How often when meeting someone for the first time are we asked the question at some point in the conversation, "so, what do you do?" When asked this I am often tempted to  reply "about what" but civility gets the better of me.

 It is a question that is understood on many levels. In society we are often valued and judged on the basis of what we do in terms of the role or roles we play. A more direct line of enquiry might be: "are you powerful, do you have influence, will I do well to talk to you and get to know you, are you a competitor, where do I fit in relationship to you, do we have anything in common, are you wealthy" – and so on.  Often we value and judge ourselves on the basis of  "what we do" in comparison to others and what they do. This comparison seen competitively can be a source of much discontent.

Just recently I was introduced to the term 'Personal Legend' when reading the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. A person's 'Personal Legend' seems to be the thing they do or the role they play in life linked to who they are as a person. A 'Personal Legend' is linked to every circumstance, situation, relationship and event that occurs for and to that person. The choice that exists for us lies in how we respond to each and every situation. To fully embrace the notion of a 'Personal Legend' we need to surrender a "centre of the universe ego" and trust in Life with a capital L, embracing all experiences no matter how traumatic or uplifting.

Drawing on this understanding I have been examining myself and asking the "what do you do" question with an added extension. "So Martin, what do you do, is it linked to who you are as a person and are you trusting Life and what it brings you?"

If I am able to answer the question by saying that, "I am doing what is in my heart to do and I feel it is an expression of who I am as a person as I trust the joys, pleasures, obstacles and challenges that Life brings me",  then I feel I am in a position to be and experience my own Personal Legend. With this knowledge I am able to pursue any advancements that bring a more refined and deepening awareness which brings with it a deeper sense of truth and satisfaction.

I continue to grow and understand that I and my Personal Legend are here not elsewhere. That I can be who I am now and be satisfied while at the same time strive to improve and grow. When I am truly listening and looking I see and here the music of my 'Personal Legend', and in-cant the words of William Shakespeare "to thine own self be true".

Next time I am asked the question "so, what do you do" I might try "I do what is best for me to do, listening and looking all the time at how that might improve, at the moment I am expressing this through the role of teacher and writer"

"So, what do you do?"