Contemplating the unsolvable: life. In the words of my god…. “Am I living it right?” (John Mayer… DUH). The quandary that undoubtedly arises in a typical conversation of or relating to “LIFE” is when people bring up the F word (somewhat interchangeable with the D word). My qualm with finding meaning in life and discovering your individual worth and purpose is the idea of ‘fate’ (the D word being destiny). I have yet to participate in a conversation in which any of my friends agree with my perspective. I believe things do not happen for a reason. Maybe this stems from my propensity to science rather than religion, but whatever my beliefs, (most of which I’m still trying to figure out), I can’t nod aggressively in agreement with those who preach, “everything happens for a reason”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not insensitive to people who feel differently than myself. Especially those who have experienced and dealt with the hardships of life I can’t even fathom yet. Maybe we all have a specific purpose in our life, but that does not equate to having calculated moments that are ‘meant to be’. It doesn’t matter where we end up; life is about our journey through it, right?
I would highly recommend reading one of, if not the most enlightening books I’ve ever read: 'When bad things happen to good people' by Harold S. Kushner. This argument of bad things happening to good people is not meant to be an annoying philosophical defense to things happening for a reason, merely a good perspective to take in considering the idea. To summarize my rant and condense how I feel about the topic, I would like to quote Harold himself: “The questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but ask how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened."
I would highly recommend reading one of, if not the most enlightening books I’ve ever read: 'When bad things happen to good people' by Harold S. Kushner. This argument of bad things happening to good people is not meant to be an annoying philosophical defense to things happening for a reason, merely a good perspective to take in considering the idea. To summarize my rant and condense how I feel about the topic, I would like to quote Harold himself: “The questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but ask how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened."
May I be safe and free from harm.
May I have a peaceful heart.
May I have a healthy, strong body.
May I live with ease.
May I accept myself exactly as I am.
May I accept my life exactly as it is.
Maybe I’m not so insensitive and heartless after all , huh?
ALSO, to trigger more elevating thoughts and feelings here are excerpts from one of my favorite poems/songs I reread frequently to keep myself grounded and appreciate each day as it comes: the sunscreen song.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.
Whatever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it.
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