A Talk with a Rock
Excerpt from Chapter 5
At this point, my buddy and I were cruising together, happily in our own worlds. It got a bit windier as we crested the shoulder of a ridgeline and walked upon the hard, granite surface. A series of boulders created a round cliff wall, almost like Mt. Rushmore. It felt ominous, yet comforting. The wind had strength, and in my hallucinogenic sway, I walked to the edge and carefully overlooked the roundness so I could lean into the wind and not fall down. Playing a game with nature, I tested both of us. It wasn’t windy enough to jump into the wind and get pushed back, nor was I high enough (in either sense), but a fall would do some damage. So I sat down, slid down the face of the boulder just a few feet, and settled into a semi prone, natural chair, where there was a depression the size of my ass. The wind pinned me against the boulder. My feet were dangling without a ledge below. It felt like sitting in a hard La-Z-Boy going 40 mph without roads to follow, and a dirt carpet 20 feet below.
Then the boulder spoke to me. Yes, it was the only time I had a conversation with a rock. Big day! The funky fungus must be kicking in. Haha. Most of my life I picked up small stones and pebbles, but that was an energetic lure to stay grounded. This time, there was a grumble, like I woke him or her from a catnap. It was a voice I thought would come from a god in any religion — a soft, low, and comforting, yet forceful and distinguished, male voice. I pictured a dark-brown, weathered face with a dark-grey beard, like Monkey Rock in Lake Tahoe. I realized, I was sitting on his forehead, just above his nose, his third eye chakra. It gave this experience so much meaning, it was a chakra alignment with nature. I felt a supremely comforting euphoria. I was pinned to the rock with horizontal wind force, looking out across the vast wilderness of the Sierra foothills of Northern California. If I climbed the 60-foot pine above me, I might have been able to see the peaks of Yosemite National Park.
I continued my grumbles. Most people should never get near the front door until they become their own best friend. But some of those people need to find themselves past their front door, in the real world, amongst society, through conversations and experiences. Strangers beware, strangers be good, approach strangers with confident caution. Learn about yourself somehow, someway. If you have organized papers on your desk, you can go about your day in comfort, since you know where things are. Adventuring out the front door is different, you cannot control the piles of papers.
My teenage philosophy was that I wouldn’t meet anyone, enjoy conversations, or experience much of life if I didn’t go outside. The Internet has changed that. It’s truly a great thing to spend time by yourself, get to know yourself, and slow down. Maybe not opening the door to chance and consequence every day, but once in a while would be a great internal education and could facilitate proper, personal growth. I did both. My decisions would become challenging and challenge myself daily. Since I couldn’t go on all trips, I would put on the stay-at-home coat. I had many days I didn’t want to go outside and explore anyway, so I would stay home to learn more about myself. I often didn’t leave my indoor train of thought or feelings due to exterior distractions from the outside world, past the front door — I felt much safer staying in.
I continue speaking to the rock. Some people don’t have much of their own time, and for those people I would write the most. I also respect what people do; because of what they do, others are able to do what they do. It is a chain linked by efforts. I could not get money from the bank if nobody secured the money in the ATM, or at the counter, or designed the ATM or online transactions. I could not buy a plane ticket if there was nobody to take my request, had not designed the e-commerce site, or transferred money over the phone. I could not get on a plane if nobody built it, fixed it, and loaded the goods on it. I would not get to my destination safely and contently if there was no one to fly the plane, serve my fortunate ass a drink, or build a landing strip. Grocery stores are even more complex. For those people I am very thankful. I drove a car to the mountians where people built the roads, my car and the gas station, and the gas was shipped from somewhere far. It requires countless people so I could take just one trip to another city and enjoy a meal.
I continued my grumbles. Most people should never get near the front door until they become their own best friend. But some of those people need to find themselves past their front door, in the real world, amongst society, through conversations and experiences. Strangers beware, strangers be good, approach strangers with confident caution. Learn about yourself somehow, someway. If you have organized papers on your desk, you can go about your day in comfort, since you know where things are. Adventuring out the front door is different, you cannot control the piles of papers.
My teenage philosophy was that I wouldn’t meet anyone, enjoy conversations, or experience much of life if I didn’t go outside. The Internet has changed that. It’s truly a great thing to spend time by yourself, get to know yourself, and slow down. Maybe not opening the door to chance and consequence every day, but once in a while would be a great internal education and could facilitate proper, personal growth. I did both. My decisions would become challenging and challenge myself daily. Since I couldn’t go on all trips, I would put on the stay-at-home coat. I had many days I didn’t want to go outside and explore anyway, so I would stay home to learn more about myself. I often didn’t leave my indoor train of thought or feelings due to exterior distractions from the outside world, past the front door — I felt much safer staying in.
I continue speaking to the rock. Some people don’t have much of their own time, and for those people I would write the most. I also respect what people do; because of what they do, others are able to do what they do. It is a chain linked by efforts. I could not get money from the bank if nobody secured the money in the ATM, or at the counter, or designed the ATM or online transactions. I could not buy a plane ticket if there was nobody to take my request, had not designed the e-commerce site, or transferred money over the phone. I could not get on a plane if nobody built it, fixed it, and loaded the goods on it. I would not get to my destination safely and contently if there was no one to fly the plane, serve my fortunate ass a drink, or build a landing strip. Grocery stores are even more complex. For those people I am very thankful. I drove a car to the mountains where people built the roads, my car and the gas station, and the gas was shipped from somewhere far. It requires countless people so I could take just one trip to another city and enjoy a meal. Grateful and blessed.
If I spoke to the boulder now I would say….
