I arrived in Los Angeles at exactly 4:44 PM, a timestamp that seems to shadow my movements. It marked my departure from Mount Shasta?s summit, my arrival in San Francisco with a timely welcome message from Kirsten, and even a plane landing in Ilheus during a southward journey?all at 4:44. There?s a strange symmetry to it, as if the universe is signaling something. Whether it?s meaningful or merely a pattern I?ve latched onto, I?m not entirely sure.
Pulling into a parking spot near a gym for a capoeira session, I encountered an unexpected moment. A 6-foot-3 Afro-American man emerged from an Asian-make sedan beside mine, where he?s lived for three years. Introducing himself as Z, his first words were, ?It is so free.? He spoke of a life unburdened by possessions, money, or the pursuits of Vegas and women, claiming a newfound health and absence of stress. He offered a nod of recognition, as if I?d arrived at some shared understanding years before him, then mentioned a walk around the block before heading into the gym.
Observation: Opting Out of the Narrative
Z?s way of life recalls those who?ve ?Gone Monk,? as social media often labels them?individuals rejecting societal expectations for a stripped-down existence. This stands in sharp contrast to a phone call I received just before Thanksgiving from a friend newly working in psychotherapy. Her voice carried weight as she described the brokenness she witnesses in her clients, people lost in stories to avoid confronting deeper issues. She framed lifestyles like Z?s as traumatic disassociation, a rejection of traditional manhood. Before ending the call, she wondered why I seem unaffected by the damaged souls I encounter on my path. I don?t perceive them that way, though. She spoke of her own difficulty in forming connections, and I listened in silence until she expressed gratitude for the space and hung up.
Fleeting Encounters and Cultural Echoes
These interactions remind me of characters in Haruki Murakami?s Wind-Up Bird Chronicle?transient, peculiar figures weaving in and out of my journey. Another moment came while standing in line at a coffee shop. A man ahead of me noted my tattered, patch-filled coat, mentioning that such vintage style is trending in LA. People crave items with authentic stories, he said, suggesting a walk through downtown LA in my gear might draw curious strangers. Hollywood Boulevard feels like a better fit?less crowded, simpler parking. It?s odd to consider I?ve stumbled into a trend without intent, or perhaps it?s another subtle hint from the universe.
Reflections on Empty Frames and Natural Progression
These experiences lead me to the idea of an ?empty frame??a space offered without imposition, an invitation left open. I?ve been applying this in my efforts to expand a network of cacao resellers across the USA. The process begins systematically: compile a list of venues, visit them, share the mission. But once that frame is presented, the response is theirs to shape. Past patterns show that I either meet the owner on the first visit and they commit within ten minutes, or they don?t. Additional follow-ups feel forced, slowing the pace of reaching new places. A hexagram draw, Difficulty at the Beginning, advises allowing those with true intent to assist while remaining tolerant of others. Pushing?whether with resellers, collaborators in the DAO, or even my presence at distant events?seems misaligned.
Instead, I?m drawn to a rhythm that feels organic. When a new cacao vintage or SKU emerges, reflecting the distinct terroir of the Brazilian Amazon, I?ll revisit existing and prospective resellers with samples as gifts. This aligns with my seasonal movements, a natural cadence. The same principle applies to personal invitations, like the cacao circles I host?gatherings where I brew cacao and we share it together. Lately, I?ve taken to roasting the beans while everyone?s around. We peel off the skins as a group, then grind the beans into a drink. It?s a communal act, unforced, a frame where connection happens naturally. Declining other invitations isn?t rejection; it?s another empty frame, allowing others to reflect on what feels right for them. As an act of self-compassion, I step back from what?s logistically draining, focusing on what unfolds effortlessly.
A Note on Intent in Design: Apple Maps vs. Google Maps
On Thanksgiving, I switched to Apple Maps while navigating to LA. The distinction from Google Maps was immediate. One prioritizes user experience?smooth, safe, intuitive. The other focuses on metrics, urging data input into its system. This difference in intent behind the design reshaped the journey. It mirrors a broader truth about focus and purpose, evident even in smaller endeavors. I see this reflected in the seasonal gatherings of chocolate makers and chocolatiers organized by Kirsten Ritschel in San Francisco. Each event, presenting new terroirs from the Amazon to the US market, carries the weight of a fashion week in Milan or Paris?a showcase of artistry and origin. My own cacao circles, though smaller in scale, echo this spirit of sharing something raw and rooted, a moment crafted with hands and presence.
Closing Thought: The Shape of Your Empty Frame
These moments?synchronicities like 4:44, encounters with figures like Z, and the balance of effort versus ease?point to the presence of empty frames in my path. They?re spaces to offer without enforcing, to connect without grasping. Perhaps that?s the signal behind the patterns I keep noticing. I?m left wondering about the empty frames in others? lives. What spaces are you creating, and how do you allow them to take form on their own terms?