am a grasshopper in other ways. Most recently, I am learning that the rules by which most of my life has been lived are (surprise!) not carved in stone. Think Moses and the tablets.....it really doesn't have to be like that.
There are rules that I have used to guide me through life. Most of them (especially those dealing in kindness and necessary caution) have served me well. However, let me tell you about three rules that this grasshopper is reconsidering.
Rule # 1: Life is about work. Be productive. Work daily. An expression that my father threw out all the time was a line from the movie Bridge on the River Kwai: "Let us be happy in our work." Work for a paycheck but when not working for a paycheck, do home care/improvement and family care. Mind you, it's not about how much money you earn. Not at all. In fact, it's preferable if your work is community service in nature. It is solely about work. It is okay to take evenings off and part of a weekend day. You can have a summer vacation trip and you don't have to work on your birthday or on Thanksgiving or Christmas (except for kitchen chores which must always be done).
Okay, so now I am wondering about that. Working all the time leaves little room for reflection, fun, ease. Much of my paid employment has been satisfying, if not downright enjoyable. But, still......
Rule #2: Life is serious business. Laughter and humor are important and good, but the furrowed brow is the true meaning of life.
Hmmmmmm. Really? How does one learn to lighten up, anyway?
Rule #3: To be aging suggests that one is losing in life. To avoid losing the game, one must deny that one is aging. One must go at the pace of a younger person. One must make light of (or even deny) any physical disability. One must maintain an appearance that suggests youth and vitality. Never wear elastic waist pants away from home.
Wait! Who made THAT rule? And how does that make sense? Oh, that's right. That would be big business/advertising industry. My best friends - not.
What do yo think? Are you, in any part of your life, a grasshopper? Do the rules outlined above work for you? What are some rules you might question in your own life?
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Oh yeah! The broken record that keeps playing over and over in my head.
ReplyDelete"Laugh Today, Cry Tomorrow". Let me tell you that one has pretty much defined who I am. Don't laugh, it's true :)
That's the "rule" I'd like to bury before me not with me.
I like the way you put that , Lynda - I am digging its grave but it's easy to get scared or distracted while doing so.
DeleteI cannot live by the rules outlined above - especially rule #2!!
ReplyDeleteWell, you were lucky, OE - you did not have that ingrained from day one. I can assure you, it sucks.
DeleteAnnie says she is a grasshopper when it comes to taking care of herself, as opposed to those around her. She is a grasshopper when it comes to self-care. Me? No grasshopper as far as those three "rules" that you posted are concerned. I was a grasshopper as far as putting others first, but that has changed dramatically since last September. I am learning. When I stop learning, someone put me out of my misery...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Annie. She is an awesome caretaker but perhaps not necessarily for herself. I think that is the case for a lot of women, especially mothers.
DeleteThis is some heavy thinking this morning. You make some very good points. I was very fortunate in most of my work years and probably am lazier than I should be. It's good to just spend time considering life and other things. It's all about the balance.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Balance is essential but sometimes that is a tough lesson to learn.
DeleteI think you are very wise to reconsider the rules and regulations that we've been spoon-fed since infancy. Life without order and purpose would be chaotic, but rules should always be re-evaluated and restructured to suit our personal needs.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you've ever seen the quote that I have on the sidebar of my blog. It's by Marcel Proust and is one of my favorites:
"Exceptions to the rule are the magic of existence."
I HAVE seen that quote on your blog - it's one of the reasons that I started following you, Jon. I am not sure people even realize that they follow rules in their lives let alone that those rules need to be re-evaluated and restructured from time to time. Well put.
DeleteI'm a rule follower by nature. I don't think I've ever sat down and made any rules for my life. I pretty much stick within the norms of society...with music lots of great music!
ReplyDeleteYou might not have made them, Jen, but they are there. The question is: do they work for you?
DeleteI think I'm a grasshopper in most aspects of my life. And I don't agree with those rules. But then again, I was taught different ones.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear a couple of your rules, Liz.
DeleteI am a novice in many aspects of my life--a jill of all trades, a master of none. The guiding rule of my life was instilled in me by my mother..."expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed." There are big flaws in that sentence and I now realize it. Expect nothing and that's exactly what you'll get.
ReplyDeleteThere are certainly some invisible rules I grew up with that work reasonably well for me. Some that don't are: Always take steps to avoid being criticized, Learn what you're good at and stick to that, and It's easier to do it yourself. None of these work especially well, and I wish I didn't find them so compelling. Grasshopper, indeed. :) Thought-provoking read.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem, as see it, with these rules that come in childhood. They are compelling. You don't even know they are there until, at some point, their presence becomes known to you.
DeleteOh, I'm a grasshopper in all kinds of ways--and glad of it for the most part. It's that novice/grasshopper mind that powers my curiosity and interest in the world and the people in it. I'm content at the moment with the fact that I am coming to understand a bit more about what a grasshopper I actually am. :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed, MM -I am glad to be a grasshopper - though it feels vulnerable and scary and small and exciting all at the same time.
DeleteSorry, I don't think work is really a requirement of life. It is best to have fun. If you can do that while working it's great, but unfortunately most people have jobs that are bearable or downright miserable, and make up for it by enjoying time away. I would much rather be away from work, even though I usually like it there.
ReplyDeleteI don't either, Joe, but, as noted in my response to Tara, these rules that come with childhood are firmly ingrained -and often not obvious. It takes some intervention - mysterious or otherwise - to make them known.
Delete