Of Graduations and Butterflies

I have been to several graduation ceremonies in the last few days. The speeches were heartfelt and touched on the themes so common to this rite of passage: following your dreams, reaching for the stars, remembering your roots. But my favorite quote of all came from the valedictorian of the high school who cited Joseph Campbell's "follow your bliss".

It seems like a simple concept at first and so similar to the other statements about goals for your life. But, I think that Campbell;s direction may be a bit more complicated. It may mean different things at different times in your life. As a young person it might inspire you to take a backpack and tour Europe or learn to make pottery. Now that I am older, it strikes me that "bliss" can sometimes encompass pain or difficulty. In pursuing your bliss you may have to give up some things of value. Bliss does not always come with regular hours or high pay. Pursuing your bliss may cause people to sometimes question your sanity.

Which brings me around again to The Open Book. The one thing I know for sure (as Oprah would say) is that the most important thing in my life is my family. But my "Bliss" is my love of books and the joy of sharing that love with others. I have done that through many years at the bookstore and more recently, as a librarian. It is the nerdiest bliss that you can imagine, really, but I feel a shot of pure joy when I connect someone with a book that I think will touch them.

This year we have moved and we are now faced with a fancy new store down the block. There are moments when my concern about location and sales and competition seem to take over. Then one of my customers who I have watched grow from a young kid to a man bound for college asks me to find a book that will touch his emotions. Another asks for a book that will change his life. A tired woman says to find her something that will make her laugh.....she justs wants to laugh a little. And my bliss calls to me. I lose myself in the hunt for that book that just might make one cry, another think and another chuckle out loud. Despite that fact that sometime it is not easy....I count myself lucky to do what I do.

A few years ago there was a new musical called "The Story of My Life". It was about a writer and a bookstore owner. One of the songs from that show is one that I think fits the theme of graduation and of following your bliss. If you have a few minutes, listen to this song sung by Will Chase and think of your bliss and the journey of the butterfly.