1500 years ago, the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said: "To attain knowledge add things every day. To attain wisdom remove things every day".
All through my adult life, I've been busy removing things. It occured to me pretty early that everything around me - the people, the possessions - are only illusions created in time. And so, I've built a life meticulously pushing away things that I thought I'm getting a little too attached to. Why? Because I honestly thought this would protect me against pain. Has it? I wouldn't know. I've focussed on self preservation for too long.. I've lived within the confines of my comfort zone - like the proverbial frog in the well - for too long, to know the difference between heartache and heartbreak.
Speaking of wells...
Can you understand being alone so long
You would go out in the middle of the night
And put a bucket into the well
So you could feel something down there
Tug at the other end of the rope?
~ Jack Gilbert.
