The Wood Carver

I often catch myself thinking about the way the human race used to be, and how we have now developed. I try not to think of what we have become as being negative, but its hard not to appreciate our once primitive lifestyle.  I'm definitely not saying life used to be easier, actually I know with out a doubt, it was much more stressful and trying.  When we were hungry, we had to hunt for our dinner. When we needed shelter, we had to break our backs to build it, and if they didn't break building it, then they broke defending it.  Having a child was not a question of if it was the right time, or if financially it was the right decision. It was the only way to survive earths brutal and ever changing ecosystem.

With that said, we are living proof that we ruled at what we did. We learned to be extremely efficient, we grew wiser, and passed on those few but fundamental skills to our offspring.  The part that I admire most and wish still existed, was that simple focus to just survive.

Today it is absolutely astounding how many things we have to think about. Fitness plans, tax rebates, life insurance, careers, car maintenance, holidays, helping those less fortunate, environmental responsibility, product reviews, lawyers, investments, dentist appointments, work place health and safety, daily recommended fat intake, retirement, mid terms, social networking, human rights, medical advances, ok the list is pretty much endless. Now its not amazing that there is such a diversity of interests, but the shear amount of those things that one is actually required by law or society to undertake is almost scary.

The human mind is the most wonderful thing, and its ability to endlessly learn is phenomenal. I know with out a doubt we can achieve anything we set our minds to. But do we spread ourselves to thin?  I always think about the greats, who have truly set the bar for personal and overall achievements.  Albert Einstein, Beethoven, Shakespeare have all written there place in history. Of course I have never met any of them, but I do know that none of them were good at everything.

It almost seems that people expect one another to be great at everything, but none of us are. What would happen if we all stopped pretending?  I am going to narrow my field of view in that regard, and just do what I know feels right. I endeavor to devote more time to what I love in life, and less to what I know could potentially be out there.

First step? I know that I do not want to carve wooden elephants, but cheers to the person who did.

That is all.