Your Presence

While watching an old documentary, I saw some men walking in a wood. I started wondering about them. Where are they now? Are they still alive? What were their stories, their lives like? Were they aware that their images might have been seen after a long time, in other countries, by people they would never know? What does all this wondering mean? Where does it bring me? It leads me to simply consider the fact that each of us is someone who actually exists, who has a specific place here on Earth, someone who can still have a "presence" after a long time, who can be remembered, or acknowledged, or thought about. Each of us means something not only to ourselves, but also to others. Think that, just by looking at you, people can be affected positively or negatively, they can be either inspired or depressed or uplifted by the aura that surrounds you. Your being here, now, means a great deal, so do not waste the opportunity to make your existence a beautiful example of a life well lived.

Sci-Fi And Free Will

I am well aware that many people don't like science fiction. Even most of my friends don't. They believe that it's non-reality, useless fantasy, impossible creazy stuff all together. My opinion is that most of the unbelievable subjects are unbelievable "now", for the time being. If you are familiar with Jules Verne's world-famous novels, you cannot be unaware that almost all the creations of his imagination (absurd in his time, to say the least) have become reality. More recently, extremely evolved computers, laser beams, holography etc. are the materialization of stuff imagined much earlier by someone who could foresee the capacity of the human mind. But this capacity can also be exploited in a negative way. I remember watching a short sci-fi movie about a cult being introduced in our world by aliens in order to create a new race of slaves. The cult was freely accepted by many, with no coercion whatsoever, because they had been sweetly convinced that they were following the true faith and that they were voluntarily willing to offer their services. When finally the alien discards his human appearance, he says something like: "It's easier to subdue humans by convincing them through faith in a cause, because in this way they believe they are exercising their free will." 
Do you think that this is a technique that "only" aliens would use or have thought of using?

The Mirror Is Wrong

Some topics totally fascinate me, such as the way the human brain works and how it sometimes reasons in a definitely illogical way. As logic is supposed to involve a kind of reasoning that makes sense, that accepts certain truths, I believe that it should be an easy path to follow. But it isn't. It seems that logic is not the same for everyone. If I say that this color is blue and you say it's green, there is no way (neither for you nor for me) to convince the other. An even better illustration. Why do people tend to consider it a lie when they are told something they don't want to hear, they don't like, they refuse to accept? It's easier to close your ears and shut your eyes than to have the courage to face the reality of a particular situation. She doesn't love you, he has decided to take a different path, they believe something different from you.... They try to explain, but you are not ready do open your mind to accept the possibility that things might be different from what you thought they were, or from what you would like them to be. Is this arrogance? To a certain extent. I would rather call it close-mindedness, an incapacity to open up to a different perspective, to another point of view, to an unexpected turn of the events that you never fathomed.

Is this another example of  "I am right and you are wrong" ?

Different Or Similar?

Peace is defined as a state of tranquility, freedom from quarrels and disagreement. In two words: harmonious relationships. Can relationships be truly harmonious? We overlook the political implications in this question because, at least for the time being, they are out of our direct influence. But what IS under our direct influence are our relationships. Think about your personal life, your family, your friends, your coworkers. How do you deal with them? How do they deal with you? Do you believe you have a lot in common with them or do you feel you are different? Do you see yourself as fully integrated in your environment, a part of the community, or do you tend to see yourself as an outsider, someone who has different ideas, who is not understood? Do you perceive more differences than similarities between yourself and the others? Quarrels and disagreements between you and your partner, your parents, your siblings, your coworkers, your friends always start from your belief that you are right and they are wrong. As long as you will keep focusing on what divides you from your fellow humans rather that paying attention to what you share with them, to what you have in common (which is a lot, believe me!), a real peace will never be established.

Mood Changes

Have you noticed how sometimes your mood changes "suddenly"? You feel fine, everything (or almost everything) seems to be okay, nevertheless a feeling of sadness, of unfulfillment, of lacking (but you don't know what) dawns on you and you can't understand why. This must be another proof of the mysterious happenings that take place in your deepest self, of which you are totally unaware. What to do? Just allow, accept the way you feel, don't resist it, don't fight it. But you might try to understand it, going over the most recent events of your life to see if a certain situation caused you distress, although you thought you had already got over it. It's possible that you haven't. So, become aware of your relevant feelings, don't deny them, just acknowledge them. You will see that, after a little while, your sadness melts in the light of acceptance and you will understand that examining and getting to know yourself - better and better, day after day - is the key to a greater inner peace.

A Lesson About Pride

Pride can be a feeling of pleasure for one's own achievements, as well as arrogance or haughtiness. It can be positive or it can be negative. It is positive when it makes you feel good about yourself, when it makes you aware and appreciative of your qualities and skills. It is negative when it makes you full of yourself, when it gives you a feeling of superiority that prevents you from accepting a helping hand in case of need. And, remember, everybody needs a helping hand one day or another. If you have seen the movie "The Artist" you understand what I am talking about. I believe that there are quite a few people who would refuse a kind gesture from another because they think that this might show weakness, or it might make them feel humiliated. No one is perfect, no one is successful, no one is right all the time. You have your great moments and you have your not-so-great moments. It's okay. It's human. Don't be afraid to ask for help: a shoulder to cry on, a piece of advice, a listening ear, a special hug. I still remember the beautiful feeling I experienced when a friend, just out of the blue, said to me: "Elsa, please give me hug, I need one". Wonderful, indeed. Its memory still warms my heart.

Wisdom From Your Past

We have already talked about the past, but I believe that the topic is among those worthy of further discussion. How do you feel about your own past? If you think that you made some mistakes (as probably everyone does), do you also believe that you could do something about them? What? you may ask. Well, there are two things that could be done. If it's something you can make amend for, or that you can change, go ahead and do what you have to do. Forgive or ask for forgiveness, compensate the recipient of your wrong,  forget the hurts, or change your previous choice. It's all possible, if you really want to. If there is nothing that can be done, do you think you could learn from your past mistakes, i.e. discern the faults in your decisions, in your behavior, that brought you to make the wrong choice? If you look at the world history, at the wars that never stop existing, at dictators, corrupted politicians, greedy business people who continue to plague our  world, you might be brought to believe that  past actions are destined to repeat themselves. Maybe they are. But you can break this vicious circle, at least as far as you are concerned. You have the power to learn from your past and make your life a better one, right now - while paving the way to a more fulfilling future -  if you trust yourself and believe you can.