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If I could share one thing with
you today it would be...
That although it may be easier to
look outside of ourselves to find the reasons for much of our
unhappiness in life, the truth is...
"It's not what happens to you,
but how you react to it that matters." (Epictetus)
Sometimes it seems that we are
constantly looking out into the world to find something, or
someone, to help us feel better. Sometimes the only way for us
to heal from the pain or sadness we carry, is to be able to look
inside and realize that we haven't done everything we can in
helping that peace to come, in helping that happiness to arrive,
or in helping our lives to move forward.

Understandably, we have all
encountered being wronged by others, both intentionally, and
unintentionally, but how we allow those situations to shaped us
is our decision. On the same note, and truthfully speaking, I
don't believe there is one person, who hasn't at least
unintentionally hurt someone else. If we could just keep that in
mind, it would quite possibly help us work through our hurt when
the same is done to us. Undoubtedly, some offenses require the
law and justice system to take part, and hopefully the law is
just in those particular situations. But still, outside of
law-breaking offenses, every day we all make choices that end up
hurting others to some degree.

When we find ourselves in those
particular situations, we must be quick to look at ourselves
first and be willing to ask, "What is the truth about my part in
this?" "Am I willing to take responsibility for my actions or
words that contributed to the problem?" "Do I need to say I'm
sorry?" "Do I need to ask for forgiveness?" "Am I being fair in
what I'm asking for and willing to give?" "Have I made mistakes
as well?" "How can I help this situation to resolve?" "Can I put
my pride aside to make amends?" "Do I want to be right or do I
want to be happy?"

Will we allow the
intentional and unintentional hurt to live in our hearts and
minds for days?..weeks?...years?...the answer is all up to each
individual. Will we hate? Will we choose bitterness over a
healed friendship? Will we seek revenge? Or will we try to deal
with our feelings, outlook, self-growth and well being in a more
positive and productive way, by attempting to understand or at
least forgive and by maybe admitting that we in part contributed
to what troubles us, or how we have allowed what troubles us to
affect us?

Not one of us is getting any
younger..Life is too short and precious. If we keep doing the
same things, we will keep getting the same results. With age
should come wisdom and accountability.
The windows of the world are
intended for seeing the beauty in the world, not for finding
someone or something to blame.
"We must be willing to forgive in
order to be forgiven" (Bible)...
"We must be the change we wish to
see in the world" (Ghandi)...
"No one is perfect, we all make
mistakes"...
"Compassion and Love do not do us
any good unless they are given away"...
"You cannot hate and Love at the
same time"...
"Pride comes before the fall"
(Bible)...
"Live in the Present, make peace
with the Past"...
"Love your neighbor"
(Bible)...
"We cannot be Truthful with
others, unless we are first Truthful with ourselves"...

My hope is that we can All look
inside of ourselves first, before judging another...
and that We can All do our best
to Live in Peace with Each other...♥
This One is for Rio...I Love You
♥

( Photograpy: Rio Chanae )
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