Another mark of depression’s weariness is me sitting in my journaling chair, penning these words into the Moleskine, rather than head out in my pj’s with my camera and search for an image of a stone sculpture in rare repose thanks to the early morning mist.
The magic will come again, I rationalize. Though no two mists are alike. No two days are alike. Or moments, despite my beloved’s depression telling her otherwise––that this emptiness will persist forever.
Today’s mist brings the reminder that the difference between important and essential is no small matter.
Essential is what we cannot live without. Important, no matter how desirable, rewarding, lusted after, even revered, we can. Fail to sharpen our feel for that distinction, and heartache may be a frequent visitor.
School can be important. Learning from our experience is essential.
Not using is important to recovery. A passion for becoming healthy is essential.
As we mature, the love of others can be important to our well-being. But essential to it is our choice to love.
Adding an image to my treasure chest is at best important. Freeing the pain of my heart is essential.
Somewhere I read: “Nothing I own is necessary.”
That could appropriately, if not easily, be expanded to include the warm bodies of everyone we will ever know. That part of us disappears, kicks the bucket, gives up its need for pockets––leaving only the essential: how our experience of one another has enriched our soul.
An undiscovered image is a small price for such revelation.
But wait, what do I see? (as Roy Orbison sings in Pretty Woman.)
Enough mist still lingers! Might it contain an image wondering if we have a date?
Lovely poetry.
Steve — you awakened in me several years ago now the ongoing quest of how to discern essential from important. I have been reading “Essentialism” from Greg McKeown recently who explores this same challenge from his business perspective. I find it a frustrating challenge day-to-day, but like all great challenges, it is one that I doubt I can ever set aside. Thanks for the thoughts and the gift of the question!