You Only Live Once

....Or a thousand times, depending on what you believe.

Would you be surprised if I told you that part of my soul resides in a rock? Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm beginning to get it. The real stuff sounds crazy. Ask yourself. I know you know what I'm saying. So, here's what I have for you today. In this body, we sacrifice time on the planet for mobility. We can go anywhere- connect with anyone or any thing. Our lives are short- very short, but we can flit around and make our predestined connections. We have friends who have sacrificed mobility or will for time. Trees are connected to the grid through their roots. They may live for thousands of years, pulsing with life. They have to wait for you to come to them. Listen when they call you. Respect the call, connect and exchange, as you will. Rocks can live for millions, hundreds of millions (which can approach billions when we cross into thousands of millions) of years. They sacrifice their connection when they become a fragment, but they then have mobility. They carry stored information, or possibly more. Again, listen, connect as you will. Yeah, it sounds crazy but trust me. You only live once, so go for it. Do the crazy thing without abandon. Paint the trees, show the cord, cry with the rock, see what happens. You can share it all with me. I know you are not crazy.

Maturity Means Letting Go

I think I'm starting to get it. Letting go is really powerful. I used to worry excessively as a child, about everything. I even remember reading a saying that was posted on the ceiling above the orthodontists chair that said, " Worry is like a rocking chair, it takes you back and forth but gets you nowhere". Profound. So, in my maturity, I have applied this idea of letting go to many things. I do not worry too much about things. I kind of don't even think about things I have to do until they are staring me right in the face- This is my secret to effortless public speaking- . I try to let go of my expectations. I see people hurting all the time because their expectations have not been met. I take Byron Katie's advice to "love what is", which really simplifies a lot. I try not to be attached to things- even things with sentimental value. Even memories, don't really need to be held on to- they will survive or they won't survive, and either way, it's really O.K.. I still have to remind myself to not feel guilt for things I have done, or haven't done. There could be nothing more stagnating than guilt to keep you from action. Imagine how many people have not shown their face again at an event, function, gathering or fill in the blank, even when they have wanted to, due to guilt. How stupid is that? I have come to believe that as humans, it is our job to screw up, so if we are doing that, then good for us. No need for guilt. Pat yourself on the back if you have let someone down today and see if tomorrow you can do it differently. Old people seem to get this. They know that family is bliss and that only relationships matter. They tell you to "keep your house clean" and they aren't talking about the house you live in. They tell you that the small stuff doesn't matter and the things that get lost, broken or leave you are just things. They tell you that kids grow up, no matter what, and sometimes you just have to step back, let go and let them fail, just like you did- remember? Boy it feels good to let go. Try it! It lightens your heart and makes you feel a little bit giddy with the relief. Imagine the effect it could have on your worry lines!