When the universe makes a request, do you listen? Do you recognize its touch when it taps you on the shoulder? What happens when your plans don’t match?

How many times have you said to yourself: “I never could’ve guessed I’d be doing this!” There you are living your life, going along your merry way, making plans, completing projects, shining your light on your path ahead when wham! a sudden twist of fate intervenes and you find yourself doing something or going somewhere or learning something that you couldn’t have predicted in your wildest dreams.

Whether circumstances like this are pre-ordained by some mysterious force or simply the happenstance of existence remains up for debate. What’s for sure and for certain is that life comes at you much like waves on the ocean. You never know if you’re going to get an easy ride to the shore or a rogue wave that throws you under the breakers. My brother always says “Don’t fall off your surfboard!” which I think is a suitable Southern Californian metaphor for life.

Dealing with the foibles of the universe is much like dealing with the idiosyncrasies of your fellow human beings. You rarely have much agency over their actions, but you do have a great deal of latitude in how you choose to react.

It’s all too easy to get caught on your back foot as you go through life. If you’re not careful, being buffeted by the winds of change can become routine and reacting rather than acting can become a habit.

That’s when it’s wise to remember that while fate and destiny and the will of the universe may be out of your control, there are ways to “create your own luck“ as it were.

It’s not complicated really. Holding a clear vision of the type of life you’d like to lead is crucial, even if you’re not clear on the specifics. A vision that is informed by benevolence, gratitude, and a sense of meaning will generally point towards your north star.

Conversely, if you notice yourself carrying a chip on your shoulder, learn how to drop it as soon as possible. In my experience people who are attached to their grievances tend to be magnets for bad luck. You have to accept what is and learn to let the yucky stuff go.

At the end of the day, when life turns a corner that wasn’t on your map the best you can do is to ride the waves as they come and make the best of it.

These thoughts were bumping around in my brain as I gave my darling partner a taste of West Coast culture at the Terrapin Roadshow this weekend in Monte Rio.

Intrigued as I’ve been my entire life about France and French culture, I always felt that learning the French language was a challenge for other folks, but not for me.

But lo and behold, here I am in my full grown years, climbing the ladder of la langue française one Duolingo rung at a time.

It just goes to show you that you never really know what sort of learning opportunities might show up along your way.

As Blink 182’s frontman Mark Hoppus says, “The past is just the future with the lights on.”

Lighting your way till next week, much love till then!

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #630

Mark Metz
Monday Love
Music & Movement Calendar