This time of year brings many thoughts to my mind. The chattering mind is busy. It’s the time of year when we end a solar cycle. It’s the time of year when I started a life with my best friend and wife 42 years ago. It’s also the time of year when I lost my best friend and wife 2 years ago. It’s the beginning and the end and the beginning at the same time.
So, we tend to take stock of our life.
I could complain about all the perceived ‘bad’ things that happened this past year. But, that’s all they are; perceptions. Whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is completely up to me. I recently read an ancient Chinese folktale about a lost horse that illustrates this beautifully. What seems like a curse might be a blessing and what might be a blessing could be a curse. Google it if you are interested. I’ve always stated that “I follow the middle path. Things could always be better, but they could be a heck of a lot worse.”
And when I calm the chattering mind, I am profoundly grateful to realize that I am but a single point of consciousness in this vast universe. That I am not separate from but a part of the machine. Amazingly, I’m also aware of this fact!
Life is a glorious struggle. We get to witness the miracle of creation happening right before our very eyes. We get to feel intense pleasure. We may experience intense pain; Physical or emotional. It’s real, we can taste it. Savor it. Be grateful for the experience. Time is short.
