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In praise of Bagginses' impulses

There are among the human species, a number of us who have a restless spirit: a spirit of adventure, newness and uneasiness. The characteristics are very obvious.

Random quitting of work: without any convincing explanation to the current employer, you quit the job and say you want to find yourself. You say that it's not that employer has done anything wrong. You don't want more money, or new responsibilities or a move.You just want to leave, escape.

Running away from relationships: your lovers are left wondering what they did wrong. You leave them hanging, in anguish as you run away, even to a different location. You avoid meeting them, or going to places where you both shared some intimate moments. You become a ghost to those you love and who love you.

Seeking the thrill and adventure: you want to do dangerous stuff, a dance with the devil. You seek out pain, the next big thing. You try to numb yourself with excitement: chasing storms, catching a cobra by its tail.

Wandering: you backpack to nowhere in particular. You want to see the world, you want to feel the embrace of an open road, to meet strangers and leave them behind. You do not rest until the wandering becomes too familiar, and then you want to escape from it by going back to a former life, that might not exist.

Whether all this is driven by maddening romanticism or a craziness that we just cannot shake, it is who we are. The point is not to suffer alone, wondering whether you will one day 'become normal' or settle down. Know that in all this, others out there are like you. You are not the only crazyhead out there, nor are you the worst kind.

This is your journey and your story, write it as you wish. But know this, there will be moments of intense self-doubt, depression and pain. There will be heartbreak, and tears and laughter and joy. We are all still trying to figure out this thing called life. Until then, be like Frodo or Bilbo, the two adventure-loving hobbits, or as Gollum referred to them, Bagginses. In the end, we are all dead anyway.










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