Dispatch Number 42 -A Lifetime

It takes a lifetime for
a man to find himself
a lifetime of music, love, food, travel
a lifetime to begin to know himself

It takes a lifetime to drive every car
to listen to all the music
to learn to love, whether with one or many
it takes a lifetime

to meet all the people
to travel and see the people
to read books you think are the ones for you

we spend half our lifetimes trying to learn how to live
and the other half learning what a joke the first half is when lived that way
it takes a lifetime
for a man to find himself

a lifetime of great coffees and wines
if you are in the wrong town it takes a lifetime to find a good meal
it takes a lifetime to make all those plans and goals
and a lifetime to watch most of them float by like leaves on a slow moving river
it takes a lifetime

we may have a lifetime, but this is the only moment we really possess
no future, no past
it takes a lifetime
for a man to find himself

it takes a lifetime to understand surrender
it takes 1/2 a lifetime to understand what truth can do for you
it takes a lifetime for a man to find himself

a lifetime to learn not to hold your mistakes against yourself
and a lifetime not to hold them against others
it takes a lifetime to see a reflection of yourself
and a lifetime to be comfortable with what you see

it takes a lifetime to see how fast we learn and a lifetime
to see how slow we can learn
it takes a lifetime to establish a routine
and a lifetime to realize we are at our most vibrant when that routine is broken

It takes a lifetime for a man to find himself

David

Uvita, Costa Rica

Dispatch Number 41 -6 More Years

It takes 6 years to

forget about something bad that has happened to you
learn how to fish and still catch nothing
understand you were never guaranteed to live the last 6 years
learn you can't drink like you used to

It takes 6 years

change a habit
think you have turned a corner, only to discover it was a circle
become a doctor
stop attracting the same lovers

It takes 6 years

notice your vision grow weaker
recognize a pattern
understand what really pleases you
let the pain go

It takes 6 years

realize you have ignored the signs over and over
save enough money to buy a house
learn to live without a 'to-do list'
know what you want in another person
order something new at a Chinese restaurant

It takes 6 years

accept that 1-ply toilet tissue has no place in your life
walk on the other side of the street
realize the difference between drinking buddies and friends
find new love
realize family is important to you

It takes 6 years

forget
finally do something you wanted to do
understand you cannot control things outside yourself
forgive

It takes 6 years

realize your favorite bar actually smells of urine and disappointment
learn how to say 'no'
understand money makes people cautious
realize a chiropractor has something to offer
learn one of your parents doesn't really accept you

It takes 6 years

realize the only people who know about mercy are the ones who need it
walk across a bridge
realize you are disappointed
branch out and find a new author

It takes just 6 years

realize most of your friends don't give a shit
understand something is an illusion
recognize you continue to live in an illusion
let go of something

It takes 6 more years

David

Uvita, Costa Rica

Dispatch Number 40 -6 Years

6 Years

It takes 6 years to
know for certain you have turned a corner
watch leaves turn to flame just 6 times
realize you are with the wrong person
see how little your life has evolved

It takes 6 years

experience so much pain and suffering that you finally change something
get a university degree
watch a girl become a woman
notice a new car turn old
watch a boy become a man
notice you climb mountains slower

It takes 6 years

watch a dog live half its life
acknowledge you are lonely
learn to eat well
realize you are a calmer person
forget the dreams you once had

It takes 6 years

notice your vision grow weaker
know you are not leading the life you want to
find a perfect couch
save money you will never spend
know it is time to move out
realize all this today is your life

It takes 6 years

cross a river
watch a friend go under
realize you won't take it anymore
tell a parent something difficult
realize a routine does not always serve you well

It takes 6 years

realize you will be with her for the rest of your life
know who your friends really are
let your frustrations and anger become sickness
realize you were hurt
understand you cannot be with her for the rest of your life

It takes 6 years

know a charade isn't one anymore
understand santa clause isn't
wake up 2,190 times and have changed nothing

It takes 6 years

David

Uvita, Costa Rica

Dispatch Number 39 -26 Seconds

It takes 26-seconds
to cross a street
to let a phone ring 4 times
to count to 40
to run from a fight


It takes 26-seconds
to stare at a wall without thinking of someone
to stop listening to someone else
to know you'll marry her
to learn how white your teeth could be


It takes 26-seconds
to stare at someone without words before you get uncomfortable
to speak before being asked
to decide whether you like a new town or not


It takes 26-seconds

David
Uvita, Costa Rica