The life of the Innocent
Right now my life is filled with things that I haven’t done before and, of course, whenever we begin things we are, temporarily at least, right back in Innocent stage. So it’s always good to observe just how we are at that point, and who we are in relation to the new task.
Not all of what I’ve observed about myself is entirely pleasing.
As an Innocent to a task (setting up a better computer system, for example, where I am really am about as well informed as a new born) I tend to go into a private mental space of concentration and rather slow-moving deliberation. Some people just plug things in and go wild. Others invite friends in and make a party of it. Me - I go inside myself. It’s not so much fearful as skeptical. But it does mean that I move slowly and outsiders tend to want to rush in and tell me what to do. I want to take the time and do it my own way.
This has operated as a template in my existence for most of my life, I suspect, and it still does. Every time we face something new it can be a real eye-opener as to what it tells us about life patterns and thinking patterns, and so we can learn from it. Perhaps I was shoved into thigs as a small child and I’ve taken a road of resistence as a result. Knowing what I know about my infancy that would seem to be an accurate description of what I cannot recall having lived through.
And so I have another clue in the detective story of my life…
on January 25th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Allan,
So can this also be true on a small scale within areas in which we have some degree of mastery? I wonder, because I decided recently to relearn a two-page piano piece I used to play but have forgotten, and as I practice it, I’m confronted with the many (how to say this nicely…) not very functional ways I am with learning and practicing a new piece. I too suspect that these operate in many other areas of my life. Are we at the Innocent stage when we begin a new creative project — a piece of art, or begin writing a new story or book? Or are the stages much broader than that? (Perhaps you answer this in your book…if so, I’m happy to sit with the question until I read it!)
Julie
on January 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Dear Julie,
Your observations, and your questions, are right on target. Whenever we start anything new, or return to something we haven’t done for a while, we start as Innocents - if only for a few moments. The question is how swiftly we can mobilize the other attributes in order to get ourselves back where we want to be. The pianao is an excellent example, as you point out, because it depends upon constant practise.
And that’s true of so many things. An example from today may help. I just had to get a muffler repair on my car. In the three or more years since I last had to do this car designs have changed, emissions requirements have changed, prices have changed…. In fact even though I’d done all that stuff before, I walked into that muffler shop knowing that I was an Innocent. It didn’t take long before I was able to wake up and ask the important questions so I could make the decisions, but I think you can see what I mean.
So the book hasn’t arrived yet? Hmmm. It’s all in there.
Best, Allan
on January 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Dear Julie and Allan:
Thank you both for allowing me to enjoy the benefits of The Blog without taxing myself too greatly.
MLou