Round and round our stories go..

It is a given that almost every time I see X, we will talk about the latest escapades of her nutty family. Most people have several abiding themes in their lives that preoccupy them whether they are aware of this or not. As a result, they incessantly return to them in different guises and conversations. Someone I know is always agitated about the difficulty of everyday life. Nothing seems to fit right for them; nothing really functions the way it should. Another friend obsesses about the ongoing challenge of finding the right life partner. Yet another talks about real estate and where is the best place to buy property. I am convinced that if I were to say to any of these friends do you know we have talked about this subject from different angles a zillion times over the years they would be flabbergasted. An interesting experiment is to step outside yourself and ask what are my ongoing themes? What rattles endlessly around in my mind and heart like a marble(s) in a clothes dryer?

Jonathan Carroll is the author of over 20 novels and short story collections. His latest novel “Bathing the Lion” is now available in trade paperback. If you liked this piece, there’s lots more on his monthly newsletter. You can subscribe here