HopeFul Reflections

I’m pretty happy with where I am in life. I still have many things I hope to accomplish, but I also appreciate where I am now. Sometimes it’s important to look back and reflect on how far you’ve come. If you only look forward you miss out on your own story. You may even have everything you wanted and not realized it simply because you forgot to notice. However, sometimes I wonder if my life is grand enough. Sometimes I’ll admit I envy those who live more memorable lives such as celebrities or great figures in history. Is the way that I live my life enough? Am I enough? Would my family be better served by someone else who has overcome a life with far greater struggle?

Three different Lives

I am very interested in podcasts. I love hearing the varied perspectives and life experiences of others who have led completely different lives. Among my favorites are the Monday Morning Podcast by comedian Bill Burr, Jocko Podcast by Jocko Willink, a navy seal, and the Jordan B. Peterson podcast led by a psychologist. I of course do not agree with everything these three say, but I find certain episodes enjoyable and of utility especially when they have guests. It’s quite obvious these three live entirely different lives, but I noticed something quite interesting. Each respective podcast has a dedicated time to answer listener questions. Often young people ask for advice for all too common problems. The podcaster of course draws upon the experiences of his life and tries to come up with a solution for their listener. What I’ve noticed is that despite living completely unrelated lives, they all seem to answer similarly. For example, when asked about being lost in life and trying to figure out one’s early 20’s they all had the same advice of finding anything to work on that derives meaning to the listener and to silence out all other voices and focus on building a life. The comedian has more humorous anecdotes about why this worked for him, the navy seal of course has tales of war to paint his picture, and the psychologist approaches the question by citing literature. However, in the end the answers are the same.

Same Answer Different Paths

Despite living completely different lives, these three podcasters have come to find relative success within their respective careers by boldly facing the challenges presented to them by life. One may wonder if their own life has enough meaning, but life provides plenty of opportunity to find meaning. I truly believe that each person has, in striving to make the most of their situation, the ability to become quite capable and wise. Of course the obstacles these three have faced have no relation to each other whatsoever, but in facing them each has come to become similarly wise in certain areas. The difference is the analogies, anecdotes, and stories they tell to convey the same message. I’ve often wondered if the life I’m living is enough to allow me to become the version of myself that my family needs. This reflection has caused me to believe that if any individual takes the challenges of heir life seriously regardless of the name of their obstacles, they may achieve a similar level of growth. We also have the luxury of having the stories, sayings, and lives of many people before us chronicled in a multitude of books. They are no substitute for experience, but the effort to reflect on these stories and to attempt to live a righteous life will create the person that was meant to handle this life and many others. The characteristics that make a good man in one walk of life are the same that make him a good man in another. Conscientiousness, courage, reliability, and many other virtues make up a good man. The same virtues that Aristotle wrote about millennia ago to create Alexander the Great back then would likely be the same lessons he gave his pupil were they to have lived today.

A Christian View

I believe that in choosing to face my life and all of it’s difficulties head on and to reflect on the day in prayer I can hope to become the man I wish to become. I feel that prayer is the calm and receptive state in which I can fully appreciate the lessons life has to offer. Communication with God allows for complete focus and focus of my thoughts on a subject much greater than myself. It is in this state and in this form of communication that I may transform myself to become the man I feel I wish to become. I may not be a leader of men, the head of a company, or even the top of my field, but if I can truly improve myself and become a true man of God, one that is able to properly handle the task of raising a family or helping a friend in need then that is more than enough. The purpose of this blog is to reflect on my life and what I find memorable in hopes of becoming someone I and my family can be proud of. Thank you all for joining me on this journey.

-JKG