Diverging Parallels

I used to know a downtown street with old buildings and shops on both sides. Riding along the same street after many years, I noticed that the buildings and the shops on the left were still the same old ones, while the ones on the right had been replaced by new, all-modern constructions. This makes me think of two people who, when they start their path together (either a relationship or just a friendship), agree on many things, have similar ideas, beliefs, interests and then....a drastic change takes place. Actually, one of the two remains exactly the same, while the other undergoes a transformation, a metamorphosis, becoming more 'evolved' (so to say) in mind and ways. The sides of the "street" that used to run parallel, are now getting farther and farther from each other. Is it good? Is it sad? Whatever it is - it's all but unusual. 

True Nature

While watching a documentary about nature, a sudden thought came to my mind: animals, plants and everything else in our world, is - totally - what it is supposed to be. Except "Man" (= the human being). Every individual on Earth (therefore including you and me) is the way he/she "is" but not always are they able to think, feel and act accordingly. You can be sure that a cat or a dog, a lion or a dolphin are capable of always being themselves, behaving and acting in line with their own nature (unless they are "domesticated"). Not so the human being. There might be rare exceptions, but - in general - a "normal" individual grows to be a blend of so many conditionings that his/her real essence is seldom allowed to reveal itself in all its beauty and spirituality. Another kind of "taming"?

Your 'True" Reaction

In spite of repeatedly saying that we should not have expectations from others, we still do. We affirm that people have the right to behave according to their judgment, yet we judge their actions according to our convictions. You say that this does not apply to you? Just think of a person close to you who recently acted in a way that you did not like. Maybe they didn't give you the answer or the attention you expected; maybe the tone of their voice seemed to imply something else; maybe they didn't inform you of a plan of theirs; maybe they asked a question that you didn't want to be asked. How did you react? Your “true” reaction, not what you showed the world, but to your ‘intimate’ response. Can you honestly say that you totally accepted what you didn't like or approve of, without a bit of resentment and/or blame? Of course you did! Everybody does. It's only natural. No one (including you) is that "perfect"!

Your Mental Factory

Believe it or not: Your thoughts are your "masters"! Your mind is the powerful factory that manufactures - moment by moment - all the stuff responsible for your general wellbeing, both physical and emotional. Your thoughts create the moods that make you feel in a way or another, and the persistence in such thoughts leads your body to 'behave' in a way or another. Therefore, be careful about the way you let your mind wander. Don't forget that it is "you" who holds the steering wheel. Your mind is only the engine of your 'car'. You can decide where you want to go and how to get there. You just need to be aware of your proficiency as a driver. And trust yourself.

The "Subconscious" Problem

A problem with human beings is that they have a subconscious. People think and act in a certain way, sure that they know the reasons behind their thinking and acting. Most times, they only "believe" they know, while they don't. If you get an ailment, you immediately think of the physical cause. Some may go as far as trying to detect the "mental" cause, such as a negative thought or behavior. Both may be true. But there is something else that is very difficult, often almost impossible to detect. It is the layer of beliefs and, mostly, feelings that are deeply rooted "below" our conscious mind and of which we are totally unaware. Past experiences create a sort of foundation upon which our daily life is being built. Therefore, if you stop to look, you will only see the building (the way your life is, your health situation etc.) while being unaware of what lays underneath. Discovering what such foundation, nevertheless, is all but easy. Unfortunately.

Your Dreams

Do you believe that dreams have a real meaning? Some say they are a sort of outlet for your brain when it is stressed, preoccupied, or generally unhappy. So the fictitious world created by your subconscious can either release or intensify such frustrations through unlikely, yet meaningful "stories" that you experience with real intensity. Others say that dreams are actual messages from your inner self. When you need guidance, enlightenment or inspiration on a particular issue, your "soul" tries to communicate with you by means of specific images, which are intended to deliver a piece of information that might benefit you. Others ignore or don't care to remember their dreams as they don't believe in their "usefulness". What category of people do you belong to?

Your Reality Show

In a yogurt container, advertised 'with fresh fruit inside', a couple of tiny pieces of strawberry were to be found or, better, 'detected' (as they were almost invisible). A good - although quite tragic - example of the modern world. So many things (and people) are presented, or show themselves, to us as perfect, enticing, alluring, promising, beneficial, exciting etc. In reality, many of those things (and people) are just fake. An exhibition is put up for us and we (oh, so many of us!) believe it and buy it, both with money or with admiration, trust and fidelity. It's a sad actuality indeed. Since it started, it's a never-ending real-life 'reality show' that goes on, and on, and on.

Freedom of Expression

What to do with your feelings? They say that you should always express them, any of them, no matter what. They say that it is healthy to always manifest what is in your mind and in your heart. As a general principle, this is good advice. But there might be some exceptions. What about the case where, by expressing yourself too freely, you hurt or even offend the other person? Is it still a positive thing to do? It might be positive for you, but what about the other? It seems that nowadays the guidelines suggested by the most "modern" psychology stress the needs of the personal ego a bit too much. Yes, you have the right to be yourself and to exercise your freedom of expression, but you also need to be "humane" and care about what feelings your free expression may arise in someone else. Is this so wrong?

Small and Big Things

The cover of the tiny notebook I carry in my bag is nicely decorated with hand-drawn colorful hearts with the caption, "Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and discover they were the big things". I find it a thoughtful reminder of how often we tend to overlook the importance of events that, at the moment, seemed almost insignificant but that in reality were quite meaningful. Think of that time you had dinner with a dear friend. You can either judge it as a simple meal, and forget all about it, or you can consider it as a wonderful opportunity for spending time with a person you like, possibly admire or even love, some precious minutes of convivial conversation and heart-felt sharing. It was a moment when not only did you eat a tasty dish or had your favorite drink, but you also experienced a special kind of bonding. After all, aren't these the best moments of your life, the ones that bring a smile to your lips and a sparkle to your eyes?

Your Birthday

Is a birthday important in a person's life? Yes? No? You may say that it is just the day you were born, and nothing else. It has no other meaning as to how your life has been flowing so far. It's a very practical, prosaic definition and it is absolutely true. But you may also consider it as the beginning of your earthly journey, the starting point of the most important and challenging endeavor of your existence, without which you wouldn't even be here. Therefore, the people who like to celebrate the time of their birth, either consciously or unconsciously honor the work they have carried out, up to now, by acknowledging the day, the month and the year they first saw the light. And also this is true. As every single "thing" that exists has its unique place in the economy of the Universe, every kind of "birth" - yours and mine included - is a feat worth celebrating.

Modern Harassment

I have often wondered why, nowadays, so many people feel  easily "offended" by... almost anything. As a consequence, a lot of  new rules and restrictions have been put on ... almost anything. On one side, why touchiness has increased so much and, on the other side, why there is this need to closely observe, criticize, call names, try to discredit someone else for the way the look, for what they wear, for where they come from? Why doesn't everybody mind their own business and be what they are, allowing others to do the same? Those who get easily offended or just targeted at show a lack of self confidence, while the "harassers" show a mean need for petty power and/or control. Both are to be pitied, aren't they?

Useless Planning?

An interesting observation is that Life usually takes you in a direction that is totally different from the one you had planned or imagined. When you are young you envision a certain path: you see it clearly in front of your eyes and also endeavor to follow it. You do all the things that, supposedly, should be done to achieve your aim. Yet, many times things go differently. You thought your career would be such and such, but it wasn't. You were sure you would immediately pinpoint the perfect partner and, although at first you believed you had succeeded, you eventually realized that you hadn't. You were positive about being able to create the best family ever, but later you had to admit that the results were not up to your expectations. Why does all this happen? Could it be that planning is kind of useless and that all we can do is our best and then accept what comes along?

Crystals and Diamonds

Paraphrasing Hamlet, you may ask, "To change or not to change"? Anyway.... why change? If you are OK with your life, but not 100%, it means that you believe you could make it better. Naturally, if you undertake such endeavor, life will not immediately become as sparkling as a diamond. It must start from resembling a piece of glass, to go on to become a crystal, then a zircon...Any meaningful transformation happens slowly and gradually. But, whenever you need to move forward to the next step, you will be able to do it, because your efforts make you acquire the tools you need. Through direct, personal experience,  in fact, you will "know" that you are truly able to improve yourself and, consequently, your life.