For years I’ve asked myself a question …

What is extra in my life?

As in not needed, superfluous, not within the core of who I am.  Hmm … It feels like I wrote about this a few days ago.  Oh well.  It sings to me today.

The question keeps returning.  So it must be important.  Some one is demanding that I keep looking.

The image that comes is skin cells flaking off.  Gradually losing the shape of a human being.  My body getting smaller … and my being getting larger.

What would my life be like if I dropped all sorts of stuff?  Such as …

1.  The question “How am I doing?” 

Today I start by not looking at my sleep app, not assessing the quality of my night time.  And also not checking my phone to see how many views of my blog post I got yesterday.

2.  Drinking beer

The result has become predictable  >  I feel nauseous and bloated.  Plus I don’t sleep well.

3.  Walking the streets with my head down

I miss so much doing this.  Such as the faces of everyone who passes by.   And the glorious rooves of ancient buildings.

4.  Watching TV shows with violence and shallow relationships

C’mon, Bruce!  What’s the purpose of that?

Oh … I just remembered the title of my recent post about all this: “Consolation”.  I won’t re-read it.

5.  Conversations in which we don’t share what’s important in our lives

Woh … that’s a lot of extra talk!  And does this mean that I’ll be silent with most human beings, because they want to stay on the surface?

6.  Watching CNN for the latest Trump news

This is political porn, looking for the latest outrageous thing said or done.  No.

***

Of course this discussion invites another question:

What’s left?

And the answer comes:

A lot