Recently I was recommended the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Having never heard of it, nor read it before, I decided to find it. I had thought I would simply check it out from my local library but thought while visiting I would browse the used books section first. I always find some great finds and usually never over a dollar. Well, as I left the kids at the children's part of the library to play with the dollhouse and train table I thought to myself, "I want to find this book. I really need this book." The fact is I didn't want to have to wait for this book and read it at a later time. I wanted it now. I needed it now.
Much to my surprise, though I really shouldn't have been, there was the book. It should be said this is a book published in the 1970s so the chance of finding it wasn't that great yet there it was. In pretty great condition I might add and for only twenty-five cents. I couldn't have been happier. I just stood there for a moment a bit shocked. Then I looked at the woman next to me and just had to say something. "I just walked over here looking for this book and found it. Isn't that crazy?" She didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then she smiled and said, "It makes you wonder what would happen if we asked for bigger things in life all the time." I just stared at her in a dumbfounded kind of way. She told me to "have a nice day" and walked out the rear door of the library. I thought for a moment that I imagined her there but knew she had been real.
I didn't expect something so deep, and so seriously profound to happen at the library but it did. And it did make me stop and chew on what had happened. What if I really did ask for bigger things in life? What if what I thought myself worthy enough and important enough to ask for bigger things? I wanted this book. I strongly desired it and there it was. All I had to do was think about what I really wanted and then seek it. If I didn't find it then it wasn't there for me, not the right time. But I didn't fail. Failing would be me not seeking but it was there all the time. What a waste. What a true disappointment and failure that would be. Talk about serious regret.
I know I don't want to look back on my one life (though I do wonder if it is only just one) and regret anything. Sometimes we try things and it isn't always seen as successful. But what if by just wanting something, by listening to our need for something, and then going out and doing it we succeed. Just those actions makes us successful no matter the final outcome. That's what I want. To desire, to need, to want and then put it out there in the world and take the action to find it. The action to seek and take what's there. As my favorite author, Paulo Coelho, recently tweeted, " Go further than you planned. Ask for the moon : you will be surprised how often you get it."
And as for the book, well, it was very interesting too. I came away with a "you are who you are, embrace it, love it and then do something with it-even if it is way different than anything you have ever known".
Much to my surprise, though I really shouldn't have been, there was the book. It should be said this is a book published in the 1970s so the chance of finding it wasn't that great yet there it was. In pretty great condition I might add and for only twenty-five cents. I couldn't have been happier. I just stood there for a moment a bit shocked. Then I looked at the woman next to me and just had to say something. "I just walked over here looking for this book and found it. Isn't that crazy?" She didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then she smiled and said, "It makes you wonder what would happen if we asked for bigger things in life all the time." I just stared at her in a dumbfounded kind of way. She told me to "have a nice day" and walked out the rear door of the library. I thought for a moment that I imagined her there but knew she had been real.
I didn't expect something so deep, and so seriously profound to happen at the library but it did. And it did make me stop and chew on what had happened. What if I really did ask for bigger things in life? What if what I thought myself worthy enough and important enough to ask for bigger things? I wanted this book. I strongly desired it and there it was. All I had to do was think about what I really wanted and then seek it. If I didn't find it then it wasn't there for me, not the right time. But I didn't fail. Failing would be me not seeking but it was there all the time. What a waste. What a true disappointment and failure that would be. Talk about serious regret.
I know I don't want to look back on my one life (though I do wonder if it is only just one) and regret anything. Sometimes we try things and it isn't always seen as successful. But what if by just wanting something, by listening to our need for something, and then going out and doing it we succeed. Just those actions makes us successful no matter the final outcome. That's what I want. To desire, to need, to want and then put it out there in the world and take the action to find it. The action to seek and take what's there. As my favorite author, Paulo Coelho, recently tweeted, " Go further than you planned. Ask for the moon : you will be surprised how often you get it."
And as for the book, well, it was very interesting too. I came away with a "you are who you are, embrace it, love it and then do something with it-even if it is way different than anything you have ever known".
Wow.. you never know what is going to happen at the library!! What a great word for someone to speak. I like a quote from C.S. Lewis, "...We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
ReplyDeleteWe too quickly settle for less when there is SO much more!
Glad I stopped by to read... makes me stop and think, and that's a good thing!!
Do it, girl, ask for bigger things! Thanks for this story.
ReplyDelete