As I get considerably beyond the biblical allotment of three score years and ten, I feel with increasing intensity that I can express my gratitude for still being around on the oxygen-side of the earth's crust only by not standing pat on what I have hitherto known and loved. While oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of continuous gratitude and exploration throughout life, especially as one ages.
In this quote, Norman Maclean reflects on his longevity and expresses a deep appreciation for life, suggesting that true gratitude comes from not only being alive but also from actively seeking new experiences and love. He implies that as long as one breathes, there is always potential for new discoveries and forms of love, particularly highlighting the significance of compassion as a vital aspect of our connections to others.
In practice
In a speech about aging, one could use this quote to illustrate the value of life experiences.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.
Ahead and to the west was our ranger station - and the mountains of Idaho, poems of geology stretching beyond any boundaries and seemingly even beyond the world.
Poets talk about "spots of time", but it is really the fishermen who experience eternity compressed into a moment. No one can tell what a spot of time is until suddenly the whole world is a fish and the fish is gone.
At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear. It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us. You can love completely without complete understanding.
One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful even if it is only a floating ash.
One great thing about fly fishing is that after a while nothing exists of the world but thoughts about fly fishing
Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason. It is a grasp on reality that does not need constant high points in order to be maintained, nor is it made vulnerable by the low points of life's struggle.
The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.
What did you do as a child that made that hours pass like minutes? [Herein lies the key to your earthy pursuits.]
Some of the things you believe were never true. They were someone else's fears. Give yourself a chance to examine your thoughts. Change those that are negative. You are deserving.
You can write the best column in the world on Monday, and it does you absolutely no good on Tuesday. There is no way to win. You just write until you are tired, they fire you, or you die.
Madness in method, that's genius
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