Is Luck Real?

Luck is an interesting word, usually used to define positive or negative events that happen, seemingly outside one's control. Let's see its official definition: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions. Here is another: the phenomenon and belief that defines the experience of notably positive, negative or improbable events. As clearly stated, these definitions completely clear you of any responsibility. Your actions are seen as useless or inadequate towards an unknown 'power' that decides for you. So, it's  either 'chance' or a mysterious 'phenomenon' that chooses for you. This means that, if you have setbacks in your life, the fact that you resolved to make important decisions in a certain way has nothing to do with the results you get. That's an easy way out, with no need for responsibility, isn' it?

P.S. No reference to gambling, which can be considered the easiest way to knowingly create one's own ruin.  *

Pivotal Point

In the past, and for quite a long time, people believed that the Earth was situated at the center of the universe and all the stars, sun included, rotated around it. Later, it was proven that the opposite is true: rotation is the Earth's task. Can you see a parallel with human beings? Each individual feels he/she is the pivotal point of their environment. You, too, may be convinced that you are what you are, motionless, because you don't need to move, to change, to progress. It's the world, the others that need to move and change, according to your convictions. You "know" how things should work, and so they should. You know how people should behave, and so they should. But they don't. You (like everybody else) are not the pivotal point. You are not the center of the universe, of your environment, of your own family. You are an important part of it, exactly like everybody else is. A shift in perception is needed here and now. In the past such shift was fortunately carried out, and the Earth was moved from its privileged position. Are you willing to do the same?

Sunny & Shady

You are sitting in the sun: all around you is light. In front of you, though, there is a shady area, where tall trees prevent sun rays to seep through. Only darkness can perceived, in stark contrast with the surrounding luminosity. They are both real, and they 'peacefully' coexist. Thus is your life, and thus are you. Your existence is both happy and sad: when good things happen, less pleasant happenings can also be expected. But the good news is that, when bad things happen, you know that the situation will most certainly change. Both possibilities are there, and both need to be accepted for what they are. The same happens with your mood: now you are calm and serene, then you feel displeased or unfulfilled. The trick is to fully enjoy the propitious moments and the gleeful spirit with gratitude. Then, when the 'wind' of life changes, accept negativity and sorrow with courage, and believe that better experiences are coming next. Because... they are!    *

The Tapestry of Your Life

Take a moment to think about the people who have crossed your life path, so far. Some have been there since you were born, some shared time with you in your younger years, others in more recent days, or they are still here, right now. So many human beings have had influence in your existence, although in different degrees. You clearly remember those whom you had a wonderful relation with as well as those who made you suffer. There may also be a few whom "you" caused suffering to. Some had little impact in your life, while many had no impact at all (or so you believe). What is the significance of all this? You can see your existence like a tapestry, composed of a great number of stitches, one for each person you dealt with, one for each event, accident, circumstance that challenged you. So many pleasant moments, so many joys; but also troubles, regrets, sorrows. All the people who have been there with you, either for a long or for a short time, contributed to creating the tapestry of your life. For some, you may not understand "why" they have been there. But there must be a reason for everyone you met, are meeting, will meet. Otherwise, in the end, the tapestry will not be complete.

Being 'Who' You Are

Birds are air creatures, so they fly because this is their nature. Sometimes they might land and 'walk' for a short while, but then they go back to where they belong. Sea creatures swim in the water because this is what they are. Some may come up above the surface, even spend time on land - for a short while, but then they go back to their natural environment. What about human beings? Their natural habitat is on land, although they can adjust to different surroundings. But here we are not referring to a physical environment. A bird is always what it is, a fish is always what it is: they are consistently being "who they are". They never try to be or behave like another kind of creature. On the other hand, human beings are not always so faithful to their own nature. Sometimes they try to be who they are not. Sometimes they behave like someone else because they need to fit in, they need approval, praise or admiration. 

Do you think 'you' are always 'who' you really are? 

"Different" is the Word

Some people or situations make you uncomfortable. A person is 'different' - for various reasons - and you don't feel at ease dealing with them. So you try to avoid them. A situation is not like the ones you are used to, and you dislike it, so you try to get out of it. Why? You say: because that person or situation makes me feel apprehensive. Of course: the responsibility belongs to the "others" since they are not what you are used to. See if, instead, your reaction may be caused not by 'them' but by 'yourself'. You feel uncomfortable because you don't know how to react to or to deal with someone or something that is out of your sphere of experience. As a consequence, you feel afraid, inadequate, embarrassed.You never thought that such sensation could be caused by 'you' being insecure, nervous, frightened. Do you believe that you are not up to the situation, that out of your usual environment you are like a fish out of the water? If you need the security of what you "know", why not try to get familiar with the unknown?

No Fish is in Awe

Imagine a goldfish in a bowl. The only environment 'he' knows is the small amount of water that surrounds him. For him, nothing else exists. Even if he is told that larger bodies of water are real (he might even see the ocean from where the bowl is situated), he doesn't care. All he is interested in is the food he gets and the comfort of his living space. Does this image ring a bell? Most human beings  (even you?) are contented to exist on Earth, without caring to learn more about the huge Universe that surrounds them. Worldly life is important, as the fishbowl is for the goldfish. Nevertheless, the human mind has (or should have) a greater reach than the goldfish's. If you allow your mind to remain 'in the box', your world remains small, your vision partial. If you allow it to wander, however, great mysteries are revealed to you, fascinating facts will amaze you. You will be in awe. Such feeling, although it doesn't provide you with material benefits, is good 'food' for your spirit. And 'spirit' is certainly not less important than 'body'.... unless you believe it is, and behave accordingly.

Oust Worry and Fear

One relevant characteristic of the human nature is to think ahead. It is an important feature because it allows you to make plans, to decide on your priorities, to arrange all you need in order to meet your responsibilities. In a nutshell, it helps you to organize your life. And this is wise because, as you wouldn't venture on an unknown road without knowing where we are supposed to go, in the same way you cannot proceed along the path of your life without a goal, without a purpose. The problem arises when such endeavor worries you too much, to the point of making you prey of fear. Extreme preoccupation with a task to be carried out, with a plan to be made, or with your 'destiny' in general, gives rise to fear. Such dread is the main cause of frustration. Wouldn't you like to avoid all this and enjoy your daily life? You can, if you just take a step at the time, remembering that worry makes things neither better nor easier. On the contrary! 

Life As Art

Artists know what they want to express in their work: a painter has a clear idea of the images he wants to paint, a sculptor sees his new statue in his mind's eyes, a musician hears in his mind's ears the music he is about to compose. Also human beings create a sort of 'art' throughout their existence. Life, in fact, is like a canvas that is being painted every instant. The interesting thing, though, is that human beings do not know what the final picture will be. Life is art, and each individual is the painter. They create their personal way of being day by day but, although they might believe they "know" what the final picture will look like, they can never be certain. Only Life knows. It's what is called your 'fate'. It is not pre-determined because it is the way you think, feel, behave, and act that creates your daily experiences. Therefore, do your best with the colors you have at your disposal, and then trust in what you will see when you are finished 'painting'. 

Exploration vs. Hesitation

If you watch a bird in its natural habitat, you will notice that it flies from one branch to another, stopping briefly on each, before finding the one it chooses to sit on for a longer time. It makes you think of some human beings who move from one idea to another, from one belief to another, from one 'leader' to another, but without seemingly never finding the one they want to stay with. Checking out on how to proceed before making a decision or a commitment is certainly wise. Nevertheless, while birds spend their whole life flying about, because that is their nature, for sensible human beings things should be different. It's smart to evaluate new ideas, explore different ways, look into diverse ideologies, but not forever. Whoever does so will be like a flamingo standing on one leg. The only difference is that such position is natural as well as temporary for a flamingo, while for a human being chronic indecisiveness might end up crippling their life.  *

Clouds and Dreams

You look at the sky and see some clouds drifting about, like sails on the sea. One attracts your attention: its shape is still undefined but it is slowly changing. Little by little, blown by the wind, it starts to take a clearer form. Now you can see it well: it's horse! Yes, it's a perfect horse, with mane, tail and all. But it does not stay so for long. Its contours change and the cloud is transformed into something else. Now you see a car, then an alligator, in a couple of minutes you believe you see a teddy bear, till the wind pushes the cloud too far for you to detect other shapes. Actually, it seems it si dissolving, but you are not sure. Interestingly enough, your dreams follow the same pattern. When you are very young you have no clear vision of what you want your future to be like. Eventually, it all becomes clear, and you make your definite choice. But, as time goes by, circumstances may become different and, as a consequence, your initial plans undergo a change. So, you make another choice and possibly - later on - a different one. Until...

A Frog Story

An old story says: If you put a frog in a pot of boiling water, the frog will immediately jump up and out, but if you put the frog in a pot of cold water, and slowly heat it up, the frog will get so accustomed to the heat that it will not realize it is boiling to death. A sad story indeed. Doesn't it make you think of what is happening to our society? The media present to you "bad" news every day, all the time: crime, deceit, shootings, dishonesty, lies, immoral facts and images, fighting, cruelty, injustice... Little by little, you are being desensitized towards the horror of such happenings, and are slowly brought to accept them as 'normal'. But they are not 'normal'. Yes, they happen, and maybe it's a truth that must be told, but it's the way they are presented that makes people indifferent, even cynical. Luring sensationalism is the culprit. Once you start considering as habitual and acceptable any aberrant occurrence, moral and ethics become obsolete. When moral and ethics become obsolete, minds and consequently life really start changing, and certainly not for the better.

Whatever!

An octogenarian got his second university degree. To the interviewer who asked him, "Why did you take a second degree at 80?", he answered, "For the  same reason I took the first one when I was 25. I was interested in the subject." After smiling at his wit, a deep wisdom can be detected under this humorous answer, an answer that may be useful to folks of all ages. Keeping active, being cheerful and, most of all, always remaining interested in something seem to be the best ways to face the twilight of life. Losing interest, becoming indifferent or careless are features that afflict people of all ages, though. An expression that seems very popular is "Whatever!", uttered with a bored expression. Although it may be referred to a particular situation or conversation, it also indicates a specific attitude: indifference, carelessness. And this is quite revealing of someone's character. It has been proven that any trait (especially negative) that a person has when young, will be magnified in their old age. Therefore...Beware!

One 100th of a Second

Are you one of those who believe only in what they can see, in what they can experience through their own senses? If your answer is 'yes', you are a materialist, your life is based on practical experiences only. But... beware of "blind" beliefs because thoughtless reliance on material sensations only can be misleading. In this world there are certain facts that are undeniably true, although they cannot be "experienced". Think about sport races. Sometimes the winner is decided by one hundredth of a second. Are you able to even imagine such a tiny amount of time? Or the speed of light? You cannot, as you cannot actually imagine the size of an atom. But...they are a reality! At the same time, you may also be convinced of the existence of "stuff" - that others are eager to make you believe for their own benefit - which does not really exist. Therefore...prudence and alertness are always helpful while proceeding on the path of life.