The rising of the sun, the sound of cicada singing, a nice breeze and the sound of my loved one's voice across the room are cause for serious celebrations.
But there's money to make, expectations to meet, crisis to navigate and a never ending line of plates twirling on sticks that may break if I don't give it everything I got.
I end up blinding myself to the beauty of the world, sticking logs in my eyes to prop me up at work, with family, friends and everything they demand.
The happiness seen are specks, fleeting moments when life really is good, I'm really happy, and all is right with the world.
Erin is my friend and recently learned she has cancer. She lives in Chicago and invited a bunch of us to join her support team on Facebook so I'm a very proud member!
She's having surgery soon and was shopping for a recliner to recuperate in because laying in bed is apparently not an option. She finds one on Craigslist being sold by an elderly couple relocating to Tucson. She explains why the chair's needed and they invite her to sit and talk.So she does.
They talk about cancer, moving, what a great chair it is.
Erin feels completely alive!
"Is it because I'm thinking about death that I'm so alive?" she shares.
I don't know.
It could be what she's really saying is, "To hell with it! I'm going to live like I've always supposed to be living."
Like everyone else, there are lots of things I wish were better. There can always be more of this and less of that. There's enough struggle and negative in life that we really try to keep those kinds of people blocked out.
This life given to each of us is a gift. Gifts are to be enjoyed and celebrated. You never know how long they last.
I think we need to slow down and enjoy the things we have in our lives because in the end it's the little things that are really the big things ... the gift of another day, the sound of cicada singing, the kiss of a breeze and the sounds of those we love most.
Jesus once said, "Take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to help your brother and sister. Don't give away what is Holy to dogs ... don't throw your pearls to pigs ... because doing these things will tear you to pieces."
I've known lots of torn up people in my life.
Hell, I got tore up myself and somehow survived.
We're all going to have lots thrown at us today. Honestly, most of it is trivial, hateful, and not especially productive for much anything. If we're not careful, logs are going to blind us to the wonderful gifts we have. It's a shame when we don't celebrate the gifts given to us.
Today, Sarah and I have blocked some bad people from our lives. We've kissed several times already. I've talked to the kids. The girls and I have laughed. We're working to help others celebrate too. I'm sending good Karma, deep prayers and lots of love to Erin ... and to you too.
As the sun keeps rising.
The cicada sing their Hymns of Praise.
God blows a kiss from across the Sea.
And the sounds of love surround me.
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October 2013 ♦ Embracing peace in your life! “You are one of the most tormented people I know,” she said. I was at the height of success, living at the beach, working in a beautiful city, having everything I thought I wanted…but she was right. I was miserable and didn’t know why. Then I decided to take a journey inside of myself. Life is too short and I deserved to happily celebrate my life. As much as I wanted to lay the blame at the feet of others, it was my own fault and I needed to know why I prevented myself from enjoying my life. I needed to find peace. And I did. You can find yours.
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