Who we are - Episode 1
Who we are? Well, that’s a loaded question of sorts. We are that what makes us up - decisions and consequences, paths taken and those not, loves won and loves lost. Ash and Oak is just that. It is an undertaking to determine who we really are and who we want to become. I have found over the course of my life that I know everything and nothing in the same breath. It is a paradox of the greatest perplexity, like breathing in and out at the same time. As time continues dwindle its gifting to me, I find that its gifts get more and more grandeur with each passing season.
My wife set me to this course as she strongly believes that I have something to offer to those of you whom should find yourselves at the opposing end of my wit and future conversations. I question her sanity at times but believe she may have something of a seed of truth in her thoughts that may yet flourish into a harvest.
So what can you expect? You can expect the hard topics, the easy topics. You can expect the expected and the unexpected. Ramblings, unfiltered thoughts and sayings - some that may have to be walked back and some that, honestly, need to be said out loud. The purpose is not to offend or piss anyone off but to facilitate a conversation where I can learn something new, change my outlook or reinforce a core belief. This is reasoning behind the logo - a phoenix and an oak tree.
Both items representing my life up to this point. The phoenix, growing more beautiful as it ages until it is finally engulfed in flames sprouting from its own self. Burnt down to ashes and completely unrecognizable. Then, as all seems lost, it is reborn from its own ashes more beautiful than its previous version. The cycle continues for the life of the phoenix. Then the oak tree - a tree a symbol of life and the oak of strength. Able to weather almost any storm with strong deep roots that keep grounded when the world around it is going to hell. The oak tree holds fast - unwavering, reliable, resilient - silent and strong. These two items have come together to form the perfect symbol for my life. Perhaps, they be the perfect symbol for your life as well. Who knows.
It is my sincere hope that while we may not always agree, we can always discuss. The goal Ash and Oak is to present ideas from different people in different ways that we may all find something that we can learn from each other. Most of these topics will come from my personal discussions with friends and family and some will come from you and your interactions. I look forward to both.
Thus, from all of that shall yield our saying - rise stronger, root deeper (RSRD). Not in ignorance or despair or anger but in that which is good, that which is the nobler thoughts of the mind and the finer feelings of the heart. Rise stronger and root deeper in those items that make life worth the living.
I will leave you with this. Perhaps one of my favorite quotes but in somewhat of its entirety - at least more that what is normally shared.
~RSRD
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost”
~ JRR Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring