It's difficult when life throw things at you. For instance, this weekend I have a stack of research proposals to finish grading. Dreading it. I have to clean my house tonight. Dreading it. This coming Wednesday, I have my annual evaluation at the university. A tenured professor is coming to observe my teaching. Really dreading it.
Yet, there are different attitudes I could adopt. Grading the research proposals--I have a job teaching which I love. Cleaning my house--I have a roof over my head, warm clothes, food in the fridge. Being evaluated--I know the person doing my evaluation, and he's a good guy. I am thankful for all these things.
The powerful play goes on, and Saint Marty is contributing his verse.
O Me! O Life!
by: Walt Whitman
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
I'm positive that more difficulties lay ahead of us. Onward, ever onward.
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