"Mans Search For Meaning"

I call myself temporarily retired.  That's because I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing with my life at this point.  What is this "retirement" thing anyway?  It sounds like you're going to sleep, or you're gonna go sit on the couch.  I don't do either of those things very well so I hope there's a third option.

Having had a "career" has left me a bit institutionalized if you know what I mean?  I now have to make all of my own decisions about when to get up, where to go, and what to do each day.  Big brother Magna is no longer looking over my shoulder, not to mention taking care of my every need, including such mundane things as financing my existence.  

I suppose it's all really about change.  It truly does get harder as you get older which is kind or ironic because as you age, change  seems to happen faster and faster.

I was considering a second career as a professional triathlete but maybe that's not very realistic.

I also don't think I'm gonna make it as an author, what with all my spelling and grammar problems, but I could perhaps consider professional reading.  I do a lot of that! 

I am actually grateful for both of those passions because together they are keeping me grounded.  The triathlon in the obvious sense that it keeps me off the couch, and the reading because it is both an escape from the world, and a source of inspiration.  

Often when I'm trying to puzzle something out I refer to some old standby texts.  One of my favourites is Victor Frankl's book which shares the title of this post.  Today I specifically went back to find this passage.

"Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long run - in the long run, I say! - success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it."---Victor Frankl

I'm pretty sure the "retirement" answer is in there!!

And your smile of the day comes from my little brother Happy Odd John.  He commented on an earlier post suggesting that he might come and do some training with me.  What a joke!  He's gonna train with me?  Just 2 years ago John made it clear to me that his knee was just too buggered up to ever be able to run.  I have it on good authority that he just signed up for a half Ironman.  Laugh my ass off!!

Also thanks Mike, Elly, Sally and Jean for your nice comments.  I think you're all a bit delusional.

Tomorrow I'm gonna go fix Ky's BBQ just to see if I can get her to say something nice too.  Just to prove that she's delusional as well of course.  

Easy ride 1.5 hours.

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity.”---Victor Frankl

Love

Peter