Abridged vs. Saga
Abridged – adjective – reduced or lessened in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminished or curtailed
Saga – noun – any narrative or legend of heroic exploits or any very long story with dramatic events or parts
How many bridges are involved in an abridged version versus a saga? I think there would probably be quite the difference. It will not always be the case because I take immediate issue with this intro from a concept of quantity versus quality. However, the point stands. Opportunities to build best bridges increase in a saga as opposed to anything abridged.
In another way to consider, would you rather live an abridged life or a life experience that could be retold as an epic saga? The answer is easy in my mind. Before you roll your eyes too much, though, please understand that I do not imply opulent glitz and glamor. I think a lavish lifestyle can still be summarized succinctly if it lacks character and depth. Where are any intricate details if you simply waste your resources unendingly unto the very end? Should our legacies outline luxuries that we lauded or a lifetime of legendary lessons? :)
Siddhartha Gautama fascinates me. Most people have surely heard of him in some way, shape, or form along the way. He bridged so many divides. If you are not sure, can you picture the happy, fat guy sitting there (typically enameled in gold) with his hands often in some kind of intriguing pose? Yes, Buddha. He was Siddhartha Gautama prior to his awakening and/or enlightenment. He was not happy with the world. Despite being born into a comfortable, royal, and wealthy position, he sought deeper meaning out of life. He wanted to figure out why we are all here and what it all means. Lofty and idealistic, sure, but perhaps he is one of the original human rights activists. After all, he felt empowered to determine why humans suffered. He studied and reflected on that idea for very long periods of time. He searched far and wide. What was he doing when he figured it out? What was his “light bulb moment”? Sitting under a tree. As simple as that. My mind then jumps/bridges to Isaac Newton and the supposed story of how he discovered gravity. He was sitting under a tree, too, when the apple fell down and jolted him. Hm, where else can an apple be connected here next as a bridge to other meanings and possibilities?
If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
-Isaac Newton
Nature brings solace in all troubles.
-Anne Frank
Talk about an abridged life that could still be a saga. Until recently, I did not realize how short of a life Anne Frank lived. Perhaps I knew it once, but I forgot it. She died at the age of fifteen, yet her impact reverberates through the ages. Life is not in the quantity; it is in the quality. Each day can be mundane and abridged if you so choose. Or, each day, you can choose to search for and secrete your own saga worthy of a song that sailors would sing around an evening campfire. The choice is yours. What bridge are you building? Can you also secure its supports on top of the shoulders of those who have come before us?
Things might seem dark. You might feel stuck in a deep rut, seemingly isolated and alone. Thomas Edison improved the light bulb significantly. He bridged that gap into mainstream modernity, and he also philosophized the following1:
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
-Thomas Edison
It is no fun being knocked off your bridge. Trust me; I know. I have been there, down in a rut, more times than I care to count. However, I now seek sagas. I choose to avoid an abridged experience in this life. Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.
- I really wanted to make this “phollowing” :) ↩︎