Reflections On Life

"I am just a guinea pig in this experiment called life."

George Carlin

As another birthday approaches, I have been reflecting on how grateful I am for my blessings. I did not enter this world with an instruction manual and a warranty for my equipment.  This life has been a "learn as I go experience."  Although I am happy, I realize that my life is what it is because of the  lessons I have learned along the way, the choices I have made, and the people I choose to share my time with.  In spite of everything I have experienced, there are still so many things  I want to learn, experience, share, and do. 

"We cannot prepare for defeat then expect to live a life of victory. Crows cannot fly with eagles."

Joel O'Steen'Stee

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When  my life was disappointing or painful , my first instinct has always been to withdraw until I have had time to heal.  On one occasion, when I was sitting at home with a broken heart, a respected friend told me that the best way to move forward is to avoid sitting still.  She said to do something I am afraid of every single day and never surrender to fear.  Things will not always go as planned, not everyone will understand you, but  we should never decline the opportunity to run the race because of the fear that we may lose.   Every race has a lesson to teach us so we do ourselves a disservice by surrendering our power to negative thinking. 

"None of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion. The very thing you are fighting against so tenaciously may be the springboard that catapults you to a new level of excellence. Your challenges can become your greatest assets." Joel Osteen

Following my friend's advise wasn't the easiest thing to do but I was determined to try.  I recall wondering what fear I should attempt to conquer first.  It had been years since I sat in a restaurant eating dinner alone so that was my first personal challenge. Today I spend time volunteering at the zoo, I volunteer for the blind and dyslexic, the Children's Hospital, The Cancer Society, I kayak, I hike, I bike ride, I work for animals, and, if I have no friends to share an experience with, I go alone because I have learned to enjoy my own company.  I no longer feel guilty for putting negative people at a distance which gives me more time to focus on building better relationships with the friends and family who are important to me.  By following this simple rule,  I have done more than I ever would have dreamed of  doing had I spent my time at home letting sadness and defeat control me.  Now I spend time doing what I feel is best without worrying about the opinions of others. 

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

Henry Thoreau

How can anyone say they are being true to themselves when they easily accept defeat.  What do we accomplish when we spend most of our time time worrying about  the opinions of others instead of how to invest in our own quality of life?  Too many people measure their success by watching the accomplishment of others. But our success should be measured by how close we have come to reaching our own personal goals.  No one can be be true to themself and everyone else at the same time.  Comparing ourselves to others is a dangerous game.  Life offers no guarantee that we will all move at the same pace. There will always be someone who excels at something that we struggle to manage and there is always someone who isn't as proficient with something we excel at.  Yet, anyone who is genuine and truly cares about us will accept us for who we are, flaws included.

"If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher on that side of the fence  too." Maya Angelou

When we feel hurt and defeated, surrender will initially appear to be the easier choice.  However, at the end of the day we will discover that all we have done is surrender our power to negative thinking only to accomplish nothing.  We are  each born with our own set of unique talents and have a life of opportunity in front of us. Life is not defined by the car we drive or the balance in our checking account.  Just as an ocean is comprised of billions of drops of water, our life is comprised of our many experiences.  We need to give ourself  permission to feel pain but, when we surrender to sadness and feelings of defeat , we have also surrendered our power.  What we accomplish is up to us.   We can be our own greatest asset or our own greatest obstacle.  The result depends on our attitude.  Each of us has the ability to  find victory by conquering defeat just one fear at a time.  The bible says that every sin begins with a thought.  I believe that every defeat begins the same way.  The world offers no guarantees but the possibilities are without limit.  However, the end result depends on us.

"The world owes you nothing. It was here first."

 Mark Twain