Without Expectation

I'll speak for the masses when I say that life is full of unexplained twists and turns. The most rewarding things turn up when least expected. They become elusive when sought after. They flow smoothly when embraced without resistance, and they become jagged when questioned.

It's natural to seek meaning in everything that surrounds us. It has been the main objective of humankind since the days of Plato and Aristotle to place meaning on everything ranging from human behavior to natural disasters. In fact, Aristotle argued that nature intended us to find reason in situations that seemingly had no solutions. This argument became the foundation for modern-day rhetoric. It's fascinating how we're all naturally driven to seek universal truths, but what if there isn't a universal truth for everything?

Human behavior seems to lie in this gray area. Who is to say that Johnny's demeanor is more normal than Sally's? Who is to say that the variations in demeanor is normal? What if Johnny was robbed at gunpoint? Would it be considered normal for Sally to turn and run for protection? What if Sally decided to risk her life to save Johnny. Perhaps she's doing it for a noble cause. Is that normal? I realize the example is extreme, but it serves well for the purpose of this argument.

Dr. Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) studied a specific part of human behavior that arguably holds no logical explanation. He focused on human sexuality in the United States during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and became regarded by many as the enabler of the sexual revolution during the 1960s. He was once quoted as saying that "diversity in life is an irreducible fact." While his research was rather complex, he was instrumental in raising the question of what humans consider to be normal. In the case of his research, he concluded that no two humans behave alike. Since we all vary greatly--here in terms of sexuality--how are we supposed to label what is normal? What becomes a good reference point? We make judgments based on what we perceive to be normal, which is often times based on our own behaviors, but isn't that biased?

This is what makes living worthwhile. Since there is no clear-cut way to universally define what is normal, why don't we just embrace all of the great things that cross our winding paths? Why don't we live the way we feel we should? I'm at a crossroads in my life right now where rewarding things are turning up each and every day. I'm meeting some outstanding people who are adding so much to my life. I'm involved in the campus community. I'm experiencing a level of energy that I haven't experienced in a long time. You'll realize that you maintain a level of importance if you simply embrace what has already turned up at your door. I've had many peaks in the past, but as I already mentioned, this peak surpasses any that I've experienced in many years. It comes with understanding. It comes with acceptance and self-realization. It's like a new chapter in your life. Watch the sunrise. View it any way you'd like. It's your own perceptions that make you unique and so outstanding.