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Writer's pictureDan Mabbutt

Reflections

What am I doing and why am I doing it?

People don't think about that enough. I think about it a lot.


A typical Internet seller just wants you to order something and usually avoids answering that question entirely. This site is different.


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Dan Mabbutt
Dan Mabbutt
Mar 15, 2023

If you think it's fun to think about it, then just imagine what it would be like to obsess about it!


I think I'll go do some horrible crime so I can get thrown into solitary confinement for 23 1/2 hours a day. That might be heaven for me.

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positivity977
Mar 13, 2023

It sure is amazing how things in life that feel Set in stone can change at the drop of a hat!

The way you narrate your stories in such depth inspires me to want to get back into writing and documenting my journeys in life!

There really is something to just making the best we can out of each moment and if you ask me that’s what you did throughout the draft. I really enjoyed reading your article!


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Dan Mabbutt
Dan Mabbutt
Mar 15, 2023
Replying to

I wish I could say that I took such an enlightened view while I was in the Army. But I was more angry than I should have been. I've got a lot of "Army Stories". Maybe I'll write another book. Have you read Joseph Heller's "Catch 22" ?


Writing is my main avocation these days. Selling rocks is just an enabling device. When I retired, I wrote "in the world" (as opposed to writing "in a closet" just for myself) by writing for several magazines and newspapers, but not a real job. I soon discovered that the editors and I had different goals. They wanted an employee. I wanted a hobby. It didn't work out.


The big draw of sites…


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hypodactylus
hypodactylus
Mar 13, 2023

"What am I doing and why am I doing it?" I read this first line in your post before I read your article. It stuck out to me because I feel like it is a curse.


How nice it must be to go through life without thinking about these things; ignorance is bliss, as they say.

However, it is terrible to be around people who live without thinking. I suppose the key is to consider "What am I doing and why am I doing it?" often, but not too often...


Fun read. Thanks!

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Dan Mabbutt
Dan Mabbutt
Mar 15, 2023
Replying to

You're right. "Introspection" is a drug. And some of us are addicted. For most, I think it is a momentary pause before getting on with the real parts of life. But for some, it's more.


When I was a canoeist, I discovered that there are some river rapids that have an eddy current that wraps around almost to the top of the rapid again. You can shoot the rapid and then quickly get into the eddy current and shoot the same rapid again. Around and around and around ....


I have a story about that too. It involves a rapid like that with a nice sand beach beside it and a couple of attractive sun bathers on the beach. I'll…


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peta denno
peta denno
Mar 13, 2023

Dan, your life stories are so very interesting! I can't imagine what it would be like finding out your birthday was never your birthday. I will say, in my family I've been told a story about our surname. Many moons ago it was Kozub (Eastern European/Ukranian/Polish) and as the story goes, when my grandfather (or maybe great grandfather) was in school a teacher spelled it Kozup and that's how it stayed - not sure that's entirely how it happened (perhaps it was a mistake as they immigrated), but strange how one little 'slip' can change things moving forward. Thanks for sharing!!

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peta denno
peta denno
Mar 16, 2023
Replying to

oh wow! That's quite interesting. I enjoy hearing about people and where they come from. My Dad explored his genealogy to great lengths but says he's going to put it all in his memoir's lol...I'm still waiting to read it.

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Trent Burroughs
Trent Burroughs
Mar 12, 2023

Wow. I had no idea about your birthday. Such a tiny thing ended up altering the course of your life in a huge way.


I'm less than half your age but I already wonder what my life would look like if something small had been different. I am happy where I am now, but could I be happier? What kind of experiences might I be missing out on if I chose a different path? Like you said - "I don't know". And we can never know. But it's fun to think about.

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