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We all, and each, have opportunities;
the possibilities we have are to add to Life. That is my story of life, and I am sticking to it. LukeyoutheU contents podcast books Once upon a time, I took a modernist art class. My classmates and I heard from our esteemed instructor convincing, well-supported theories on the work of Pablo Picasso; I found out about, and wrote a paper on, Jean DuBuffet and his l'Hourloupe series; and otherwise learned a lot. Nothing that I learned had such importance to me than what was not explicitly taught, but necessary, when looking at modern art: we (you and I) can assign meaning, and thereby also no meaning, to perhaps everything, and anything, in our lives. In fact, we already and always do.
I have just told you a little story. It is a story offering you action, telling you about me, and announcing one of the most important things I have ever learned (that we all and each find/ give meaning to the events, circumstances, objects, situations, actions, things, and people in our lives). Like any story, the first half is reading/ hearing/ watching/ listening to it; the second is what you do with it. Are you accepting my story as fact, with curiosity, discounting it, deciding to consider it later? LukeyoutheU (and our lives, for that matter, if you choose to look at them this way) is a collection of stories. And some photographs I and some others have taken over the years. It is being presented to you (unless you are reading a printed version of this website) on a computer of some sort. Made available to you through the conversion of energy and the incredible ingenuity of many members of humankind. You are reading it using the physical capabilities you have; you, someone who is a continuing miracle, a complex of tissues, organs, and more. There, I have told you another story. Everything we say is, is a part of, a story. The story I have uppermost in my mind is this: that life, including my little, itty-bitty life, a life lived out near the edge of the western half of the North American continent, has meaning(s). It has meaning beyond getting up every day and working most; it is more than keeping myself fed, sheltered, and looking respectable. More than having pleasant and productive social interactions with others. Life has more meaning than my credit scores, money in the bank and in my wallet, debts paid and owed. Do not get me wrong: life is, my life is, all of these things. It is also more. The story I often tell myself, and that you may want to tell yourself, is this. We are not only an example of life but also an active part of Life. We may be, are, teeny-tiny parts, perhaps. But we Are; we are part of What Is. I am, you are, of the Great I Am. This awareness, this understanding, comes with many options. And not a little responsibility. If you want, you can click on the photo. If you do, you will find out about what the photo means—at least, what it means to me. Ok, so now comes the time for me to warn you: your life has the potential to be significantly opened and changed, your thoughts broadened and sometimes becoming weightier, if you continue in LukeyoutheU. Thanks for coming in at least this far. Jake Knight I have noticed that it is often the shouters, and the promisers of something new, and the repeaters, who get most people's attention. In LyU, I try not to shout. I offer useful repackaging more often than the brand spanking new. I aim to often enough reiterate, but not too often repeat. I am not trying to dazzle, inveigle, or hoodwink. I am trying to intrigue, encourage, and invite. Some notes, notes which can help you with this site. -If you are unsure about a word or phrase's meaning, look it up. You are likely on a computer that is connected to the internet. If not, find one; or look in a book called a dictionary. A richer vocabulary can help build for you a more creative mind. If you think I have used a word or phrase poorly or wrong, let me know. You can see how in the footer. -There are, quite possibly, parts of LyU that will not appeal to you. One or more of the podcast's series, or the topic of a book, for example. Great! I am telling you parts of my story. I am not telling you about, or predicting, yours. Now you know what you do not like. What not to consider further. There is likely still much available. -I ask you in LyU to think BIG but not only BIG. I ask you to be willing to think small. Medium. Even tiny. -You are a marvelous being, dear reader. Really, you are. You have a body, a mind, physical senses; an inkling that there is more to know, more ways to grow, that you have yet experienced. In addition to who you currently are, and what you have already given to the world, you are a being who can know, perhaps already knows, that you want to Live. We are players in, active characters in, inexorably part of, Life. The decisions you make, yes you, dear reader, you, even now, have an impact on, sometimes visibly determine, your future; the futures of those in your orbit; and, even, The Future. -LukeyoutheU is not a religious faith. It does, however, ask for faith: for you to have faith that you can be, and that it would be good for you to be, at least partially aware of your greater self. Your next step is yours to decide. Life awaits; it often seems/ does respond to decisions acted out (even if that decision is not to decide). There are options before you. more |