Manhood continually creeps up on me. I don’t know that it will ever fully be there. I will always remain too young and wild at heart. Maybe this is best. Maybe manhood means settling down and slowly dying. I want to live forever.
For all my attempts, I can’t help but brood on the fact that at 26 I’m still a full year younger than my brother when he died. At 26 Dave was still brimming with life, often on the brink of a new adventure. This isn’t an uncomfortable thought, even though his death in many ways still remains uncomfortable, unpleasant. It’s simply something that inspires awe and, above all, humility. It grounds me whenever I think I’m the best thing since Jesus, which is often. Maybe manhood is good; maybe it means that it’s time to shed false notions of self-worth. To relinquish a lot of my needy narcissism.
Maybe it’s best not to think along the lines of manhood. Maybe it’s better to simply think along the lines of being, of living in the present. In this vein, I will create a new mission statement: a transformative message that will embody what I strive to be--and what matters.
MISSION STATEMENT: TO PURSUE MY PASSIONS AT ALL COSTS, DILIGENTLY AND WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, AND IGNORE THE THINGS THAT BORE ME; TO REMAIN TRUE, WHOLE AND LOYAL TO MYSELF AND NEVER FORGET THAT I AM A WALKING TEMPLE; TO LOVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS MY ENVIRONMENT; TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT, UNLESS IT’S UNMERITED, AND TO TREAT EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO ITS VALUE; TO NEVER FORGET THAT MATERIAL THINGS ARE JUST THAT: THINGS, AND WILL NEVER MAKE ME GROW AS A PERSON, ONLY ERODE LIKE SAND DUNES; TO NOURISH, NURTURE, AND FOSTER MY CHILDREN AND MY COMMUNITY; TO LEAVE WHAT I TOUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE I CAME; TO BE NOTHING OTHER THAN MICHAEL RIVERA SARMIENTO: AN INDIVIDUAL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, A MAN.
I hope that wasn’t too lofty or unrealistic, as are many of the mission statements falsely touted by companies and organizations. I hope it wasn’t too long-winded, because I like nothing more than simplicity.
I hope that whatever “manhood” is, this mission statement at least came close to it. If it didn’t, oh well. I’m more than happy remaining a child.
For all my attempts, I can’t help but brood on the fact that at 26 I’m still a full year younger than my brother when he died. At 26 Dave was still brimming with life, often on the brink of a new adventure. This isn’t an uncomfortable thought, even though his death in many ways still remains uncomfortable, unpleasant. It’s simply something that inspires awe and, above all, humility. It grounds me whenever I think I’m the best thing since Jesus, which is often. Maybe manhood is good; maybe it means that it’s time to shed false notions of self-worth. To relinquish a lot of my needy narcissism.
Maybe it’s best not to think along the lines of manhood. Maybe it’s better to simply think along the lines of being, of living in the present. In this vein, I will create a new mission statement: a transformative message that will embody what I strive to be--and what matters.
MISSION STATEMENT: TO PURSUE MY PASSIONS AT ALL COSTS, DILIGENTLY AND WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, AND IGNORE THE THINGS THAT BORE ME; TO REMAIN TRUE, WHOLE AND LOYAL TO MYSELF AND NEVER FORGET THAT I AM A WALKING TEMPLE; TO LOVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AS WELL AS MY ENVIRONMENT; TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT, UNLESS IT’S UNMERITED, AND TO TREAT EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO ITS VALUE; TO NEVER FORGET THAT MATERIAL THINGS ARE JUST THAT: THINGS, AND WILL NEVER MAKE ME GROW AS A PERSON, ONLY ERODE LIKE SAND DUNES; TO NOURISH, NURTURE, AND FOSTER MY CHILDREN AND MY COMMUNITY; TO LEAVE WHAT I TOUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE I CAME; TO BE NOTHING OTHER THAN MICHAEL RIVERA SARMIENTO: AN INDIVIDUAL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, A MAN.
I hope that wasn’t too lofty or unrealistic, as are many of the mission statements falsely touted by companies and organizations. I hope it wasn’t too long-winded, because I like nothing more than simplicity.
I hope that whatever “manhood” is, this mission statement at least came close to it. If it didn’t, oh well. I’m more than happy remaining a child.
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| Discussing life w/ Rene |
