Straight rows?

My first thought when viewing this photo of vineyard grapevine rows was that wouldn’t it be nice if our lifes could be so neatly ordered–everything defined and in place, the proper sequence, easily accessible, predictable, from the beginning to the end of the row.

But then the reality of that thought struck home. How dull and boring would a life like that be–no surprises, nothing that required imagination, intelligence, talent or ability to adapt to or overcome, living a life predestined from the beginning. Boring….

Doesn’t the chance of failure and general randomness make succeeding and progress much sweeter.

Personally, I’ve spent more time then I care to think of navel gazing* on various subjects having to do with my perceptions of myself. I’ve recently reached a point where I’m convinced that time could have been better spent looking outward rather then inward.

Our view of ourselves is often skewed. We see things through our own filters and when it comes to ourselves we can’t be totally objective. I’ve come to believe we get a clearer view of ourselves from paying attention and cultivating the honest feedback from those who know us.

There’s no straight orderly rows in my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. :-)

*Navel Gazing: A slang term for “excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue.”

Note: I’ve recently been trying to tie my photo and post together a little tighter, to tell a story, share a little more of myself and to take a lighter and more up beat tone. I’ll still have technical post mixed in as well, but I want to have a bit more fun with posting. I don’t believe it always has to be so serious.