Living a long life causes one to reflect on many things that have shaped one’s life and perhaps even causes one to give one’s own life a “life theme.” Thinking about such things I realized that there is one thing that I could consider to be my life’s “theme.” Of all the things I have learned over the years (and there are many), I would say the most important thing, the one thing that has made my life what it is (a great, wonderful life) is the realization that I have always held to the strong, lifesaving, lifegiving total belief that “NO ONE can tell me what I cannot do!” Don’t you ever try to tell me what I cannot do, don’t you ever try to manipulate and control me, make me conform to some artificial standard that some particular group says is a mandatory requirement in life.
Early life (childhood) was difficult for me in many way, as it probably was for many people. At that stage of life, we don’t know much of anything, and we are being trained to be a good child (if we are living in a decent family). And that is great. We have to be brought up and trained in good, decent behavior. Yes, I’m all for that. And I was brought up in a decent manner. But as we go along and begin growing, things happen that we can perceive as good or perhaps not so good. I would say my basic childhood was good but of course there were times and periods when things could be rough in the family situation.
Oh, well, going along in childhood, there came a time when my parents took me on a trip from California to Florida which involved my first encounter with the experience of flying in an airplane, around the age of six or so. As soon as we were airborne, I had the thought (expressed in previous blogs, I know), wow, I am flying in the air. When I grow up I want to be a pilot. I turned to my father sitting next to me and told him and immediately he told me no, that is not going to happen.
Then I have mentioned previously how my high school counselor (ironically named Mrs. Hope) told me I could not take the English Literature class many of my friends were going to take and told me I could not take the class because it was only for students who were “college material,” and I certainly was not college material. Well, eventually I got her to allow me to take the class.
Then, one thing after another in the coming years continued this type of experience for me. People telling me what I can and cannot do according to their way of thinking. “You can do this, you should do this, but you cannot do that, do not do that! But I did not listen to such stupid advice, as I saw it. I went to college even though I had no real plans to until I was told I was too stupid to do that. I did get my many pilot licenses, commercial pilot license and flight instructor/instrument flight instructor certificates, advanced ground instructor certificate. I got employment with an airline, but even then I had to fight for that job. I was hired but before I started working I received a call from the woman who hired me saying she changed her mind about having hired me. She said I was overqualified for the job available since I was a college graduate. You see, the job available was for a “kitchen helper” in the flight kitchen where they prepared the meals for their flights. Once again, I had to fight aggressively to let her hire me in that position as I insisted I wanted to get in the airline business and didn’t mind “working my way up” from a low position. And yes, it was a low position. I actually started out as a “dishwasher” in the flight kitchen on the graveyard shift.
Well, over time I did make my way up to better positions in the airline. After six months I got my first airline free pass and took a trip literally around the world. I cannot tell you how that impacted my life at age twenty-six. I continued my airline career for thirty-three years. A wonderful work life. A dream come true.
Well, such things continued to happen during my life. I had dreams, desires, and I pursued them. I had an interest in religion and spirituality and I pursued those interests. I went to graduate school (theological seminary). I’ve gotten two ordinations and have done some preaching over the years. And yet, I still had the theme in my life that “you do not tell me what to do, what to believe, how to play by your rules.” I can think for myself and make decisions for myself, thank you very much.
Living this way has saved my life. Given me the life of my dreams. I cannot imagine living any other way. It would not have worked out. It would have been a miserable life. I do what I know I must do. There is a Spirit guiding me, of that I am sure.
Wally