Truth Mountain

"Truth is an icy mountain that must be climbed anew everyday."

-- John Fowles

Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Why do I write these short e-pistles to myself on an almost a daily basis? Because I forget. I forget all about the simple truths that I expound upon here, and I awake in the morning worrying about finances, or bitching about the weather, or ruminating about some crazy ass shit that has nothing to do with me, instead of being present, loving and strong.

It would be great if we could learn something once and then live it forever. But that's not how it works, at least not with anyone I know. Instead, each day we're slipping and sliding all over Truth Mountain, like some sick Disney one-person show, Sisyphus on Ice. Just when I think I've finally reached the pinnacle of truth, I find myself making really, stupid, unenlightened decisions again, sliding right back down to base camp.

And so it goes. Each day a new climb. And so I write myself reminders over and over again -- be here now, all you need is love, this too shall pass -- fortune cookie wisdom whose triteness does not diminish its truth. Certain themes emerge, and my challenge is to speak those perennial truths in new ways, ways that nudge me or jar me or give me a mini-satori, a lightning bolt across the dark sky of my mind.

And then I go on about my day. Forgetting, remembering, forgetting again. Slipping and sliding all over Truth Mountain. Climbing through familiar terrain, and yet, each day is new. Might as well smile. What else is there to do?