Have you ever stopped and considered the significance of your keys? You can tell a lot about a person by their keys. The place that they live, if they have access to a lover's apartment, bike locks, job site security, type of vehicle owned, and other safe places to keep our treasures safe are just a few items represented by keys.
At one point in my life I held up to 10 keys on my key chain. At that time, I was a busy, responsible, and an over-worked individual. In short, I was miserable. Slowly, I started the process of releasing the 'keys' from my keyring, until eventually I bore no keys what-so-ever! The journey of releasing the responsibilities of all my previous keys had been painful, scary, frightening, empowering, and eventually joyful. It has been a process of liberating my ego from attachments. I always liked the quote, "The things we own, end up owning us." -Tyler Dirton, Fight Club. In other words, the essence of 'who I really am', isn't reflected by the amount of keys I possess.
One definition of a 'key' is defined as, "something that affords a means of access: IE. the 'key' to happiness." I have been looking at things anew, and though I have released many attachments, and liberated my ego (most of the time anyway), I have also taken away many opportunities for me to express myself, and to have new experiences. Perhaps the trick is to be able to possess a key without being attached to what happens as a result of owning that key. I am now ready to bring back 'key's in my life.
It is true, that by simplifying my life, I have felt much more peaceful and free from obsessive worrisome thoughts. But I can't help but think about the monk who lives in a monastery and only eats bread and milk. I think it's super easy to feel joyful all the time living in that 'simple' space. Now give that monk, a family, a job, and responsibilities (a full key ring) and ask that monk to maintain his joy... well then I'd be super impressed. And, this is the path that I want to take. The ability to stay connected to joy while exisiting in this crazy materialistic north american culture!
Yesterday I did add a new key to my key chain. The key to my 2003 Sunfire! Good old blue and I are back in action. Looking at the definition of 'key', as something that affords a means of access, then my car key is access to freedom. I am excited to begin planning summer with my son. Daydreams of trips to the zoo, visits to friends in far away cities, and day-trips to the lake, are no longer just daydreams. If I want to express and experience all of who I am, then possessing 'keys' will provide me with much more freedom and opportunity to experience that.
So why not some time to reflect upon your own key chain? Are there keys you feel burdened by? Are there keys you could stop to appreciate? Are there keys you are holding on to? Do your keys hold you hostage, or do they provide access to freedom? For me, taking time to inventory my keys was an interesting process, and it has lead to small glimpses of discovering my own divity.
At one point in my life I held up to 10 keys on my key chain. At that time, I was a busy, responsible, and an over-worked individual. In short, I was miserable. Slowly, I started the process of releasing the 'keys' from my keyring, until eventually I bore no keys what-so-ever! The journey of releasing the responsibilities of all my previous keys had been painful, scary, frightening, empowering, and eventually joyful. It has been a process of liberating my ego from attachments. I always liked the quote, "The things we own, end up owning us." -Tyler Dirton, Fight Club. In other words, the essence of 'who I really am', isn't reflected by the amount of keys I possess.
One definition of a 'key' is defined as, "something that affords a means of access: IE. the 'key' to happiness." I have been looking at things anew, and though I have released many attachments, and liberated my ego (most of the time anyway), I have also taken away many opportunities for me to express myself, and to have new experiences. Perhaps the trick is to be able to possess a key without being attached to what happens as a result of owning that key. I am now ready to bring back 'key's in my life.
It is true, that by simplifying my life, I have felt much more peaceful and free from obsessive worrisome thoughts. But I can't help but think about the monk who lives in a monastery and only eats bread and milk. I think it's super easy to feel joyful all the time living in that 'simple' space. Now give that monk, a family, a job, and responsibilities (a full key ring) and ask that monk to maintain his joy... well then I'd be super impressed. And, this is the path that I want to take. The ability to stay connected to joy while exisiting in this crazy materialistic north american culture!
Yesterday I did add a new key to my key chain. The key to my 2003 Sunfire! Good old blue and I are back in action. Looking at the definition of 'key', as something that affords a means of access, then my car key is access to freedom. I am excited to begin planning summer with my son. Daydreams of trips to the zoo, visits to friends in far away cities, and day-trips to the lake, are no longer just daydreams. If I want to express and experience all of who I am, then possessing 'keys' will provide me with much more freedom and opportunity to experience that.
So why not some time to reflect upon your own key chain? Are there keys you feel burdened by? Are there keys you could stop to appreciate? Are there keys you are holding on to? Do your keys hold you hostage, or do they provide access to freedom? For me, taking time to inventory my keys was an interesting process, and it has lead to small glimpses of discovering my own divity.
Today, I am drenched with gratitude for my two current keys. The key to my Mothers house, and now the key to my car. Life truly is divine!
my life is my key
ReplyDeletethe other half is the key burden ... go figure
ReplyDelete