Have you heard about Burning Man – or been there? My son Andrew and his wife Miki Agrawal were “Burning Man” married several years ago, and said, “You must go.”
So, I am.
You may know of the “Gifting” philosophy of The Playa. It’s part of the culture – the Ten Principles of Burning Man – that were articulated by co-founder Larry Harvey.
Imagine that. A sharing, radical inclusion economy … in the desert amidst the Art Cars.
I wondered what I could gift that might be meaningful and decided to memorize ten poems about the meaning of life. When I meet people, if they’re interested, they’re welcome to select a poem that resonates with them.
I’ll share it and then ask, “What does this mean for you?” I am smiling at the thought of the intriguing conversations this might lead to …
Here’s an example of a poem I’ll be sharing on the Playa. It’s authored by Mary Jean Irion:
“Normal day,
let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,
or bury my face in the pillow,
or stretch myself taut,
or raise my hands to the sky
and want, more than all the world,
your return.”
Every single time I re-read Mary Jean Irion’s poem, my soul says “Yes, yes, yes.”
How about you?
Are you rushing through life in search of some rare and perfect tomorrow?
Are you so busy, you don’t have the time to look around and imprint, appreciate and enjoy this day?
When you think about it, there really are no normal days.
Every day we’re alive is a gift.
Every day we can see, smell, taste, touch, hear, feel, think and love is a gift.
Let us not race by this day.
Let us not be so caught up in our deadlines and to-do’s that we miss it.
Let us pause right now, look around, and really see all that’s right with our world.
Let us understand that what we’re seeing and experiencing might not always be so.
But it is so,
right here,
right now,
if we just open our heart, mind, and eyes to it,
if we are present to it and grateful for it,
instead of waiting for a special day or for SOMEDAY.
