I like company, even when I am the only one interacting. Allow me to explain. Heading out for an early morning jog, I gather up the stars. I have been disappointed this summer missing the big dipper… where could it have gone, after all it is “big”?  Over the past crazy year I have often written about how even the smallest find can bring joy. So imagine my delight when I rounded  a corner and right in front of me, low in the sky there it was! It was upside down in the form af a perfect question mark. Please look for it in the North early morning sky. It was so splendid and had not forsaken me and yet seems to be taunting me. Why a question? Am I to answer or ask?

Existential intelligence  is the ability to think or intuit, to ask or answer deep questions-perhaps about human existence. Ok, the big dipper probably wasn’t asking me that. Maybe its simply to question, “What is important to you, what will you do today, who can you help, how will you solve an issue or problem? So many ways we can offer up a question to the universe and make it personal. You may say, “Why bother to ask- after all, Joanne, its just stars, don’t make such a big deal”.

Life provides so many opportunities for us to grow, engage, master, help, shine, encourage, be joy-filled, inspire, believe, celebrate, laugh, mend, surprise, be grateful, wonder… and many more verbs. Why wouldn’t we consider for a moment as we begin our morning, how we can help the day unfurl in a way that enriches us in mind, body and spirit?

One of the tenets of existentialism is existence before essence- we are born a blank slate and essence is created through unique experiences. Too heavy? Not really. Your day is actually a blank slate. As you step into it, you decide each and every action. What a gift to define your path. Perhaps the question mark should begin every morning. Resist being led by the distraction or chaos. Yes, you may go to work, help your family, get cancer therapy, plan a meal, pay bills, eat and exercise. But recognize that at every turn you are choosing to do those things. Activities that make your life or those around you better, safer, happier. Just imagine one day at a time that you have the right and ability to ask, “What is my life about today?” Then to answer through action.

Reach up and take power from this  celestial event. May I suggest that you consider this an opportunity to answer the question unique to each of us? Welcome back Ursa Major, I am glad to see you again.