Monday, March 28, 2011

Eat, Pray, Love with Thoreau


I am slowly going to catch up on my life since I've had the long absence of two months.

(An eternity in blogging world, right?)

The AGONIZING search for employment has ended for the time being, me having been employed by a counseling service working with children. Wait until you hear the job title, it sounds way important:

(ahem) Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist.

Meaning I help children from all sorts of backgrounds discover ways to deal with their mental illnesses and cope in the world. Really a heartbreaking job sometimes.

People's stories have a tendency to occupy my mind. I get involved in how they perceive the world and the logic that went into making the choices they did. I love people. I love helping them. And most times wish there was a way I could do more.

Often times I am speechless, more of a listening ear than a helpful voice. But to some that is all they need. I know. I've been there.

Remember when the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" came out and it was such a big hit. (Personally, I found it really boring and fell asleep on Mr. Friend's lap.) But the concept was so appealing to me. This girl has everything that most people deem they need in life: a house, a husband, a successful career. YET, she finds herself lost and searching for something missing. Newly divorced and at a crossroad, she risks everything to find happiness, moving to Italy, India, and Indonesia.

I've been tempted to do that. Move somewhere fresh and new. It is similar to Henry David Thoreau's move to Walden Pond. A total commitment. An exciting leap into the unknown and an abandonment of past.

But I sadly realized that though I would like to think myself adventurous, I was much too frightened to undertake such an enormous change.

Like these children I work with, I don't want to reject my life despite the pain, but change it in a way to find more happiness in familiar surroundings. I think we all do.

So the question is:

Is it selfish to spend so much time focused on our own happiness?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Kendra,

I hope that you can find true happiness. I would say that if happiness is your only pursuit in life, then you will never be satisfied because our purpose in life isn't to glorify ourselves. Instead, our purpose in life is to glorify God. We won't find happiness if we just live for ourselves. But if we live for God, and seek to love Him and others, we'll find that He'll give us joy and sometimes happiness. Life isn't about being happy, but about living life for God, no matter the pain and suffering we might face. That's what I think. You may not agree, but I just thought I'd share my two cents on the topic.

In Christ,
Jessica

Nikki Neurotic said...

I am probably one of the least adventuresome person ever, yet, I packed up my stuff and moved four hours from home to move in with an old friend from middle school. Ultimately, I moved back home due to personal problems with that friend-but it truly was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I pushed myself in ways I never could have imagined. If you have the means to do something like it, do it. It might not work out, but maybe it will.

Laura Wynn said...

hmm..I don't think so. I think the happier we are, the happier we are able to make others. Sure, if we get obsessive about it and egotistical, that's no bueno. Of course, its been said that service and losing ourselves brings forth happiness...So, first you gotta get lost, then you'll be happy, then...oh poo. I really don't know ;p
(and this is why I missed you: Your thought provoking questions that made me better:)
ps-giveaway over at my blog!

Runtus Nerdificus said...

Wasn't Thoreau the first hippie tree lover?