Life Experiences - Will They Make or Break Us?

This is dedicated to my best friend.

Your life is a legacy and inspiration to many, most especially me. Firstly, thank you for the enormous sacrifice you gave to our beloved country even when it has left you empty. You have seen war, all kinds of atrocities related to such insidious moments that rob the soul, your soul. Thank you for your daily inspiration that brings me to the well of life, feeling filled. Thank you for believing in me and having those hard conversation that I needed to hear.  Throughout your life you have felt the success of being an Entrepreneur, Mentor, and valiant support to those who counted on you. You know the pangs of disappointment, ridicule, bullying and yet you stood where are with strength, courage and hope one foot in front of the other keeping going even now.

To say that life is what we make it is an understatement and my dear friend is the greatest example. At each point and time, a keen awareness of self and the vision of the goal at hand has been his steady mental meal. The question is when you reach a crossroad in your life amidst a realization that the latest journey had left your helpless, powerless, and less than who you are. In those critical moment, our deciding points will gear us toward an endless abyss or hope. Often, in this critical mass moment we are held, even stymied frozen by our own latent sense of giving up hope for a better tomorrow, comparing where we once were, looking back over our shoulder hoping by some miracle our previous life and self will return.

Realistically it is better to stop, wave a fond farewell to our past selves and give ourselves grace - forgiveness.  This very key unlocks the potentiality to move forward with renewed life.  It is a key because it allows us to renew hope, faith, and belief in ourselves. Forgiveness is a call to action word.  The root word FORGIVE is defined as to feel resentment against an offender (yourself) - we no longer incite punishment or redress toward ourselves.  We make a concerted effort to censure ourselves for our past misgivings.  Do you get a sense of how powerful FORGIVE & FORGIVENESS really is?

At that crossroad we FORGIVE, let go of and put one foot in front of the other, knowing how imperfect we really are.  With that grace in hand, we then, step toward that pool of water, that puddle on the ground, that reflection that catches our eye and face it with a broken heart, heavy soul and tear stained cheeks, quivering lips.  Why must we face that image?

We face the image to come to a place of indulging ourselves in celebrating all that we are.  Giving credence to our lives.  Through the tears we can surely take a moment to think on those instances however brief or long where we were our true soulful self.  You know those moments, when you decided not to yell at your children for breaking curfew but smiled at them because you were so glad, they were home.  OR ... when your wife just found out her Dad died, and she snapped at you. You held her tight.  For me, it was giving grace - forgiveness to the person(s) who harmed my daughter, my grandchildren, and me.   It is those moments in your life when being kind and sharing all you must be given to one who has none.  Those instinctive, soul driven moments we denied we ever had and left at the curbside at the train station of life. 

It is time to find that intuitive, instinctive self and be innovative in your vision, passion, and purpose.  Stephen De Sede often has said, "Life is not about you."  It is and I agree about everyone else around us.  Which brings me to the next learning - find a way to serve and give to others even in that moment of facing a life changing path.  Giving a part of yourself away, will lead you to a journey of finding yourself.  It is not just about random acts of service because in truth, giving and service is an everyday event.  Ask yourself prayerfully, when in meditation or pondering life to be guided to ways and people that you can serve.  By making that your intention, it will give you the strength and courage to keep going with an attitude of gratitude.

Gratitude is a virtue that every day we ought to practice with a passion.  When we find the grace of gratitude, we find everything that we have is enough.   We find that we have more than we ever realized.  Gratitude gives us the opportunity to celebrate life and its rich blessings of abundance even in a moment of hurt, pain and suffering.  This is not said to be morose but after the flame of the fire has died down, there is a quintessential time and place to give gratitude the grace it deserves in our life.  Gratitude and giving to others are great partners in the healing of the soul, heart, and mind.

Life is an evolution, a journey where the destination is not nearly as important as the experiences we have.  Experience teaches us but does not define us.  We define who we become, and character is built by our intent.  

I - I give selflessly

N - Nurture others and self

T - Timeless Gratitude 

E - Empower with Kindness

N - Nirvana - transcend your suffering with love for others

T - Touch lives soulfully every day.

My last words to champion YOU is this ... 

Find your bliss point, your passion and give yourself permission to follow it. When you choose to do that very act, your soul, heart, and mind will celebrate.  Listen to the whispers of the universe for your call to action because happiness, true soul depth happiness is up to us every step of the way.  Others, things, and titles cannot give us happiness as much as we try to believe that.   We, in the end, will garner happiness within ourselves through acts of self-loving, rather than self-loathing and incrimination. Do not take my word for it, perhaps it is time to put action behind your words and see how your perspective and vision changes.