YEARNING

I was checking some of my favorite blogs today and came across a Khalil Gibran quote on Daley Hake’s site (incredible photography – check it out).

I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart for the joys of the multitude. And I would not have the tears that sadness makes to flow from my every part turn into laughter. I would that my life remain a tear and a smile. A tear to purify my heart and give me understanding of life’s secrets and hidden things. A smile to draw me nigh to the sons of my kinds and to be a symbol of my glorification of the gods. A tear to unite me with those of broken heart; a smile to be a sign of my joy in existence. I would rather that I die in yearning and longing than that I lived weary and despairing. I want to hunger for love and beauty to be in the depths of my spirit, for I have seen those who are satisfied the most wretched people. I have heard the sigh of those in yearning and longing, and it is sweeter than the sweetest melody. – Khalil Gibran

The part of this quote that stuck out to me (today) is: I would rather that I die in yearning and longing than that I lived weary and despairing.

When I think of yearning, I think of hunger. I have a few yearnings that, in learning to listen and not ignore what they’re trying to tell me, teach me more about myself than if I’d been handed everything I’d ever wanted and could recline satisfied.

It wasn’t that long ago I lived weary and despairing because I had nothing to yearn for. Then I learned that life isn’t about getting everything I want. All I learn about life if I get everything I want is… how to be full. Funny how sometimes being full is more uncomfortable than being hungry.

That’s your random thought for the evening. I’m going to listen to some more jazz and rain and go to bed.