I talk about reflection… a lot.
I’ve found that traveling around, much of the time alone, sparks these deeply reflective vibes I have. Since I’m in this mode so often nowadays, you can see why I was excited to receive the below note from a dear friend:
“Travel is so life-affirming and transformative, especially when traveling alone for some reason, I find. Something about you skimming like a stone across the lake of the world – not quite in and of the places you’re visiting… I don’t know. it becomes an excellent mirror for self-reflection, that lake.“
My excitement had many different catalysts. However, the parts I want to dissect today are those of skimming across the lake and the lake itself.
What AM I doing?
Traveling around the world… for what? Self-reflection? Can’t I just do that in one place? Why does one need to be alone for it?
To the main question: what am I doing? I didn’t fully know when I started this post, but by the end we get there. Read on.
I do know that I am on this journey for self-reflection, and that I’m unable to have the same magnitude of self-reflection when in one place, constantly surrounded by others.
By traveling the “lake of the world” I experience so much more than I would standing still in my comfort zone.
Couple this with “skimming across” said lake, and I find as I skip about, never quite in or of, I take on the role of the observer.
In this role, I can see and appreciate without preamble or bias many seemingly everyday occurrences.
I not only take in these new scenes, but I work to perceive them completely on my own terms without any direct outside influence.
Bringing the two sides of the equation together, the breadth of experiences gained as I travel and choose to take on the role of life observer, and the development of my own perspective on these experiences, is helping me to truly find and DEFINE myself.
By going outward into the world, I’m going inward into myself. The lake reflecting back, ftw!
Could one go through this process without putting themselves on my journey? Absolutely. In fact, I believe what I’m describing is a wordy description of a simple meditation practice… but I digress.
The result of the process of observing then developing perspective is a person who not only loves and honors themselves fully, but whose cup is so full they can’t help but extend love and support to the world around them.
I believe once you recognize your own grace (which I’m working on doing as I skim the lake of the world), it’s impossible not to see that you are part of a greater whole, a well-spring of grace. I also believe it’s impossible to miss the realization that if the greater whole is suffering, so too, are you, and therefore you work to help the world around you (to also help yourself).
As I was having these thoughts, the below quote found me (NOTE: for more on me and Einstein, click here).
A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. One experiences oneself, one’s thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of one’s consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
~ Albert Einstein
I held my breath as I read the quote a second, then a third time. I wasn’t sure why I had this reaction at first. I just knew the words resonated with me on a deep level and I had to share them in this piece.
Now I understand why they were so meaningful. They explain better than I ever could what it is I AM doing.
I’m breaking myself out of the prison of delusion. I’m freeing myself by widening my circle of compassion. I’m learning to love and embrace myself through skimming across the lake of the world, so that I can embrace and love the whole.
To say I’m humbled by the power of these words is an understatement.
To say I’m obligated to keep going is not.
