“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you into something else is the greatest accomplishment.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wow! Emerson said it better than I ever could. One of my biggest challenges is the task of living my life uniquely in a world that has created a more narrow version of what it wants me to be. I hesitate to even use the word task because it makes it sound like a chore to create a life that feels really good.
I love this story and thought you might enjoy it too.
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy,
Recently I had the honor to attend a talk given by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of Ligmincha International, an author of nine books, and a master on the Bon Dzogchen buddhist tradition. Along with all of these accomplishments, he is also a humble, wise and effervescent spirit. He uplifts those around him by his presence alone.
During Rinpoche’s talk he spoke about the best gifts to give someone.
I recently stumbled across this quote from Walt Whitman and thought you might enjoy it too.
“This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men,
“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”-Colette
I can fall into the trap of looking forward to the future. Waiting for the vacation get away, losing those last 10 pounds, or even holding out for Friday. Sound familiar? Dreaming is good. I am a dreamer, but if I delay my happiness until the dream is reached I lose because it’s a trap. A trap that never ends.
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.” William Shakespeare, from As You Like It
Most of you are familiar with the idea that life is like a play. You understand that you are the main character in your own story. You play many roles while you are here—wife,
One of my favorite authors, Pam Grout, recently blogged about making a covenant with the Universe. Her story got my wheels turning in my mind and my heart beating in my chest.
Here is the story she told…
“You might remember the story in E-Squared about the founders of Silent Unity, a worldwide movement that proclaims a bigger truth about who we are and why we’re here. The movement was started more than 135 years ago by Myrtle Fillmore who healed herself of tuberculosis and aggravated malaria.
Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.
–Rumi
“I know its hard imaginin’, Addie Mae, but you gotta learn to trust the currents in life, no matter where they be takin’ you. If you’re pure of heart and brave and ask God to put you where you can do His best, you will find the one place in life that you alone belong. And isn’t that the real meanin’ of happiness? Discovering that one place that God carved out of life only ’cause you were born?”
