I was raised to believe that you are the only one who can make things happen in your life. You are in charge, and if your life does not go as hoped for, you are at fault. If you are not getting the results you want, change the plan.
But lately I have been having a hard time finding that kind of simple, results- oriented mind set satisfactory. I sometimes wish I could believe in some sort of greater being who controls the world, someone we can simply pray to in order to change our life. However, that just does not fly for me.
I’ve been also thinking a lot about death. A friend’s boss has been diagnosed with bile duct cancer with a slim chance for long term survival. She is 46 and only found out in December. For some reason this really hit home for me. It makes me wonder what the point is for anything we do each day, if it all ends up in misery and pain.
One thing I know for sure, we all must find our own answers to these crucial questions. No matter what we choose today or for the rest of our lives, we all must die. This is the fact that helps each of us determine what we will do today. Can we find meaning in this day’s activities when we know we are like every single person who has come before us? When we know we will all slip away at the end of our lives, dust to dust.
My most positive response to these realizations is gratitude that I am still here living a relatively healthy life, with the strength and power to do what I can in this moment. What will that be today?
First I will watch this five minute video to put me in the proper mind set to appreciate everything I will experience today. You might also consider reading Barbara’s thoughts at Hole in the Donut. She’s a real inspiration to me!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Laura,
I sometimes get a jolt and think of death because someone I know died or is ill. But more often I think of TIME. I often think of the limits of my time. When I excuse myself from a social event because I have an assignment that needs to be finished or I want to be at a teleseminar where I’m learning about marketing an online business, I ask myself the question: if I keep setting aside what’s truly important to me until I get this or that done, am I just wasting my time while planning for my future when the present is available to me now?
Ruthan
I often remind myself: There is no past, there is no future, there is only this moment.
Live to your fullest and happiest today!
Hi Laura Lee:
I found your comments on greater being, etc. to be interesting. I am not a traditionally religious person. I will occasionally use the word God, but to me that means pure energy rather than some entity that we have personified. When I think of God, the image of the Aurora Borealis comes to mind – pure, powerful energy. It is hard for me to believe that our world just “happened” – I have to believe that some greater power directed it all.
As for control and making things happen, as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, I have a much different view. For years I tried to control things – to put my will against things to try to make them happen. I learned the hard way that the only way to live is to turn over everything to my higher power, asking only to be shown the path I am supposed to be on and for the power to do what’s needed. Now that I try to align my will with my higher power’s will, my life is so much more simple and rewarding. I just know I am on the right path when I turn my will over.
Thanks so much for the link!
Barbara
This is such a great discussion. I’m such a “make it happen” girl – it’s hard to just let go. There’s such a difference between forcing things, trying to “control” things, and simply working toward something – just getting your footsteps in line with your goals. I have to waqtch myself to see whaqt I’m doing, and I’ve discovered the way my body feels is the best indicator I could have…when my whoulders get tense, I breathe into them, and suddenly I can feel something, and if it feels good, that tells me I’m going in the right direction…Sarah
We live an era where success and achievement have been prime issues supposedly leading to happiness. We plan our lives geared around these desires, we set goals, but somehow we miss something more important, we miss the moment. If we truly live in the moment, we notice opportunities, that often we would not. A bit like taking time to smell the roses. You firstly have to notice them, be aware that they are there. Nothing has changed in my life. My partner is still dead, I’m still in debt, and I still work 2 jobs, 7 days a week. All that has changed I guess is my focus and awareness, from expectation to appreciation. .