Thinking Out Loud

I had a revelation about reincarnation in the shower yesterday. I do not find it difficult to believe in reincarnation after this life because I have experienced reincarnation in this life several times. Two of which I'm particularly aware. First, in an effort to not mince words, perhaps what I'm about to describe isn't technically the meaning of reincarnation, but more along the lines of reinvention, however, since both instances encapsulate the death of a world, accompanied by the rebirth and remaking of a new life, I'm rolling comfortably with reincarnation. The day my world died is how I've often verbalized the shattering of my first marriage. I'll spare you the details because frankly, it's not important nor unique to me. We all suffer disappointment, betrayal, and loss at some point in life, and since none of us are what we once were, it really feels unfair, and small, to recount and belabor past perceived offenses. What I describe below shall, I ...

Have you ever heard the phrase "There's nothing new under the sun?" I used it for the first time today when my daughter told me that her best friend received a record player for Christmas. I used to listen to my Dad's record player and I thought it was so cool, even though it had been replaced by cassettes and compact discs.  And that is when it really clicked. Several more instances flashed through my head that perfectly illustrated the fact that there is nothing new under the sun, just a repetitious death and rebirth process. I thought of the retro Atari game I almost bought for Matt's boys. I pondered the Pride Cycle in the Book of Mormon. I recalled the Chinese who once murdered their now cherished infant daughters. I saw my mother's bell bottoms, then my pegged pants, then back to flare bottom jeans, and right back to present day skinny jeans and pegged pants. I couldn't overlook Page's new polaroid camera sitting on the couch that she received th...