Paradise
A man sits down in front of his television set. It’s not just an ordinary day….it is Super Sunday. That’s right, it is the day of America’s favorite football game….the Superbowl. Now this is not just any Superbowl game, it just happens to include his favorite team of all time. He sits there anticipating the game with a beer in one hand and some KFC in the other. He thinks to himself……Paradise.
A woman on her touring bike finds herself on a quiet country road surrounded by beauty and nature. Horses galloping on her right, grapevines from a local winery on her right. Nothing but empty open road ahead. Her legs feel strong, her body providing the power, and her soul soaking up all that surrounds her. “I’m in Paradise” she says to herself.
A little boy comes home from school to spend the night with his Family. Now this may just be a regular routine for most kids, but for little Jimmy….it is the first time he has come home to a Family that loves him and treats him right. Jimmy had grown up in a broken home full of beatings, fighting, and destruction. He was fortunate enough to be taken out of that situation and adopted by a loving Family. As he arrives home, he can feel the love strike him immediately upon opening the door. He walks in to find his favorite meal waiting for him, about to enjoy it with his new Family that greets him with smiles and hellos. Jimmy had never imagined that life could be like this….that there really was a thing called Paradise.
Paradise is a tough word to explain, but I’ll guarantee that all of us often find ourselves looking for it. Paradise is difficult to explain because it means different things to different people….and can be constantly changing even within that one person. On top of it all, there are so many forms of Paradise.
Some say that because of where I am living, the Caribbean, that I am living in Paradise. I hear that word every day down here from tourists. You know what? They are absolutely right. This is Paradise. What they don’t realize is that Paradise can be found anywhere. I’m still conditioning myself to accept this thought. Let us hope that today we are all able to find our own little piece of Paradise no matter where we are. It is there, I promise you. For me, it’s just a little easier to find over here in the Caribbean. Wherever you are today, take a look for it. You will find Paradise.
You rock Darryl you really do my friend.
Nice comments like that one always feel great, but even better when coming from a good friend who I absolutely respect. Thanks, Eric…..you already know I feel that way about you as well.
I’m always reminded of the song “The Last Resort” by The Eagles when I hear people speak of Paradise in terms of a place. Like Joel, to me Paradise has always been more a state of mind, as opposed to a place. I’ve experienced moments of Paradise but for the most part life is about being at peace with the “here and now” and not working to find Paradise. Maybe it’s that we need to find how to allow Paradise to come to us. Like U2, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” but I’m getting closer. Thanks for a thought provoking post Daryl. Thanks for your thoughts too Joel.
Cool, I’m glad you liked it Bob. I also think it’s great that it got you thinking about those lyrics as well. Happy day to you.
I am always late to the party catching up on Darryl’s posts but I save them all because I know they will all mean something to me. Bob your comment is perfect. I love that song and I love how it ties into this post. Exactly how I feel. Nice job both of you
One of your best, Darryl. I loved the description of the adopted boy finding paradise in the love of the new family. It seems to me that ultimately paradise is found in our lasting relationships. Yes, brief forays into bliss are reachable on stellar bike rides, but how much richer is the satisfaction when life’s experiences are shared with those we love. Ride on! “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise!”
Nice, thanks Collin. Always happy to spend the day with you in Paradise.
Nice. good thought for the day-
Thanks Daniel…..I appreciate it.
Darryl, this one got me to thinking, so I went to my Merriam – Webster dictionary and looked up the word Paradise, this is what I saw, “a place or state of bliss, felicity or delight”. Then I wanted to see how the word Bliss related in this context, so I looked it up and this is what was printed, “complete happiness”. Since the dictionary was open, I flipped to the word Felicity and read, “the quality or state of being happy; especially: great happiness”. Why not? I checked out the meaning of the word delight, “a high degree of gratification: joy; also: extreme satisfaction”.
Now I’ll admit, my traveling experience is limited, however I’m pretty sure you can’t book a trip to bliss, well Ft. Bliss in Texas, but that’s named in memory of Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss, nor can you travel to felicity or delight. Heck, Eddie Money is the only person I’ve ever heard of offering tickets to paradise and they certainly didn’t involve a plane, train or automobile. Yet it seems like whenever people talk about paradise they describe a destination.
For me, Paradise is as much arguing with my family over the use of a questionable word in the game “Scattergories” as it is watching the sun set into the ocean from a secluded beach on a tropical island with my wife. I think Clark Griswold was in paradise when he had a talk and and shared a beer with his son Rusty after crashing through a ROAD ENDS sign and jumping the family truckster. Paradise has never occurred to me as a pace to go, rather I see paradise as a state of mind and way of being, which is totally cool because I can always be in paradise.
Leave it to Joel to come up with the ultimate response…..thanks, my man. As always, I appreciate you taking the time to add to this post and discussion. Keep that paradise state of mind.
You’re too kind my friend. Peace be always with you.