Absorbing others' energy along the way
Mark Pavilons

Lately, when I meet some interesting souls, I nonchalantly slip in some philosophical questions, to see what they've learned along their unique journey in life.

You see, my job is unlike most others. Much of it mechanical - writing, editing and physically laying out the paper. Another big part is mental and emotional. Interviewing people is like offering them palatable truth serum, to extract tidbits of knowledge, information, wisdom and truth. Only it's in the guise of journalism, and in the form of a story, told through the pages of the newspaper.

Instead of attending selfhelp seminars and workshops on how to buy and sell real estate, I firmly believe the answers are closer than we all think. We're surrounded by countless souls who have experienced much on this Earth. Why not learn from them; enjoy their stories; and file their knowledge in our own personal libraries?

We learn by doing. We also learn by watching and listening intently - seemingly lost arts by today's standards. In some cases, you actually have to grab the cat by the tail to learn that particular lesson. Where people are involved, you can learn from the successes and failures of others. Triumphs, trials and tribulations offer a ton of useful information for keen observers.

Greatness is not so much linked directly to accomplishment, but includes qualities within those special people themselves. They're not omnipotent by design. They likely rise above others by absorbing the most out of every person they meet and from every situation they find themselves in.

And you don't need a library of DVDs or a fancy books to accomplish this form of low-level nirvana.

Are we who we are by education, work experience or lineage? Or are we products of our environment, and those who've helped guide us along the way? There's a lot to be said for solid parental role models, mentors, inspirational teachers, and craftspeople willing to share their skills.

Generations ago, sitting on grandpa's knee and getting life's lessons was the only way to learn. Wagging fingers, absolute truths and old-wive's tales provided everything one needed to know before venturing out into the cruel world.

But don't for one minute discount tales told by seniors - anecdotes, work ethic or even war stories. These contain the very heart and soul of our human history - something you simply can't read about in text books or hear on TV talk shows.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to know my grandparents. Sad. That's an entire generation of lost ideals, dreams, attitudes, ethics and qualities. And, my own eager beavers missed out walking hand-in-hand with my nature-loving dad. Stories lost for all eternity.

Fortunately for my younglings, they've enjoyed the close company of three grandparents who not only cherish them, but find their inquisitive natures quite appealing. Feeding off the "newness" of children is both intoxicating and quite invigorating. Alas, even the Dalai Lama won't ever revel in the emotional turmoil that is parenthood.

While we can't physically absorb or share spiritual energy, we can feed off one another's strengths and unique abilities. People from different cultural backgrounds and walks of life can gather at the coffee shop, share a joke or discuss their favourite movie. We can all sit and talk politics, argue about economics or just enjoy one another.

While I'm by no means a modern philosopher, I have learned that most of us put

on one sock at a time. We may enjoy different toppings on our pizzas, but most of us enjoy the sounds of waves pounding a beach, the feel of wind at our backs and the sight of countless stars on a clear night.

I may not know how to play the violin or build a canoe by hand, but I admire those who do. I may not have made a million dollars, but I respect the gusto of a businessman who's niche appears to be politics, or an HR executive who's found passion in volunteering. From the community-minded book store owner to the convenience store clerk, I can feel their enthusiasm.

And I'm happy to have met them, and be improved by the experience.

While we may sometimes feel isolated, maybe we weren't created to simply "go it alone." Perhaps, we're meant to gain insights from one another and rejoice in brotherhood. A similar message, delivered by a rather famous carpenter some 2,000 years ago, may have been that simple.

Energy, according to physicists, can't be destroyed. So let's all use what we have and keep the human embers burning bright!