THE LUNAR REPORT - "ENGAGE" May 24, 2010
I am fortunate, you know? I happen to know and love some wonderful people. There are three very special people, however, that stand out somehow. A couple of friends – Mike. Michele. And Cosmo Kramer. Ok. Cosmo is a television character. Still, the man is important to me.
One afternoon a few years ago while I was lying around sort of feeling sorry for myself, I found myself deeply involved in my favorite hobby. Running the cable channels from the remote control. Hey. It was something.
Another favorite hobby of mine at the time was to pretty much “check out,” wondering what life is all about, how I fit in. You know. And I listened to all those enlightened ones who would say things like, 'Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.”
My response was always, “But I’m hurting TODAY! What about TODAY?”
“Life is short. Enjoy it.” I know life is short. I realized that after the 12th funeral in a two and a half month span. How the hell can one “enjoy life” while carrying a 300-pound friend to his grave? (I am exaggerating here a great deal. Just stick with me on this, ok?)
“Cherish every moment.” Oh, I loved that one. I’m stretched out on an old sofa with 12-year-old dog odors. I'm wearing the same clothes I’ve worn for 5 days. Watching cable TV. This I should cherish? Really?
So, as I was running the cable that one day, I happened upon some guy on Oprah or on an Oprah wannabe show. He was promoting a book of some sort. I stayed on that channel long enough to hear him utter these words: “Engage in life.”
Engage in life.
Wow.
Notice the man didn't talk about tomorrow. He did not tell us to “enjoy life.” He did not suggest that we “cherish each moment.” His message was simple. It was clear. Engage.
Even in death, one can engage. Even while hanging out on a smelly sofa, acquiring carpel tunnel symptoms from remote control over usage, one can engage. Stuck in morning rush hour traffic, one can engage. By waiting until tomorrow or next week or the next moment, we miss so many engagable opportunities.
Mike, Michele and Cosmo. They engage. You guys probably do not know Mike and Michele. You must know Cosmo Kramer. When things were good for him, he beamed and shared his good will. When things were bad for him, he acknowledged those things, maybe became a bit angry, but always made the best of things and moved on. Cosmo was even totally engaged while being held in a Los Angeles jail on suspicion of murder in one episode.
Mike and Michele are not the goofy character of a Cosmo Kramer. But they engage so damned beautifully. With such honest and simple passion. A problem happens. They engage and move on. Good things happen. They engage and share.
It’s life. It’s a moment. If we fail to engage? It is surely a moment lost.
Mike, Michele and Cosmo. They surely have few lost moments.
One afternoon a few years ago while I was lying around sort of feeling sorry for myself, I found myself deeply involved in my favorite hobby. Running the cable channels from the remote control. Hey. It was something.
Another favorite hobby of mine at the time was to pretty much “check out,” wondering what life is all about, how I fit in. You know. And I listened to all those enlightened ones who would say things like, 'Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.”
My response was always, “But I’m hurting TODAY! What about TODAY?”
“Life is short. Enjoy it.” I know life is short. I realized that after the 12th funeral in a two and a half month span. How the hell can one “enjoy life” while carrying a 300-pound friend to his grave? (I am exaggerating here a great deal. Just stick with me on this, ok?)
“Cherish every moment.” Oh, I loved that one. I’m stretched out on an old sofa with 12-year-old dog odors. I'm wearing the same clothes I’ve worn for 5 days. Watching cable TV. This I should cherish? Really?
So, as I was running the cable that one day, I happened upon some guy on Oprah or on an Oprah wannabe show. He was promoting a book of some sort. I stayed on that channel long enough to hear him utter these words: “Engage in life.”
Engage in life.
Wow.
Notice the man didn't talk about tomorrow. He did not tell us to “enjoy life.” He did not suggest that we “cherish each moment.” His message was simple. It was clear. Engage.
Even in death, one can engage. Even while hanging out on a smelly sofa, acquiring carpel tunnel symptoms from remote control over usage, one can engage. Stuck in morning rush hour traffic, one can engage. By waiting until tomorrow or next week or the next moment, we miss so many engagable opportunities.
Mike, Michele and Cosmo. They engage. You guys probably do not know Mike and Michele. You must know Cosmo Kramer. When things were good for him, he beamed and shared his good will. When things were bad for him, he acknowledged those things, maybe became a bit angry, but always made the best of things and moved on. Cosmo was even totally engaged while being held in a Los Angeles jail on suspicion of murder in one episode.
Mike and Michele are not the goofy character of a Cosmo Kramer. But they engage so damned beautifully. With such honest and simple passion. A problem happens. They engage and move on. Good things happen. They engage and share.
It’s life. It’s a moment. If we fail to engage? It is surely a moment lost.
Mike, Michele and Cosmo. They surely have few lost moments.
Please visit the sites of some of my friends.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
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I happen to enter your blog with the help of Google search. To my sheer luck I got what I was searching for. Thanks!!!
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