After a wee blogcation the last few weeks Virginia is back today with musings of a reflective nature. (Warning: donning her Shakespeare festival shirt this morning may have unduly influenced this post.)

A few weeks ago I thought I needed a vacation.

“What kind of vacation?”  A vacation from ME!!

Blank.

Sometimes my mind draws up blank.

No deep, life-altering revelations or constellations of purpose-driven goals and dreams.

Just blank.

Nada.

But, nudge, nudge… give it a moment (or two or three.) Slowly a thought crystallizes in the exoteric regions of my interior universe.

To be, or not to be?

That is an existential question (Shakespeare, anyone?)

What to be (to me) is an apter question. And, how are we to be?

What and how are choices we make (daily, hourly, by the minute.)

In the cycle of divisiveness and denigration around us, I can choose to be ‘what’ for inclusiveness and affirmation by putting out ‘hows’ of love and hope to all I encounter (people and big challenges inclusive.)

Not to be preachy, but what and how are important components of the overall to be, or not to be question.

To be?

• JOY, when despair looms around the corners of our lives.

To be?

• PEACE, when pernicious conflicts permeate our surroundings.

To be?

• GRACE, when despotic interests dominate and denigrate others.

To be?

•  MERCY, where unforgiveness fuels batteries of hate & revenge.

To be?

• LOVE, where loneliness and apathy cripple hearts.

To be?

• ME, when others try to put me down or make me irrelevant.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question:

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Hamlet, Act III, Scene I

Dear God:   

To be who (and what and how) YOU want me to be (& do):

now, that is the question.

To be, all for You, in action – word, deed, and ME!

grace, peace & courageous beings (& doings)

Virginia : )

p.s. Last March while visiting Charlottesville, my brother & I had the opportunity to see a play performed by the American Shakespeare Company at the Blackfriar’s Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia. We also took an hour-long tour of the amazing facility, built as a replica of the original indoor playhouse where William Shakespeare’s company performed from 1608 until it burned down in the great fire of London in 1666. If you ever have a chance to visit the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (or C’ville that’s just 45 minutes away), be sure to check out this treasure — and make a booking to see a play!