Sunset vs Starting Out

Watched sunset at San Francisco beach. As the sun in its last brilliance dipped gracefully into the sea spreading an evening glow everywhere, the skies took on beautiful hues of orange, red, peach, green and blue for all to behold. It seems to be telling us that this is what life should be, a life which when gone will leave behind beautiful images for others to keep.

I can feel my daughter's dilemma over the past 2 weeks as she stuggled with some career choices. The common cliche "follow your heart" may not be as simple or useful for someone who is launching a career. Rationale battles the free spirit, structured path competes with a less trodden one (with its high risks and returns), and a more forseeable future at home versus a romantic dream abroad. My advice was no help as it too alternated between "follow your heart" and "methodically weighting the pros and cons of each alternative". In the process I also realised the first advice may come from an irresponsible part of me wanting my children to live my unfulfilled romanticism.

Yesterday on CCTV4, a professor in China spoke philosophically about knowing our true self using the analogy of a story. An official had to make a journey to a far off town to assume officious duties. He was also tasked to bring a monk with him. For the journey he brought a trunk bearing food and necessities and important official documents. One night whilst the official was sleeping, the monk shaved the official's head and swapped clothtings with him and stole away. The official woke up the next morning and the monk was nowhere to be seen. He promptly checked his belongings. His trunk was intact (material stuff) and his documents were safe (duties and responsibilities) but he did not realise he had lost himself.

I guess no matter which part of the journey we are at, it is always important to be aware of our inner self and what for us is our own centre of our gravity.