Dearest Readers,
Do you remember the scene from Pulp Fiction where Jules, the thug character played by Samuel L. Jackson tells Vincent, the John Travolta character, that he is quitting “the life” ? When Vincent asks Jules what he’s going to do instead, Jules says, “I’m going to walk the earth…. walk from place to place, meet people, get in adventures.”
Vincent isn’t having any of it and tells Jules he’s going to end up a bum but Jules is determined and full of faith. It’s a great little scene, watch it here (language warning!!) on YouTube.
For some reason this line has stayed with me all these years (that film came out in 1994 if you can believe it — 16 years ago) and lately I’ve been saying it to people when they ask me why I’m going traveling for so long. Not entirely facetiously I answer, “Basically I’m just going to walk the earth.”
During a session with my Spiritual Director a few weeks ago I was telling her the story of Jules and explaining that I’d started saying this to people for fun and yet really feeling that it was partly true. Though I have specific business in each place I’m going I also feel called to “walk the earth”. Wonderful SD that she is, she suggested we go deeper into this call.
We entered into meditation, just breathing and getting quiet, and by doing so I was able to really listen and connect with Inner Wisdom. From this place of Knowing I heard some sage advice.
“Don’t be afraid to meet people.”
Sounds simple enough, right? But it’s scarier than you think. How many of us find it difficult to talk to strangers? “People are strange when you’re a stranger. Faces look ugly when you’re alone…” Jim Morrison pretty much nailed it.
Hearing Guidance from Inner Wisdom, however, kinda means, for me anyway, that I gotta obey. So last night at a restaurant, when I overheard a few guys sitting at an adjacent table talking about filmmaking, I decided to speak up. It seemed like too big of a coincidence. I’m a filmmaker, I walk into some joint and the people sitting behind me are talking about Telefilm Canada and producing movies in this country? Seemed like a “walk the earth” moment to me.
I waited until they were leaving, passing me by, and jumped in.
“Are you guys filmmakers?”
“Ahhhh… yeah,” one of them said, looking rather like a deer caught in the headlights. (When you’re a stranger…)
“I am, too,” I said. We shared a brief exchange after that. They were friendly enough but the body language was “get out the door, dude.”
Immediately, I felt like a jerk. Why didn’t I start with a smoother intro? Something more formal and professional? Then I realized I was beating myself up for nothing. They were awkward, I was not. Why take it on? Time for some positive self-coaching.
“Good for you, Celia! You walked through your fear. It’s not about their reaction, it’s not about making a successful connection in the industry, it’s about cultivating courage while you walk the earth!”
Right. Better.
“Do not be afraid to meet people.”
Gulp. I’m working on it.
Inspiring Message of the Day: We’re all strangers walking the earth. When it comes time to meet a fellow stranger on the road and the fear comes up I will walk through it knowing Wisdom and Guidance dictate that I do not have to be afraid.
