Some Final Thoughts for Now…

by Benjamin Jenks on May 3rd, 2010
12 CommentsComments

Linda, Jessie, Jess, Kate, Stephanie, and I take the plunge in Portland, Maine

Linda, Jessie, Jess, Kate, Stephanie, and I take the plunge in Portland, Maine

Hello friends,

So, it is Over….

But not really.

I am in Portland, Maine and am about to hitchhike back towards Michigan.

I am told that I should feel a sense of accomplishment.  I don’t feel that.  I am told I have seen and done things that most will never see or do.  I know this, but it doesn’t change how I feel now.

Right now, I just feel mildly melancholy.

I also feel an irresistible urge to deactivate my facebook account, close my computer, and stow away my camera.

So I am going to.  It is a little early.  I said I would write everyday for a year and I am few weeks shy.

I just don’t have anything else to say.  And I trust myself that it is best for me and everyone, to just shut up for awhile.

On second thought, here are a few things I picked up over the past year:

*People are not all good.  We are both.  All of us.

*A lot of people are really scared.  Me too, sometimes.

*When you live your dreams, it is not perfect.  You still get sad, angry, etc.  You just feel more alive.  More tingly and smiley. You start to understand what all those mysterious artists were talking about in their quotes.

*There is no end.  No chair to sit in and rest and feel like you will never have troubles again.

*It all matters and it all doesn’t.

*You can’t have anything you have ever dreamed.  But you can have more than you think.

*If you aren’t living how you want, you can change.  And please do.  It is hard to be in your presence.  If you don’t know how, there are people that will help.  Just ask.

*If you are living how you want.  Thank you.  You nourish me.

*Other people can teach you much.  But you have to learn for yourself.

*It feels better to be loving than to feel anything else.  You can feel loving more and if you don’t know how, keep asking people.  You will eventually find someone that can teach you.

*Life is so funny!!! Even when it hurts… actually, more funny, when it hurts.  If you are avoiding the hurt, you are really missing out.  Seriously.

*I miss being challenged and people telling me the truth.

I am sure I could come up with more, but you will be fine without it.

No, I have one more thing to say.

I love you.

Till I have something else to say,

Benjamin

Ps.  If this was a buzzkill for you, here is short poem I read recently that made me smile;

“Your life is your life

don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

be on the watch.

there are ways out.

there is light somewhere.

it may not be much light but it

beats the darkness.

be on the watch.

the gods will offer you

chances.

know them, take them.

you can’t beat death but

you can beat death

in life,

sometimes.

and the more often you

learn to do it,

the more light there will

be.

your life is your life,

know it while you have

it.

you are marvelous

the gods wait to delight

in

you.

See the poster here.  It is a beaut.

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  • Tim

    At first I was bummed that you said everybody should shut up because that would mean it would be counterproductive to comment, but then I thought about it for a sec.

    I’m thinking you meant to shut up from the world, not shut up vocally. And I totally get that.

    Thanks.


  • jenksben

    Thanks Tim. That is a mistake.

    I meant, “It is best for myself and everyone, if I do not say anything right now (or shut up as I put it, :) )”

    Say whatever you feel.


  • NICOLE MINUS EXCLAMATION

    no don’t go. don’t go, Ben!


  • Chapman

    Hey man, indeed, I understand you on the feelings.

    Can’t beat skinny dipping with five lovely ladies, though.

    And to add something of my own to the quotes, garnished from my (more and less successful) meanderings:

    “The more you see, the more you know you need to see.

    The more you know, the more you see you need to know.”

    Good on you – safe trip home.


  • Chapman

    ps. Keep the faith. Create (y)our world!

  • Thank you for everything. : ) Keeping up with your website has given me a little more faith in humanity. You have inspired me. You have no idea how glad I am to have met you. The motivation you have given me to continue my life and live to the fullest is one of the greatest gifts I was ever given.

    Thank you again. <3 You truly are an amazing person, Ben.


  • Michelle

    Ben what you have accomplished is living life and sharing it with others. What you just wrote here expresses the trueness of what each of us experience. Create Our World has allowerd people to relate with one another in a way they may never have imagined. Lives have been brightened, questioned, changed, surprised and most importanly have been shared with those who have listened to what you have to say.
    We have you to thank for sharing, asking, trusting, delving, reflecting, questioning, accepting and loving ALL of us who have crossed paths with you…thank you.


  • Michael Henderson

    I’m glad I got to meet you before you took a break. It was a pleasure having you as a guest in Mississippi. I hope to see you again, maybe when I’m out camping in the wild our paths will cross between excursions. “May the wind always be at your back, and the sun always upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.”


  • Chad

    Hello Benjamin, I just happened upon the card you handed me when you were in Portland, Maine. I was one of the guys dressed up as a super heroes at the comic shop you visited. Anyways, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed what you’ve done here. You’re an inspiration for those that keep putting there dreams aside. Kudos to you good sir. I hope you enjoyed the free comics we were handing out that day.


  • Roo

    Benjamin, Loved following along with you..also a fellow Michigander…Greenville. You have been so blessed to have traveled and meant so many. People as you say good and bad, but as you grow older, hopefully you will just feel the spirit of the good…and accept them just the way they are, they can’t help it, their human and sad for them to live in such ugliness to be a bad person. Now enjoy the rest of your life and adventures. Always be safe and will a good spirit.. Summer is MI is fabulous right now. Take care. Roo

  • Hi Benjamin,

    It was great metting you at the Hullabaloo concert a few days ago. Hope you made it to VA ok! That was a hell of a storm to travel through. I must say- your blog, life, thoughts… are beautifully human. I especially love your emphasis on being alive, which is only partly to do with happiness. I look forward to seeing how the “Create Our World” project can overlap with the “Small Infinity” project! Cheers to changing the world.

  • I just found your site…I also hitchhiked across the US from Seattle to Myrtle Beach SC back in July. I totally understand what you were saying about shutting out the world afterwards.

    Now i am heading to Europe to do the same thing. Maybe it will be different over there.

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