Death, Laughing
Martin had many dreams. To be a singer-songwriter. To write a children’s book. To make a film. As it was, he had gotten married, had three children, and worked in the world of tech. Somehow, he got to be thirty-five, without really noticing.
He kept himself very busy, without a moment to waste. Sometimes he would catch himself thinking, “That could be a song!” or “I could make a small film about that!” But each time he entertained such a thought, he would hear himself murmur, “I’m not ready for this.” And so, the moment would pass.
He hadn’t many friends, because he was too busy for friends and, besides, that wasn’t something he needed. But he did meet one fellow for the occasional coffee and, over the years, he would tell this fellow, Abraham, about his passing dreams. Each time, Abraham would encourage him.
“Martin, go for it!” Abraham would cry.
“Ah, Abraham, I’m just not ready,” Martin would reply, shaking his head.
His thirties passed into his forties and his forties passed into his fifties. He started to have some chronic health complaints, at first minor, then rather more serious. By then, his children had left the house and were scattered across the world. His wife was herself very busy, and they passed like ships in the night.
Work hours became even longer. Indeed, his weeks were filled with nothing but work. And, at some point, he stopped hearing himself say, “This could be a song” or “This could be a story” or “This could be a film.” Sometimes he did happen to notice a bitter taste in his mouth, a taste that he couldn’t quite identify. But that would pass, as one work called ended and the next call began.
Around the time of his sixtieth birthday, several random events brought back the idea of making a small film. He had gotten involved with a nonprofit that supported orphanages, it came up that it would be lovely if someone created a small fundraising video of a particular sort, Martin casually mentioned that he had always wanted to make films, and, as it happens so often in life, it came to pass that Martin agreed to make a video for the nonprofit.
This excited Martin greatly and, for the first time in his life, he heard himself exclaim, “I’m ready for this!”
Death, laughing, heard him, and took him away.
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Eric Maisel is an internationally-respected diplomat coach who specializes in creativity coaching, existential wellness coaching, and relationship coaching. He trains coaches and provides workshops and webinars nationally and internationally.
Dr. Maisel is the author of 50+ books, writes the “Rethinking Mental Health” blog for Psychology Today (with 3.5 million views), blogs for The Good Men Project and Fine Art America, serves as lead editor for the Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry series, and is co-founder of Purposely, the life navigation app.
Dr. Maisel’s books include Fearless Creating, Rethinking Depression, Coaching the Artist Within, The Van Gogh Blues, The Power of Daily Practice, Redesign Your Mind, and scores of other titles. He has been published by Penguin Random House, McGraw Hill, Rodale, Harper San Francisco, Shambhala, New World Library, and Conari/Mango, among many others.
Dr. Maisel has created three certificate programs with Noble-Manhattan Coaching, a Creativity Coach Certificate and Diploma Program, an Existential Wellness Coach Certificate Program, and a Certified Relationship Coach program. With Lynda Monk of the International Association for Journal Writing, Dr. Maisel has created an Art of Journal Coaching Self-Study Plus program.
Dr. Maisel’s most recent books are Why Smart, Creative and Highly Sensitive People Hurt (2023), Affirmations for Self-Love (with Lynda Monk, 2024), Parents Who Bully (2024), and Choose Your Life Purposes (2024). Dr. Maisel lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and maintains a thriving international coaching practice.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
