Wednesday 3 April 2013

Oh...

Darcy trying to be 'gangsta'.
Copyright © 2013 Mark Kelly.
On looking over my posts and going back to the very beginning, it would appear I've missed my blog's birthday in March - it is now 2 years old. Hmmm, does this mean I'm a bad blogfather for missing it? Bugger.  I suppose I'll have to get something on the go to make up for it, plus this month is going to see me turning 49... where has all the time gone?


Sometimes I do envy those of my friends for whom life has been a clear and direct path to their future and any, and all, success it brings them. Unfortunately I've been like a rubber ball, bouncing my way through life going from one job to the next, then out of work, then back into work and on, and on it has gone.

I look back and realise I've become a jack-of-all-trades, yet master of none. Even my degree in graphic design has not pacified me into settling down, much to my own (and others') disappointment. I have yet to find my place in life. That elusive niche or proverbial Shangri-la.

Although I've worked for the best part of seven years as a Sports Massage Therapist, in the back of my mind I'm still treading water. What is it that finally makes us 'settle down'? Family? Career? Love? Home? Wealth? I could go on, but there is the answer to the question: for each it is an individual thing.

I really do love to write. It gives me a pleasure and satisfaction, I suppose if I am honest, that I can only recall from my childhood when I would be given felt tipped pens and a ream of paper, then I could sit quietly for hours drawing whatever filled my mind. But I have realised that my writing is much like everything else I've done in life and will fall into my jack-of-all-trades toolbox.

I honestly do believe that an important part of life is keeping the child within you alive, to give you that excitement of finding out fresh, new things, and seeing things with eyes not clouded with cynicism or bitterness, and the ability to embrace new ideas and approaches without pre-judging them. I think this is what keeps your mind alive and fresh, allowing it to produce the ideas and approaches that lead to inspiration and invention. It's difficult, I agree, to be 'the better person' and to rise above the sea of society's shit that we're splashed with day-in, day-out. But strive we must and hope that our efforts do not always go unnoticed.

It is very often the quietest voice that speaks the loudest in tones that the blind cannot refute, and the closed minds cannot deny. Be that quiet individual, and let your voice rise with grace and humility above the discord and chaos, and it will find those willing to listen.

Happy A-Z people, my thoughts are with you :) x

13 comments:

JoJo said...

Happy blog birthday! Yeah, I'm not very successful for being 48 either. I know I'm a huge disappointment to my family (read: my mother). I lost it all - retirement, house, savings. I was in better shape financially when I was 22 than I am now. At least I'm happy.

Mark K said...

I suppose that's what matters to most people: happiness, and health, of course. It is a difficult one to call, whether or not you've done the most with your life to date. Yes, we all have those, 'I wonder what if...?' moments. But the truth of the matter is, we are on the path chosen by us, and we are the only ones who make any difference to the journey.

Unknown said...

Happy blog birthday - you're more aware than I am, I have no idea when my blog birthday is. I suppose I could go and look.... I think the best way to describe my life is "haywire".

Elise Fallson said...

"rise above the sea of society's shit that we're splashed with day-in, day-out." Right now, all I'm armed with are a pair of water-wings to keep me afloat. Send in the air-sea rescue team, please. I'm done with this shit. (;

Mina Lobo said...

Belated wishes for a happy blogiversary, Dude.

You know, some folks who've got very clearly defined paths lose their heads completely when they're forced by life to deviate from these paths. The greatest skills any one of us can master is that of resiliency and adaptability. Seems to me you have, Sir. :-)
Some Dark Romantic

Mark K said...

Somehow I get the feeling there are those close to you that see you as their rock, their port in a storm. Haywire? I'm sure such things don't even touch you ;)

Thank you for stopping by :)

Mark K said...

That made me chuckle heartily - thank you for that :)

Mark K said...

Cheers, gurlfrend - you's da bomb! 'Resiliency and adaptability', now that REALLY made me laugh :D

Deborah Walker said...

Meh? What's success anyhoo? You can never walk in someone's footsteps and see how they're feeling.

If I were you I'd look at ways of combining both your passions. Writing and art. What about producing illustrated short stories? Or an illustrated collection of your work?

Mark K said...

Good ideas, but my downfall is my crappy art skills. Use it or lose it, as the saying goes. Sadly, I've lost it.

Deborah Walker said...

You can find it again, Mark. Have you looked behind the sofa?

Mark K said...

Come on Deborah, be fair - you can't be a great writer and poet AND be funny too!

Deborah Walker said...

*laughs* Your post made me laugh out loud.