I went to Austin this week for spring break with my best friends. We rode the bus the whole time while we were down there. The bus system was really convenient, inexpensive, and a good way to be eco-friendly. I wish the metroplex had a good transportation system of the sort; at least one that reached more places and was easily accessible. Anyways, thats not the point of this entry. On our second day there, we rode the bus down to Barton Springs (this is WAY before the hot british band got on the bus btw). There was a homeless man talking to the guy next to him and I just so happened to over hear him. He was one of those seemingly crazy dirty old homeless men that just talk and talk and talk.
He was being ignored, but I certainly was paying attention :
"You cant look back at your past and relive it. You can't rely on the future either because it's never certain. You have to live in the present. I live by the hour- that's the way to do it. That's the only way to live; any other way is bullshit."
I don't know why but Ol' Crazy sounded far wiser than the average homeless man. Part of me kind of envies him. I kind of wish I didn't have to set plans for the future and just live on my whims. Why should I keep setting these plans for myself that are basically being set to integrate myself in all these social institutions- what's the point?
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I'm way too chicken shit to live my life without plans-without a road map and some sort. So I guess i'll keep on truckin'; I'll keep trying to navigate myself through messy life.
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:) I like how I thought this was going to be a blog post recounting the adventures with british boys on boats and it turned into an insightful commentary on a homeless man.
I think it's good to have set plans and to be practical. If anything, it'll be a great back up plan. Better to be safe than sorry, you know? Because in the end, if we want to live more carelessly (or rather not carelessly, but less structured) we have the option to. Whereas if we start structureless and realize that it was a mistake, it would be harder to change our ways, you know?
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