...Wish I was Tim

A lot of times we tend to lose track of how exactly did we meet some of these truly exceptional people in our lives for the first time ( now present and ex-lovers are the exceptions)

However, often times, we do remember what was it that really sealed the friendship. Whether it was a drunken stupor, a bet, a challenging time in life ... whatever have you.

In case of Tim, it was a strange text message - "Hey, is it your birthday today as well ?" After the shots at Blue Bird and long life discussion that followed, I knew we shared much more than the day we were born on. 

Anyways, it has been three years since. And I met with Tim at a deli in Chicago last weekend. 

Tim is one of the most smart, rational(ish), responsible, and what I like to call sorted out (and sought-after) guy. Identify the problem, draw up a plan, then stick to it. Be compassionate, polite, and have fun while at it - kind of a guy.  

This meeting was no different than previous ones, in that I shared my challenges, nostalgia, heartaches, and so on & Tim smiled, related to what I was saying, and shared a couple of insights. Like always, our time was brief and we walked up to the blue line. 

As it was time to leave, I said, "Everybody loves Tim. I wish I was Tim."

"I wish I was him too," he said, "In the meanwhile, why don't you be you, that I know you to be."

Neo

Friend Professor & Zen Master

Siddartha ( before he was Buddha, he was just a prince named Siddhartha), once left his palace for a ride in a his chariot one day and couldn’t return as a prince but returned as Buddha.

And Buddha had the answers. One of which was how to be happy.

Last weekend, I left for a gateway in my old Honda, hoping to find a few answers myself. And I met…

A Friend

“No matter how often and how sternly my conscious instructs my subconscious, it can’t help but wallow in the past. Perspective is muddled, and imagination only focuses on ‘what could have been?’ You think that makes me weak? Something must be wrong with me!”

And she said, “Take a step back here. Get out of your head and tell me, if I asked you the same darn question; what do you think you would say?”

“Now, tell me, do you know what I am going to say? Ask yourself, if you didn’t already know that.”

“It is a journey. You don’t get to pick who boards the bus. You can, though, choose who you seat next to or readjust to make place next to you for someone. Until then, look out the window. We are all on the bus. No one better than the other.”

A Professor

“….I want to be set in life! Friends, family, wife, baby, and all other good things. You know. Just like you.”

Professor takes a large gulp of his Vodka Tonic and first smiles and then laughs, “Hahah, I hear you. So you were part of a null experiment and you got a null result. That is the beauty, null result means nothing. Null result doesn’t prove or disprove anything, but I bet until you didn’t know the result, you had a ball experimenting.Didn't you ?”

“You know, good shit always comes with bad shit. I mean, comes with some price. And don’t get me wrong, I am grateful and more than happy to pay the price. Keeping looking for what you are looking for. Don’t over-emphasize what you don’t have, just don’t squander what you have in search of what you think is missing.”

The Zen Master

“I am successful despite myself. Go figure!

When I was younger this wasn’t the exact life I projected but this life has exceeded any and all expectations I had. Family and friends, a man can’t really ask for more. You keep trying and then you get lucky. I know I did!”

Neo