Metamorphōseōn

I was a lucky one. I was able to escape. Somewhere along the dizzying and long train track of life I got derailed. For a man there are a dozen ways this sort of thing can happen from chasing skirts to chasing the corporate carrot, from chasing ego to chasing efficiency. I was young, the hormonal blinders were on and when I stopped after a couple of decades (and a couple of train-wrecks) to take a look around I found I was lost. I was far from the person I needed to be. The biggest trouble is – I sat derailed for a big part of my life. But, I've learned that this was part of the process.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Photo by Hectonichus, 2009

If you're really lucky you'll have a core - a solid sliver of you that you'll recognize as having always been there. For me that core has always been fly fishing in all of it's inspiring manifestations. It didn't take a lot of life re-imagining to figure it out. There has been a lot of play to personal re-invention these days and it's appealing on many levels. Many want and have good cause to start over. Empty nester's, retirees, those with chronic health issues all have a drive to drop the past and go deliberately forward. But, I'm not talking just moving the furniture around. I'm talking transformation – and utter new beginnings.

One thing I've learned though - to truly start over means one must erase 95% of your past. That's right – obliterate it, sell it, throw it out. Photos, furniture, memorials of all kinds that hold you down, and caustic people, have to go away. Sometimes it's a hard thing to do but it has to be done. Does a Monarch remember it was once a caterpillar? That last 5% will be your sliver – your seed of a new beginning – and the very best of friends, memories and values you hold dear.

Henry David Thoreau said, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation." Living in quiet desperation is not living. Begin again. – WES:::

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The following is from A Deliberate Life, a fly-fishing film by SILO4, RockHouse Motion

"It's easy to lose sight of what's important – family, health, passions, pastimes – you pick your head up and suddenly you realize twenty years of your life has simply passed you by. It's easy to get swallowed up and just keep giving more and more of your blood, sweat and tears in return for less, and less happiness. The truth is, no one owes you happiness. It's up to you to find it. To be deliberate about your priorities and how you live your life. It's not easy. You've got to fight for it. But you have to fight to make a living anyhow. If you're in corporate America, if you're in the trades, self-employed, un-employed...it doesn't matter. You have to fight. So, why wouldn't you fight for what you're passionate about? - family, friends, faith, happiness – for what's really important?"