One day, I met this young woman and her dog, living in a van that hadn’t been washed in years, with several components duck-taped in place. And she had the most AMAZING green mohawk. I mean it was like it had been drawn in a cartoon! Legendary. And here I was: conservatively dressed male in a suit and driving a shiny SUV with folding mirrors (that's a big deal to me). We couldn’t have been more different. I try to be friendly to everyone I meet, even if they're very different, often that kindness isn't reciprocated by some groups when you look like 'the man'. But on this particular day, it was. She was super friendly and happy to chat about the weather, her gorgeous dog and that amazing mohawk.
It made me think about decisions and how we often make them thinking ‘well, if this doesn’t work out, I can try something different’... but life is so short in this world, we only get a few chances to switch gears (if we get the chance at all).
For me, that has most often manifested itself in my work life. I figure, I can always find another job. What's weird is, I usually don't. When I find something that let's me live life on my terms, I tend to stick it out, even though it's sometimes awful, and the pay could have been better. I think it is that freedom to pursue personal passions that always kept me locked in.
I wonder about people like mohawk girl. Is she content with her life decisions? Choosing to maintain? Or is she locked in, like someone that gets a tattoo on their forehead? Some commitments are certainly more permanent than others. Some doors close and can’t be reopened. Still, I think I’ll stick with my boring haircut. #artofmiggy #berkeley #sketchbook #outlier #streepeople
At the end of all things, I want to have lived the best life I know how.