“After a certain age, there is no future.” Joseph Campbell
I’m forty-seven years old. For the past couple of years, I’ve had acute realizations that I’m living my future. The one I imagined when I was a child, the one I thought was so far away in my twenties and the one that in my thirties, was largely shaped and formed by turbulence and ensuing illness.
These acute realizations happen out of the blue. I’ll be doing something, such as watching television or talking with my son and the feeling hits me. I look around my home, taking note of the sentimental items I’ve kept over the years, the most special of which are displayed on the fireplace mantle or my desk. I look at the pictures I’ve hung on my walls. I look at my life and think to myself, This is it. This is my future.
There is a sense of peace in this experience. I like knowing that I’m here in the moment, instead of waiting to be somewhere else, in the future. Then too, there is the realization that I didn’t prepare very well. In fact, I may not have prepared at all.
“Every decision a young person makes is a commitment to a life course. And if you made a bad decision of that angle by the time you get out there, you’re far off course.” Joseph Campbell
I did get off course. I made choices that landed me where I don’t think I would have chosen if someone had shown me a crystal ball. A few people tried to show me, but my life was demanding. I couldn’t get past the day, yet I still made it to the future, which is now.
“I’m not now participating in the achievement of life. I have achieved it.” Joseph Campbell.
I hope you enjoy this video. The late Joseph Campbell was a great thinker who shared his knowledge and wisdom with joy and an obvious love of humanity.
Video from YouTube, “Joseph Campbell–Myth as the Mirror for the Ego”
Thank you for visiting Dogkisses’s blog and feel free to leave a comment.
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DOGKISSES 
Posted by Virtuagirl hd 2011 on March 27, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Thanks for this post, it is great
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Posted by mo on March 13, 2011 at 8:25 PM
After I read this something popped in my mind that I haven’t thought of for years…MANY years. I clearly remember being at my best friend’s house for a sleepover, we were probably 14 or so, and discussing our futures, would we marry Paul McCartney or John Lennon, or what we were going to wear to school on Monday (we tried to coordinate). During that conversation we wondered if we would still be friends when we were 23….such a long time away. Little did we know how fast 23 would come and go. We are living our futures. I loved this post.
mo
(we are atill frinds)
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Posted by dogkisses on March 13, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Thanks Mo. I’m glad the post took you on such a vivid trip down memory lane. And I’m glad you two are still friends 🙂
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Posted by Rosemary Lee on March 13, 2011 at 2:04 PM
I understand! A friend of mine said “by the choices you make you create the life that you have.” Some of those choices are kind of depressing…….other’s give me peace. I haven’t heard of Joseph Campbell but I’m going to investigate further!!
xoxox
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Posted by dogkisses on March 13, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Hi Rose! What an absolute treat to hear from you.
I sure wish I could go back and make a few different choices, but we all know the answer to that.
I love Joseph Campbell! I love hearing him talk and have enjoyed, (many years ago) several of his books. The one I remember best is, “The Power of Myth.” I hope you enjoy your investigation 🙂
xoxoxo
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