An Annoying Thought

A question: Why is it wrong to ask questions? I am asking because, apparently, it seems it is. It seems that wanting to know all the time, yearning to understand the reason of things is not the best way to live your life. You believe that, as you have a functioning rational mind, it would be logical to inquire about the cause of what is going on. You are told that certain things just happen but, while on one hand it seems that you have no control over them, on the other it is also suggested that you (unconsciously, it's clear) are creating them yourself. Therefore, what can you practically do in order to behave in a way that makes you "feel good"? What should your actual attitude be? Try to find the reason or just give up? Plainly accept it all, even if you are unable to discover (and consequently endeavor to heal) the 'unconscious' part of yourself that is at the origin of your problems? Tough questions, aren't they? But they must be all wrong!

A Homeless Gentleman

I recently happened to hear a homeless person speaking to others. He was a tall man with very refined features, acceptably groomed in spite of clear signs of indigence. His manners were polite, his words were kind and showed a certain refinement. I couldn't help wondering about him. Who was he? What had he been? How did he find himself in that situation? It might have been a choice - as it seems to be true for some, although probably not many. Or did he have to face dire circumstances he was unable to deal with? How sad it is that - in this world of ours - this kind of situation is not uncommon and that nothing significant is done about it. Many try to help but they are always palliative, temporary measures that do not solve the problem. I don't know what the solution might be. I only know that seeing that handsome aged gentleman carrying his worldly belongings in a small cart, greeting and thanking people (myself included) ... made my heart sink.

Bubbles

Children like bubbles. So do I! I love to see them rise in the air, dance, float, then slowly sink down and finally disappear. They are so beautiful, yet so fragile. They reflect the whole surrounding world, they sparkle with the colors of the rainbow, then they fade into nothingness. No, wait a minute. Although they "seem" to fade into nothingness, the instant they burst, tiny, almost invisible droplets dissolve into the atmosphere. They simply change their form of existence. You usually don't perceive it, but this is what happens. Each beautiful bubble has a short existence, it mirrors the beauty of the Universe - but only if you pay close attention - then it is no more. Doesn't this remind you of Life? It starts, it exists (for an x length of time, which you can never forecast) and then it evaporates into thin air. But not without a trace. Such thin air absorbs the "essence" of the droplet and adds it to the infinite other droplets of infinite other bubbles - until a child (or myself) starts blowing lovely iridescent globules all over again!

Unfulfilled Dreams

Do you have an unfulfilled dream? Think about your past - possibly your "far away" past - and examine what was the deepest desire of your heart. Think now of all the reasons why you did not pursue such a dream. If you are totally honest with yourself, you may discover that some of these reasons were not strong enough to hold you back. You may also discover that you allowed yourself to be distracted by other lures that, at the moment, completely blinded you and made you lose sight of your goal. So you took a different path that, eventually, made it impossible to go back on the "main road". How do you perceive such development... now? Do you think that, after all, you had made the best decision? Is the outcome acceptable? Any regrets? Such pondering might be a difficult enterprise because it's not always pleasant to look at a past event (=remember) with the eyes (=the understanding) of today.

Three People

Three young people got on the bus together and my attention was attracted by their appearance. Their hairstyles made them look completely different. One tall young man had tightly braided long hair. The other had straight about-twelve-inches-long hair sticking out around his head like a thick halo. The third, a short girl, was almost completely shaved. Interesting, I thought. I wondered how "different" they might really be, disregarding their looks. What appears clear on the surface might hide a lot of other stuff. It could  conceal differences but it might also shroud plenty of similarities. Buried in the underground, different trees might have similar roots. You don't see them, but they are there. Also those youngsters may share thoughts, goals and hopes that are not so different from each other. The same applies to people of different color, race, ethnicity, upbringing or religion. What counts is what is "inside", in the deep self of each individual, in their true nature of human beings (which, by the way, is made of the same "substance" for us all).

Mandatory Path

Today - 'n' years ago - something happened that actually decided  - on my behalf - the course of "my" life. Something that made me go in a totally unexpected direction - a direction that would  drastically change my existence. Every year, on this day, I think about how my life could have been different and I make a kind of assessment. Would it have been better ? Truly? In what ways? Would it have possibly been worse? How? Why did I have to meet the situation that made me step on that path? Was it the best decision I could have made? Why? What did I have to learn - if there was 'something' to be learned?

Do you ever ask yourself any of these questions?

Is there a pattern in our lives that pre-determines the most important choices we make, those that actually "create" some compulsory experiences? And are such experiences always for our own good? I - personally - believe they are.

Holiday Season

Does the Holiday Season have a special meaning? I am certainly not going to say anything new or original. Yet, I think it is worthwhile to once again stop for a moment, set aside your worries, concerns, upsets, resentments, and simply reflect about "all" that is good in your life. Negative things  undeniably occur, but in certain moments, at a particular time, it may be easier to focus on what is good, on what you have to be grateful for. Every day can really be a new beginning, the first day of the life that lays ahead of you. You might not be consciously aware that every day, every instant is really a fresh start. Either you want it or not, you leave behind what has been and you create, better still you "re-create" your life according to your thoughts - moment after moment. It is a never-ending manifestation  of what you make of your existence, literally till your last breath. 

Hair Wash

Three young women were discussing how often one should wash their hair. A trivial, uninteresting topic, you would say. Yes, it is indeed. But the way it developed was sort of thought-provoking. The first woman said that hair should be washed every day. The second said that she preferred every two days. The third advocated a 'n' number of days. Each expressed their opinion and... so far so good. The problem arises from the fact that each despised any outlook that was different from theirs. Every day? It ruins the hair 'balance'. Every two days? The hair looks dirty. An unspecified number of days? Just awful. Let's see, now: expressing your viewpoint is fair. Wanting to prove that the opinions of others are wrong is... well, "wrong". Why this need to prove your point at all costs? Why not just allow everybody to have their own convictions? They deserve to have theirs, exactly as you deserve to have yours.

Spirit and Brain

I recently heard a scientist say that  the "spiritual" experiences that many people have can be explained "scientifically" by means of experiments he made with brain activity. This argument left me wondering. Yes, those experiences can be proved to be brain activities. But can't such activities be what "spirit" is actually about, i.e. a capability that a human being has to connect - OK, through the brain, too - to another dimension"? And can't such dimension be what we call "spirit"? After all, what else can we experience that is not transmitted through our senses or any other tool that our bodies are endowed with?

Of Pumpkins, Bricks and Chains

Here is a story that further clarifies the meaning of the previous 'Heavy Burdens'. A man was walking through a village carrying a huge pumpkin on his head, heavy bricks in his hands and big chains around his waist and ankles. He then met someone who asked him, "Why are you carrying that pumpkin?" "Am I? - said the man, surprised - I didn't realize I was. Actually, I don't need it", and he dropped it. After a while, he met someone else who asked, "Why are you carrying those heavy bricks?" Again the man said, "Am I? I really don't need them." So he dropped them, walking much more lightly. Finally, a third passerby asked, "Why are you carrying those big chains?" The man realized once again that he didn't need them. So he dropped them. Once he understood that the weights he had been dragging along were totally useless and that dropping them was his choice, he did so... and felt much lighter.

Heavy Burden

Negative feelings are huge burdens to carry. How to get rid of them? By becoming aware of them. Is it really that simple? It actually is. The problem is that, usually, you are "not" aware of the baggage you are dragging behind you. If you are jealous, for example, you will not recognize your jealousy for what it is. You say that you are rightly caring for what is yours, or that you are rightly suspicious of the behavior of another, or that you are rightly judging someone else's achievements. The key word here is "rightly". You believe that whatever you feel is not only 'right' but 'righteous'. You ascribe a moral justification to what is simply a petty or unfair attitude. Be honest with yourself, recognize and admit the truth. Only then will you be able to release the burden and proceed on your path as light as a feather.

Chiming Bells

A legend told the story of a far away village where an ancient temple had one thousand bells whose chiming was heavenly. But the temple had sunk into the ocean, so such angelic sound was heard no more. Nevertheless, it seemed that someone - although extremely rarely - had been able to hear it. A young man, fascinated by this story, collected all his savings and traveled to that distant village. For  many months, every day he went to the beach and tried very hard to cut off all other sounds in order to hear the bells. But, in spite of all his efforts to create silence, nothing ever happened. He finally gave up, and went to the beach one last time to say good-bye to the ocean. He lay down on the sand and - for once - he didn't fight the sounds of the waves, of the wind, of the rustling tree-leaves, of the birds. He simply allowed.... He accepted what was... Soon after, he heard the bells!

Consistency

How consistent are you? How able are you to organize your actions in order to keep up with your goals? Inconsistency is a trait common to many. They say they want to do something, but then they don't do it, or they do something else. Or they start a thousand projects and complete none. Your mind needs organization, a well-defined plan and, most of all, it needs focus. To be focused means to give all your attention to a specific target, make it your only aim, and concentrate all your energy - either physical or mental - in order to achieve it. When you are really willing to carry out a project efficiently, you truly do your best because your capabilities get enhanced. You become more creative, more precise and accurate. You know what to do and your intuition tells you how to do it. You are able to use your talents at the highest level, may they be writing, speaking, painting, fixing things, teaching or...just listening.

Choice vs. Fate

Still musing on the subject of "choice". Is choice always a "real" decision that you consciously make? To be completely real, you must be also aware of the consequences. Let's say you are invited to a party. You are free to choose whether to go or not to go. Let's say that you decide to go. While you are at the party, something happens that changes your life (you meet a special someone, you have an accident, you are presented with an unexpected golden opportunity etc.). What happens is, yes, the result of your mindful choice to go to the party. But the final outcome is certainly not. It is the consequence of a decision made by your "unconscious" self. It is called "fate" (i.e. the development of events beyond a person's control).

Before....

Discernment

Stubbornness is certainly not a virtue because it prevents you from seeing the mistake you made and it thus encourages you to persevere in a wrong behavior, in an obsolete idea, in an unfair judgment. Like many others, it's possible that you, too, believe that accepting something "different" means to have a weak character.  Actually, the contrary is true. When you are brave enough to admit your mistake, you show that you are flexible and open-minded. On the other hand, sometimes it may be necessary to persist in the pursuit of the result you wish to obtain. It's up to you to discern when it's advisable to give up or when you must go on with commitment and trust. If you don't succeed, it means that you didn't do "it" the right way. Maybe you need to make changes, either in your actions, in your attitude or in your thoughts. No-one was born to lose. Defeat is a mental perspective. You are defeated only when you say so. 

Serious Decisions

If you are aware that a certain kind of "action" is bad, you can decide to abstain from it. That is easy. If you don't want to entertain a certain kind of "thoughts" because you see them as negative, you can bring yourself to change them by voluntarily replacing them with positive ones. That is a little more difficult, but it can be done. If you wish to transform a certain "feeling" you are having, you can do it through consistent self-talk, a sort of psychological reprogramming. This is definitely not easy, but it is possible. But if you yearn to achieve a certain kind of "spiritual conviction", the result is not necessarily sure. You can decide how to behave, how to think and even how to feel... and do it by means of your will-power. As to how to believe...you just have to keep trying.

Daily Inspiration

Like everybody else you, too, need a source of inspiration in your daily life. You probably believe you are self-sufficient. Maybe you are, but never completely. You know how to think and act in what you believe to be the best way, but often other people's opinions may help you clarify the righteousness of your behavior. It's therefore a beneficial habit to read, listen to or watch something spiritually positive and uplifting on a daily basis. In fact, not always are you aware of the influence that what you usually hear and see  has on your psyche and - particularly - on your mood and your consequent thoughts, words and actions.

Momentary Shut-down

Only when it's dark enough, can you see the stars. The sun light is often so strong, the "voices" of the world are so loud that you are unable to see and feel what is in the depth of your spirit. Darkness  and silence help concentration. When you momentarily shut yourself down, when you isolate yourself from the world and focus your attention on a specific concept, the "star" of intuition manifests itself. You can perceive the idea you had been looking for in order to solve a problem, you know how to behave in that difficult situation, you understand how to deal with a dilemma, you see how to make a wise choice. Don't allow your difficulties to switch off the sunlight of love and joy in your heart. Simply decide to close your eyes for a moment, concentrate and... listen.

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving time. It's time for an assessment - in earnest -  of your  thoughts and beliefs about your life, of your positive and negative attitudes, of what you perceive to be your achievements and apparent failures, of how aware or un-aware you usually are while dealing with yourself and with the others. How much love do you give? How resentful are you? How judgmental? How forgiving? How much do you complain? How grateful are you?

If the negative level is higher than the positive, a day of 'official' Thanksgiving may be the most suitable moment for you to realize how blessed - in reality - you are. A careful analysis of "all" the aspects that constitute your earthly existence (physical, material, emotional, psychological, spiritual) will show you that - in spite of the drawbacks and disappointments - Life has bestowed upon you a lot to give thanks for. And, for once, focus only on this (and forget the rest).

A Song - Part IV The End

"I love myself the way I am
and still I want to grow.
But change outside can only come
when deep inside I know
(that) I'm beautiful and capable
of being the best me I can.
And I love myself just the way I am."
(Jai Josephs)

A Song - Part III "I Love the world..."

I love the world the way it is
'cause I can clearly see
that all the things I judge
are done by people just like me.
So, till the birth of peace on Earth
that only love can bring,
I'll help it grow by loving everything."
(Jai Josephs)

A Song - Part II "I Love You..."

"I love you the way you are,
there is nothing you need to do.
When I feel the love inside myself,
it's easy to love you.
Behind your fears, your rage and tears,
I see your shining star.
And I love you just the way you are."
(Jai Josephs)

A Song - Part I "I Love Myself..."

"I love myself the way I am,
there is nothing I need to change.
I'll always be the perfect me,
there nothing to rearrange.
I'm beautiful and capable
of being the best me I can.
And I love myself just the way I am."
(Jai Josephs)

Whirlwinds

Things are changing fast. Everywhere. Every day. You don't know what even the next minute might bring. Is it good? Is it bad? Probably neither. It simply is what "is". Change has always happened, maybe not as quickly as it seems to do nowadays. What could the reason of such whirlwind of events be? The spiral in which our reality is wrapped appears to be getting closer to the bottom and that's why it is spinning faster and faster. Everyone is in a hurry, drastic changes take place overnight, success is expected to be achieved in a whim, you never know what the next hour will be like. All fields of experience are involved, it is truly a global situation. Nature, morals, feelings, politics, economy, relationships.... nothing seems stable, you have the impression that the ground is shifting under your feet, that there is no stability you can count on. What to do? How to react? You can only wait and see. You may take action in what is under your control. Then.... relax... and hope for the best.

Does Happiness Exist?

How much time do you spend wondering about happiness? Some think that happiness resides in past events because the present is neither pleasant nor fulfilling. Others hope to find it in the future, when their dreams may still come true. As the past has been disappointing and the present is not that good either, the only possibility - if there is one - seems to be in the future. There are even those who believe that happiness is just a myth because they see life as a dispenser of upset, disillusion, frustration. It's therefore a yearning that can never be satisfied. A few see themselves as reasonably happy because they have found a way to face whatever comes with acceptance and are content with what they have. Who is right? Which belief reflects your personal outlook?

Ancient Wisdom

Ancient wisdom gives us a certain advice that is often ignored in our speedy world: There are things that need to be dealt with at a slow pace. One of them is anger. When you get upset and immediately react, such reaction usually entails a counter-reaction and, possibly, an altercation. On the other hand, if you give yourself time (a few seconds might be enough), the simple action of delaying your response will give you the opportunity to choose the best way to handle the unwelcome situation. Being in a hurry - no matter what you are doing - is usually the cause of a less than perfect result to your actions. Therefore, take the time needed to carry out whatever task you are performing and, most of all, stop and relax for a moment whenever you are angry.

Freedom & Responsibility

How would you define the word "freedom"? The dictionary states that freedom is "the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint". It sounds wonderful, doesn't it? How do you feel about having such power? What does it really mean for you? If you reflect a moment, you realize that power - in order to be a positive feature - necessarily implies responsibility. You need to consider the consequences that your thoughts, words and actions entail. In fact, feeling powerful may make you reckless, arrogant, conceited. As all things in this world, each situation is like a coin: it always has two sides. Everything can be used either in a positive, useful, beneficial way or in a negative, useless, harmful way. It's up to you to realize the necessity of always being "aware" of the possible result of your orders, decisions, choices.

A Kind of Denial

Nowadays many find it difficult to feel satisfied with their own lives because they haven't learned to accept the stage they are presently living in. The young wants to be older in order to enjoy more freedom of choice. The mature adult looks forward to a later time when he/she hopes to be fulfilled in his/her expectations. The elder looks back at the past with longing and would like to stop time and the process of aging. It seems that neither of them has found the best way to be in the moment. Their eyes are staring somewhere else, trying to spot the perfect time when they will feel the gratification and fulfillment they are hoping for.  Will such wish become a reality or will it keep moving further ahead?

Connection

A very hard question: What can you do when you feel that people don't understand you? You believe that you are being so clear, your behavior is unmistakable, your words sincerely uttered...yet you don't get the reaction you expected. You are looking for an answer that - it seems - you will never get. What to do? Give up? Probably. If you keep wondering, you might find such answer in yourself. All human beings are undeniably bound together on a wider, spiritual sense but - in everyday situations - you are usually left alone to carry out your chores, to solve your problems, to deal with your doubts. The universal connection is certainly great...if it only worked on "all" levels!

Try This!

Dare to make your life's assessment. Out of 100. Each item, 10 points.

1.   Health

2.   Love

3.   Finances

4.   Family relationships

5.   Friends

6.   Environment (social/work)

7.   Physical/material fulfillment

8.   Emotional fulfillment

9.   Spiritual fulfillment

10. General lifestyle

True Wealth

There is a great difference between having and enjoying. You may have a job but not be happy with it. You might own a house but keep dreaming of a larger one. You possibly have a friend that you often criticize. And you may even be alive (as you actually are!) and complain about your life. It's tragic to realize that human beings are not easily satisfied with what they have and keep finding faults, flaws, lack in whatever comes their way. Wouldn't it be better to be grateful for the job you have, even if you need to make some adjustments to the work environment? What about being grateful for having a roof over your head that provides shelter and safety? And don't forget that a good friend must be acknowledged and cherished for what he/she is. Accepting something first. and then enjoying it are the ingredients for true inner wealth.

Memories of the Past

Do we need memories? We certainly do. Why? Because they are the best teachers who can help us grow wiser. Think about something that happened in your past: something that you did or that someone did to you. Was it a positive experience? If it was, it means that your behavior was right. If the memory causes negative feelings, though, you realize that something went wrong. From here the learning process should start. And every time you learn your lesson, you become a little wiser. You are often told that you should not think about your past because it is obsolete. This is true if you tend to indulge in recalling past events, thus avoiding to live your present fully. On the other hand, your memory is a great asset that can be extremely useful, provided you know how to manage it.

Humor Needed

What kind of a person are you? Take a moment to think about it. Are you rather serious? Do you like things to be always perfect? Everything done on time? These are good qualities, necessary to organize your life or have a brilliant career. As to your well-being, you might need to make a change, to shift your focus, allow your outlook on life to be less strict. Your inner "self" has a trait you may have forgotten about. Next to the well-organized, efficient adult, there is child who wants to play. If you have ignored him (or her) till now, be aware that he is there and wishes to be acknowledged. Give yourself some fun-time: enjoy the company of your loved ones, tell jokes with your friends, run on the beach, dance, sing, be childish once in a while. Your spirit needs to experience all the feelings available to the human nature. But beside the "serious" ones, don't forget to add some humor. It will make your life much more enjoyable.

The "Selling" Machine

I like this statement by Greek philosopher Epicurus (IV century B.C.): "Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little". It seems totally suitable for today's life, where you are pushed from all sides to believe that what you have (or what you are) is never sufficient to make you an acceptable human being. You "need" to have a certain look, purchase specific products. In a nutshell, you always have to change or add something to your present way of being. Why? Because "they" want you to buy something. How do they do it? By convincing you that - by doing what they suggest - you can prove your worth. Who are "they"? All those who constitute the "selling" machine that is presently leading the world in the direction they want.

Dirty Laundry

It seems that some people don't like to be "left behind". Especially when striking happenings are concerned. Let's say something bad took place in your far away past. You had gotten over it and moved on. You don't think about it any more, you don't talk about it because it's an event that belongs to the past and doesn't affect your present. You had accepted it and overcome it. Then someone talks about a similar experience, curiosity is aroused and... you feel the need to unearth your past. Why? Does the public exposure thrills you? Do you want to be at the center of attention, no matter for what circumstance? Does remembering what has been and done with make you feel better? If it 'really' does, then you are right in airing your dirty laundry in public. If it's just a desire for emulation, if you just want to be talked about, not 'left behind', are you sure it is a truly gratifying move?

It's A Sad World

Why is the world the way it is? I believe that many ask the same question. Yes, why? So much turmoil, so much hate, always bad news on the forefront, never-ending accusations, finger pointing, blaming. Where are the "good" news? Why do we seldom hear uplifting stories of people who dedicate themselves to deserving causes, stories of people who love, appreciate, help each other? It's a sad, sad world indeed - I'm sorry to keep repeating it. Is there anything "we" (you and I) could do to make things better? I honestly don't know. I (and probably most of you) don't have the means to make "the world" a better place on a larger scale. But we can certainly try to make "our little corner" of the world a bit better. How? By being helpful, available, caring in our own daily lives.

Your Future

How should we face the future? It's a puzzling question, isn't it? Some seem to only forecast negative happenings, others have total faith in a brighter tomorrow. On a general plane, let's just hope for the best. On a personal plane, though, you should be able to make some predictions. If you look at your life - now - how do you judge it? If you examine your thoughts - now - how would you define them? If you go deep into yourself - now - what do you actually "feel"? According to the sincere, totally honest answers you give yourself, you may be able to detect the attitude that best defines you. Positive or negative? Hopeful or hopeless? Agnostic? Skeptical? Indifferent? One strong possibility is that you'll get what you "do" or "don't" expect.

The Only Aim

When I happened to see a "medical" commercial on TV (although it was on 'mute', I could still understand what it was about), a question popped up in my mind: What are companies, corporations, associations, organizations etc. ready to do with the only aim of hoarding money? How many are willing to also take ethical and moral issues into consideration, while carrying out their businesses? I prefer not to go deeper into the matter because I'm afraid of what I could find (although I feel I might already know!).

The Words of Others

How great is the impact of people's words on you? If someone pays you a compliment, you feel pleased, you become aware of whatever the compliment was about. Maybe it was something you hadn't paid attention to and now you are made aware of such positive trait in your looks, behavior or personality in general. You might experience gratitude. On the other hand, if someone criticizes something you said or did, you immediately feel angry, or guilty, or defensive, or humiliated or misjudged. You are not "pleased" anymore. You are resentful and unwilling to accept what might be a truth, a possible flaw in your way of presenting yourself to others. Although you know that you should not allow your happiness to depend on others, you can also "learn" from what others tell you about yourself.

A Short Poem

New Season

Autumn (or fall) is here. It's time for transformation. Nature has already started to alter its colors because the new season is advancing. The same happens in Life. While one stage of your existence slides into the next one, you see yourself undergoing a kind of metamorphosis because this is what is supposed to happen. If you remained the same, you would create stagnation - the death of your spirit. A continuous, yet gradual transformation is necessary to evolve, to mature, to wise up and become more aware of what it's all about. Accepting each new season, each new stage of your life by gladly greeting your advancing age with openness and gratitude is the best way to live to the fullest.

A Moment Comes...

In (almost) everybody's life a moment comes when they feel they have to make a change. It can be something physical, like consistently following a new diet (to improve your health) or changing your hairstyle - or something else - (to transform your looks). It can be material, like selling your house to buy a bigger one (to obtain a higher social status) or taking on a new business (to earn more  money). The change can also be psychological, if you believe you need to assume a new attitude and/or behavior (to radically transform something in your relationships). Finally, a moment might come when you realize that your spirit needs a true "makeover" because the way you feel about yourself does not fulfill you any more. Let's keep reflecting about "change", the only feature in everyone's life that doesn't fail to happen. We might get some useful insights.

Un-natural

An interesting topic for reflection regards human consciousness. You might believe you are always totally aware of what you think, say or do. You possibly are. Sometimes. Definitely not always. Actually, rather seldom. If ever. How come? The fact is that you (like everybody else, for that matter), throughout a relevant part of your life, are not "yourself", i.e. you are not who you are meant to be in order to express all your positive attributes - in order to be fully "human". When anyone does something wrong - even worse, "evil" (as we unfortunately hear on an almost daily basis) - it is evident that they are not following the natural drive towards the "good". Why? Because they have allowed "unawareness" to bury such drive deep down their spirit. How did it happen? It happened because they chose to follow deceitful lures such as hate, racism, selfishness, absurd pride, craving for power, for attention ... How sad! And how "un-natural"!

Worth Pondering

I copied this from a poster because I found it worth reading and pondering upon.

D ifferent

I  individuals

V aluing
E each other
R egardless of
S kin
I ntellect
T alents or
Y ears

A Simple Word

It might happen that a simple word that someone said to you, that you read somewhere, that you heard someplace might start a significant chain of thoughts. Such thoughts can become so engagingly compelling that they might re-define some of your beliefs, opinions, feelings, even your behavior. How come? The fact is that the human mind can - at times - be totally indifferent or untouchable by outside stimuli while - at other times - it can be so sensitive that it ends up being affected by something as simple as a word to such a degree that a permanent life change takes place.

Unavoidable Change

I have recently heard the news that - somewhere - something that seemed impossible to happen, actually happened. This means that, despite all efforts to keep things as they are, when the right time comes, things "will" change. The world has never been the same and it won't certainly continue to be the way it is - in whichever historical time, including "now". Some good things might change for the worse, but fortunately some bad things will get better. It is to be expected and, therefore, you must accept it. Either you like it or not. The balance must always be kept, in this world of ours, because it is based on duality. As far as the values that may change, it's up to you to decide which ones you want to keep - no matter what - and which ones you accept to give up.

Choice

I have been pondering about the word "choice". The definition in the dictionary says: an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. Perfect. This is absolutely feasible when you have to make a decision regarding a material/physical act or a behavior. You can decide to do or not to do / to say or not to say something. You can choose how to behave or not to behave in a certain situation. What about "believing"? Can you choose what and how to believe, regarding a spiritual matter? Is free will enough to make you "feel" in a way rather than in another? They tell you that you have the power to take your life in your hands. Can you do the same with your feelings?

Noia

The Italian word 'noia' (title of a famous 1960 novel by Alberto Moravia) has been translated by American author Daniel Klein as 'existential boredom'. Interesting translation. Boredom is usually defined as the feeling caused by a lack of something to do. When you are bored, you don't know how to pass the time in a way that interests you. If you experience "noia", though, you are not dealing with a simple lack of interest, or with having nothing to do, but rather with a sort of 'indifference' towards what surrounds you. You are able to carry out your chores and even to do things well. You simply lack enthusiasm. You feel that nothing has either meaning or importance. It's not a pleasant feeling. What to do, if you experience it? Wait until it passes. It will. In due time. If you make the conscious effort to snap out of it.