Repair or make do?

Repair or make do? Now there’s a question. Making do I guess is fine if your life’s journey is smooth but what about ambition? Is ambition a good thing do you think, this striving for goals, the posts being moved every time you blast a ball into the net? Surely this thing called ambition, if the former is your reality, then becomes a treadmill?

Making do, it’s easier I think, accept your lot, take pleasure in the comfort of knowing that what you have is enough. My dad was accepting, or at least that’s my perception of him. I wonder if he was happy? He seemed content. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of his book and just be content. Ah, see that struck a chord, I’ve felt contentment, it’s a lovely feeling, like floating on a cloud, the million little ants of anxiety sent to sleep and I can bask in the glorious feeling of still waters, of utter calm, the tranquility, the peace, such a truly beautiful sensation.

Repairing, it’s the opposite feeling, for me anyway. Such effort, such activity! Those pesky ants making their presence felt. Repairing propels you forward and suddenly the goal posts are there, the empty net sitting waiting to catch that ball of energy. Gosh this thing called ambition though, the very word makes me feel exhausted! This world we live in, although, it’s not the world but the society, the culture of striving! It seems for most of us it’s not even striving to buy the latest possession but more the need for survival, to pay the rent or put food on the table! The unnerving sensation that nothing is safe, no stability! You need money to create stability, not just money of course but there’s no doubt that money certainly helps.

We can’t just be can we? The moment you are born the competition starts ambitions are born along with that little human. The ambitions don’t yet belong to that newly born, not yet! The ambitions belong to the parents but whose placed that ambition, whose put it there and is it welcome? Has it come from you or from outsiders…’Is little Freddie feeding himself yet, is he walking, is he ready for pre-school? You can’t just be the proud mummy holding her wee tot, love filling every ounce of your being, tending and caring. Little Freddie not yet born and you’re having to think about whether you should go back to work, having to think about child care! I get that for some going back to work would be of great importance, for me though, there is nothing more precious than spending time with your child, of being a family, of creating a home! As I write this I’m thinking this could be an ambition but the culture we live in doesn’t recognise the value of family life. Do you think?

Repair? Make do? Ambition? Just be? Which one floats your boat?