Thursday, August 25, 2011

Thursday rambling

The Dalai Lama when asked "What surprises you most?"
"Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived."

 I love that quote and it touches a nerve with me. I'm pretty damn poor by most standards... sometimes earning below the "poverty line". I would guess my average annual income over the last 10 years falls in the $8000 range.  But I have never felt that money made a man rich. I see guys earning 20 times more than me but living 20 times less than me. And in the end isn't living IT?

 I spent the day fishing on Walker Ranch (case in point). They were biting early (I was up at 3:00am with my typical insomnia) but I didn't set the hook well enough on the biggest fish of the day and he got away. Ya ya ya... fish story. Fly fishing on a river is crazy hard, very much like stalking prey. I love it.

 Tomorrow it's up to a cabin on the Frying Pan River for 4 days to celebrate my 40th birthday. I plan to fish (the river is 30ft from the cabin) with my boys and decompress which I've already been doing. When I decompress I go flat. Exercise is a distant memory to me right now. But I did catch myself this morning mapping out the Leadman calendar and starting points for the various training focuses. Leadman is most likely going to happen.

 I can already feel that this break isn't going to last long. I'll be back exercising sooner than later.

 Word.


12 comments:

Dave said...

Amen brother. I've never read/heard that quote before, but it's instantly my favorite. Money doesn't make the man, and living ain't living until you do it. I love listening to the stories really old people have to tell about where they've been and what they've done. It always amazes me how one body can do so much in a lifetime. It's tragic when we don't use it for all it's worth.

Early happy birthday man! Enjoy it!

Lucho said...

Nice comment Dave... I think you and I are kind of on the same page? Live life... don't spend it working so you can live it later.
And my birthday is today :)
Thanks again. Any chance you'll be at Leadville next year?

Wassdoc said...

Happy birthday, and thanks for the quote. I've been very contemplative myself lately. You have always been a constant reminder to me of what's important in life. Enjoy the time with your boys, you and they will always remember these experiences. Do what you love, love what you do, and share yourself with those you love. Keep inspiring us and don't sweat those who don't get it:)

Dave said...

Same page for sure! Live! I'm seriously considering Leadville next year, but if all goes well I'll be out there WAY before-still looking to relocate out there sooner than later!

BRFOOT said...

Happy birthday Lucho!
I tell you that quote is one of the reasons I would choose Buddism if I had to pick a religion. It's so easy to get suffocated by your quest to acquire stuff that you neither enjoy the quest nor the stuff.
Hope you caught some fish, nothing quite like fishing with your son/son's.

Ward said...

I can really relate a bit more with you now that I've been out of work for 4 months now. I'm spending more time with my kids and I'm running when I want to, not when time allows me to. I wish his could be the case all the time, but eventually I'll be back to the grind again. But I'm not looking forward to it.

BRAGUÍA 1147.Entrenamientos said...

happy birthday from Spain?

Wyatt Hornsby said...

Happy birthday, Lucho!

The quote is very profound.

I make a good living and sometimes, when I stuck on I-25 in my car (coffin), I wonder if it's all worth it. If we made half as much we could still provide for the little guy but maybe live a little more? Who needs a big-ass house in the 'burbs when a cabin the mountains will suffice. When I start to buy into that dream I realize it's hard taking that step when what you have is "comfortable," though suffocating at times.

I often wish I could quite my f'ing job and become a mailman. How cool would it be to walk a route every day? Or maybe I could drive a delivery truck. Unfortunately, the USPS is gonna be out of business soon and I hate driving for long periods of time....

What I really need is a sponsor to finance my life and make running my job. Or I could just write a book and hope it's a best seller.

Wyatt

Brad Poppele said...

Great quote and so true!
Happy 40th Birthday!!!

Lucho said...

Thanks guys!

Jennifer Cunnane said...

Happy birthday!! Enjoy fishing the frying Pan river with your boys- it's beauty is unparalleled!!

mike_hinterberg said...

Great quote and sentiments. I quartered my income by leaving a cubicle and going back to school, and quality of life hasn't been affected. At all. Anybody with health and family/friends is doing great; and should those fail, money wouldn't matter anyway.
Happy 40th!