Love And Passion
By Rummuser. Filed in Relationships, Writing |Tags: Blogging, Commenting, Love, Passion, PR
“Eros, the God of Love, emerged to create the earth. Before, all was silent, bare, and motionless. Now all was life, joy, and motion.”
———-Early Greek Myth.
Several beautiful children were born to Aphrodite and Ares. Eros, their little son, was appointed God of Love. Although nursed with tender solicitude, this second-born child did not grow as the other children do, but remained a small, rosy, chubby child, with gauzy wings and roguish, dimpled face. Alarmed for his health, Aphrodite consulted Themis, who oracularly replied, “Love cannot grow without Passion.”
———-Later Greek Myth.
From the book “Love And Will” by Rollo May.
Since my bereavement, I have searched for the next passion that could fill the void that the absence of a wife of forty years creates in a man’s life, particularly when, other economic or social activity does not appeal to the sense of the aesthetic in me. The search has been a daunting one, as the problem is a combination of the physical absence and the essence of an intense relationship.
Don’t however get me wrong, I am not looking for passion of the amorous kind. That was not the point of the relationship anyway. I am talking about getting passionate about something in the sense of the following definition of the word –“a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: like ‘a passion for music’.” Unless I find that, how do I close that first love and passion? How do I find that next love?
The older and minor passions of reading and pursuits spiritual have been intensified, but there is nothing quite like the passion that a loving relationship generates. So, what do I do to get out of the often experienced “whymeitis”?
This musing is a futile exercise as it is like searching for the coin where the light shines, instead of where it fell!
I just realized that I do not have to search anymore, because, I already have it. I had simply not recognized it. Like a habit, it had simply taken over my life.
I am of course talking about blogging. Writing my own posts, reading other posts, commenting on them, responding to their responses, responding to the comments on my posts, finding new bloggers, changing the blog world relationships to personal ones through email, instant messaging, Skype and other PC to PC phone connections and so on.
It has been a fantastic journey and the more I get involved, the more I am enjoying the experience. The joys of the banter and discussions in Jean’s two blogs; Grannymar’s daily dose of humor and/or wisdom; the incredible range of topics in Conrad’s posts; travelogue and photographs of Mike; runnathons and butterflies of Looney, Ashok’s metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a butterfly, Lizwi’s South African perceptive; the amazing range of emotions that Delirious can evoke; and the list goes on and on. Moreover, there are some magnificent people, who do not post blogs, but who regularly comment and bring joy and wonder into the blog world – people like Bikehikebabe, Gail, Maynard, and Diane who takes my heart away with her Namaste.
What more can a man ask for? It is this, this wonderful world of bloggers and commentators, that have enabled me to survive for over a year as a blogger and in the process earn a PR of 4 from Google! I have been able to post 277 posts, elicit 3248 comments and generally enjoy myself thoroughly.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you wonderful people who have stood by me and my blog and enabled me to discover my passion. Please accept this post as my tribute to all of you, those who have been mentioned here, and those who have not. If I write about every one of my blog friends, my post will run into two more pages, so, I seek the forgiveness of those who do not feature on this very brief list of regular readers of my posts.
The title for this post should perhaps read as Life After The Death Of A Spouse. It would not however grab the attention that this one would, would it?
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 19:33 |
“while cutting the ginger think of ones Guru” I got this advise from someone who is very wise. I know that if we do that then the answers will come, we just need to listen.
The joy I have seen in your whole being as you served others is something others have tried for lifetimes to develop and fail. Yours is so natural it is like being wrapped in the “folds of the moment”
Blog on my friend!!!
Rummuser Reply:
June 21st, 2009 at 20:58
You bet I shall log on Phil. I am just disappointed that you are still not launching yours. You have got so much to share that it is a shame that you are saving it all for yourself!
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 20:49 |
Love you.
Rummuser Reply:
June 21st, 2009 at 20:57
Double ditto!
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 20:56 |
Love you Ramana.
Rummuser Reply:
June 21st, 2009 at 20:57
Ditto.
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 21:38 |
You are very welcome and thank you for the opportunity for the expression of free speech, even though I pick on you once in awhile. It’s great to have a friend like you. Now conrad is another story!
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:30
Conrad is a grandfather already! I am sure that he can take care of himself. I am however happy that you consider me as a good friend. Ditto.
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 21:41 |
Thank you for your friendship, but don’t think I’m going to let BHB rest just because she is sweeter than I am!
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:29
Thank you Maynard. BHB is a big girl. I am sure that she is quite capable of looking after herself!
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 22:42 |
Ramana,
Thank you for the honour of a mention and the opportunity to be your friend. I have often said that the comments are the Readybrek (breakfast cereal) of life for Bloggers. The comments and interaction with those who visit our blogs on a regular basis give us the energy to keep going and at times feed us with a wealth of ideas for further posts.
I empathize with you, Ramana, losing a soul mate is worse than losing a limb. Despite health issues and the fact my daughter and my siblings are more than 125 miles away, the blog world brings welcome visitors to my living room on a daily basis.
Long Live Blogging!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Self Explanatory
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:28
Amen to that.
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 23:08 |
Amazing, wonderful, engaging online world, isn’t it. I am so very glad that it can offer you something that you could be engaged in.
What did we ever do before?
Mike Goad´s last blog ..It’s not a lily
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:27
We sat around bars or campfires and reminisced! A lot of male bonding took place! I suppose that the ladies had their equivalents.
Sunday, June 21st 2009 at 23:22 |
Congratulations on your one year blogging anniversary! Passions do come in various shapes, sizes and endeavors.
What would we do without your musings, Ramana? Blogging allows you to share your writing talents with us all and I am so happy we “met” here!
Happy Father’s Day from California to you and your Dad!! Is it celebrated in India? I suspect not, because I believe the Hallmark company “invented” it. Not that it isn’t a good idea to take pause once a year to honor those wonderful dads we have or had!
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:26
Some people do celebrate father’s day. Any excuse to have a do.
Indians, particularly Hindus, I am now getting into dangerous ground, do not celebrate such events when someone is alive. We have a whole lot of things happening when someone dies! In memory of our dead and gone, we perform a number of rituals, give feasts and generally have a ball. I am in the midst of drafting my next post when I shall be covering this aspect as well. You can imagine what it is likely to be like, with my father, I and Ranjan all living as Singles under one roof!
Different approaches to life and death I suppose!
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 01:55 |
Bless you and our fellow bloggers!
I was yearning for something like blogging for years before I found it. I wrote in a journal regularly, but I wanted some kindred spirits to share it with. I tried a pen pal group but couldn’t find people with similar interests. When I posted “Happiness as a Spiritual Practice” the only response I got was, “Are you on drugs or something? That’s the dumbest idea I ever heard in my life!”
I fully expected the same reaction when I started Cheerful Monk but it was important enough to do it anyway. I was surprised and grateful when some people responded positively. Again, bless you all.
My husband and I are well aware we don’t have many years left, so we’re making the most of them. I keep telling him I want to go first, but it helps to know blogging and making my little drawings for Flickr should still be there if my plan doesn’t work. I would also get a pet from the local shelter or else foster some animals. Are you considering getting a dog? You mentioned once you would like one.
Anyway, thank you for enriching my life.
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:21
Jean, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. As usual they are incisive and inspiring me with ideas to blog about.
I would very much like to keep a dog but, hesitate to, because I do not have the physical capability to give it the attention that it will deserve. I have enough strays in the locality who are delighted to have me in their lives and that is enough.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 03:33 |
More on losing a spouse…my daughter brought up the subject a couple of weeks ago. If something happens to Andy first she would want me to move closer to her. I told her I wouldn’t make any major decisions/moves for at least a year. I’ve heard that’s a good number and it makes sense to me. I had trouble eating for over six months when my mother died, and I know I would need a long period of time to regain my equilibrium if I lose Andy. And that’s all right, we need to honor the process of change.
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:19
That is interesting. I am in the middle of drafting another post on the dynamics of being single, when I shall share my experience. We all have to find ways to handle that experience in our own ways.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 04:09 |
Ramana,
I wish I could hug you right now!
Thanks for the sweet words and sharing with me all your thoughts and passions and all that is your life.
Namaste,
Diane
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:17
Who knows Diane? The Man up there works in mysterious ways. You may yet get an opportunity to.
Namaste.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 05:07 |
I came across your site via Neil and Jim.
This was such a beautiful post that it moved me to tears.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 11:02 |
I very much appreciate the interaction too.
Looney´s last blog ..
Rummuser Reply:
June 22nd, 2009 at 19:10
Come more often and interact. Your insights are rather unusual here. For that reason, they are very welcome.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 19:16 |
Thanks for the visit. I have visited your blog too but could not find something to say on the subjects that you write about, without sounding presumptuous. Neil and Jim blog so much about Australia that I just visit and rarely comment. Do, keep dropping in. My blog is more eclectic as is most other visitors to this blog.
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 20:32 |
We exchange so many words, that sometimes it is best to keep it simple. Ramana – you’re the best and what a delightful journey this has become!
Conrad´s last blog ..Happy Father’s Day!
Rummuser Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 20:02
Thank you. You are no less. We have quite a nice MAC going there!
Monday, June 22nd 2009 at 22:29 |
Thank you and I admit, never did think of myself as a caterpilla
What I am trying to say is, I learn something new everyday visiting the blogs I do. Its been an absolute honour coming accross you and I know you still have a lot of wisdom to share with us!
Ashok´s last blog ..Everything is going to be alright?
Rummuser Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 20:00
No, you are no longer a caterpillar. You are a fully grown butterfly.
Ashok Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 23:37
Well I guess that gives me permission to look around for the lady butterflies
Thank you once again 
Ashok´s last blog ..16 to 60
Rummuser Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 21:17
There is a always the silver lining to every cloud!
Tuesday, June 30th 2009 at 04:19 |
Eclectic is good. I blog with two others, and we all have very different opinions, which keeps it interesting.
Funnily enough, while I'm happy to comment at my own blog, I'm rather shy about commenting at others. I only comment if I have something specific to say.
I loved your Father's Day post too. Great photo of the three generations.
Wednesday, July 1st 2009 at 20:34 |
Fair enough. Just do so once in a way!