FredL

Andy's thread "Bonsai Bigotry" deserves the blame for this thread; it was what got me thinking about this. I didn't think it was close enough to his subject to add it to his thread, however.

In the English language, the words "valuable" and "precious" are similar in meaning, but DO NOT mean the same thing. Valuable refers to how the market evaluates the worth of something; precious refers to how important something is to ourself, personally. Something that is very precious to us may not be very valuable and vica versa.

I think that there is a heavy tide in the Western World towards substituting a pursuit of what is thought to be valuable for what is precious. Certainly, in my life, I gave up alot that was precious in the pursuit of that which seemed valuable. It is the usual price of "getting ahead".

I find tremendous confusion in my own mind regarding the value vs. the preciousness of Bonsai. What is REALLY the point of either doing or having Bonsai? Is it because they are valuable or because they are precious? Reading the Bonsai forums does little to clear it up. I think most people think "both" without realizing the degree to which this creates confusion, turmoil and uncertainty

For me, Bonsai provides the opportunity to turn to the creation and enjoyment of something precious. Now, this does not mean that I'm an adherrent of the school of "doing it just for myself" without regard for what others think. Far from it! I see Bonsai as a community activity, with a great deal of the enjoyment of it coming from the sharing of it's pleasures with others.

When I came back to Bonsai 2 years ago and started particpating in another forum, I was shocked at the competitivenss and hostility between bonsai enthusiasts. It seemed like the bonsai community was just like the world of business that I'd left in 1999: stressful, competive and, in many ways, mean-spirited. Not that it did not have many redeeming virtues, just as the world of business has. But, at it's core, it seemed to me merely an extension of that world rather than the very different one that I sought. And, at that, not a particularly successful extension of it, with a rather exageratted sense of its own importance.

Andy's thread has me feeling very melancholy. As I have read increasing amounts of what he writes, I am increasingly impressed by what a talented and well-meaning person he is. He is clearly greatly affected by the world's indifference to the great love of his life. He has clearly not yet put aside that which he loves in favor of making money, a decision I made when I left the Marine Corps at age 27 and opted for a career in Computer System Development. Now, I'm certainly enjoying a much more comfortable retirement than I would have if I'd followed my heart, but there are times that I wonder.........

With best regards to all, Fred

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