An existential hypothetical

Imagine if you will, that you spent your energy and effort building a life and then in a wave it was wiped out.  Or a series of waves.  Then you decide you are a phoenix.  You start all over again, with only the bare materials inside yourself.  You work hard and you build a good life, a satisfying life.  You grow, you change, you learn to roll with the punches.

Once you get on your feet, you start making plans and setting goals.  In a truly linear fashion, you pursue step by step those milestones you know you must accomplish on your way to the overarching goal.  And while you are at it, you develop little habits and patterns.  They're comforting, you sleep next to them, wake up to them each morning, and cherish them each day.  You know where you're going and even though you may not be making all the progress you'd like, you at least know you are on a path.

Then imagine in you will, that you wake up one morning, out of the blue, and realize none of it matters.  All of your carefully laid plans and your lofty ideas are merely the sprig of parsley garnishing a plate you realize has so much more to offer than garnish.  What if everything you thought you wanted is turned on its head?  You have a rough idea, but not really a clue about what to do or think or believe.

What then?  At what point will the stunned stupor turn into action or consequence?  When you've just determined nothing in your life matters as much as you thought it did, where do you go next?  And how do you chase something if you are not even sure it really exists?

Click on the post title to listen to "Defying Gravity" from Glee!