My dream job…

A short post on On Being left me feeling inspired and reflective.  It was titled “An Antidote for Longing”. Here. The title alone, perfect.  I love Maia Terrell’s exploring the paradox of “a deep sense of connection and disconnection all at once”.

The On Being post was mostly Maia’s reflection on being a wanderer, and a video of the song Maia said helps her when she is feeling “farsickness (not homesickness)” while currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota instead of her home country Australia, or the many other places she’s lived.

But it wasn’t just the article; it was her “bio”.

“… a documentary filmmaker… postgraduate degree in decision neuroscience because she is also very curious about brains. Maia loves to walk & talk, binge-listen to podcasts, freestyle dance, eat cookies, and drink tea…”

How is it that I had never even considered the possibility of becoming a decision neuroscientist?

Also, I very much liked balancing something so science-y with “walk and talk”, “binge-listen to podcasts”, “freestyle dance”, “eat cookies”, and “drink tea”.  I bet Neil deGrasse Tyson is a balanced scientist like that too.

Maia actually works as a producer! at On Being!  I think that might be my dream job.

I wonder if my current resume would work? Let’s see.

*Retired nurse with newly-renewed RN license.

*Broadcaster at Radio Havana Cuba in ’73-’74.

*Lapsed (but not self-hating) Jew.

*Semi-lapsed Buddhist (only-don’t-know).

*Initiator and facilitator of women’s groups.

*Occasional poet.

*Blogger.

*Binge-watcher of “cozies” (British TV murder mysteries) on Netflix.

*Follower of On Being and Brain Pickings.

*Also I LOVE to walk and talk, binge-listen to podcasts, freestyle dance, eat really yummy healthy food, and drink tea. (ok. I really love to eat really yummy NOT healthy food but I try really hard not to).

I wonder/worry about the difference between my resume and an on-line dating profile.

I was at a dinnertime conversation recently where everyone was discussing the latest, greatest TV programs.  I had nothing to contribute to the conversation.

I want to start a new group. Each meeting, we’d listen to a podcast or read aloud a short article from either Brain Pickings or On Being. Then we’d discuss it, or do a free-write and read aloud.  I have an on-going longing to be part of an on-going meaningful conversation, not just read them/listen to them by myself.

All the sights and sounds and treasures of every place and country we have ever been in mean nothing next to this question that David Whyte poses in his poem “Self-Portrait”, here,  “I want to know if you belong or feel abandoned”.

We’re all finding our way.  I venture to say, most of us have varying degrees of “farsickness” whether that involves being far away from beloved place and/or loved ones, or being any-distance away from connection with one’s own true self and deepest longing. I find, in a society of lapsed-community and division like ours, it’s an endless quest to stay connected to others and my true self.  Check out this stunning photo series of another way we humans are now challenged. Being so near, and yet so far.

Summing myself up was never my forte. I might need help re-writing my resume. I mean, if you think I should. You know to apply for my dream job at On Being.

xo,

Gayle