"The Beginning of Contentment"
As live closes around us and our time on earth grows shorter we look hard upon our past. We look at the decisions we have made along the way and how they have affected us. We look at our affects on others lives and hope we did the best we could.
Of a sudden it doesnt seem as important to blame someone else. We learn to accept the consequences of our live choices and make peace with them and ourselves. We find it much easier to worry about today and give up the past. After all, we were youthful and full of dreams and hopes and in most cases a little naive.
We can only live our life by experience and only learn not to make mistakes by making them. Does this make us illiterate or blind? Does it mean we suffer a lack of intelligence? I think it means that we just didn't know better and we were trying our best.
We find it less important to worry about how people see us physically. Lord knows, it is all passing away and the best we can hope for is to be healthy and live a long life. All we can truly hope for is happiness and maybe a chance to make ourselves and someone else smile.
As you look back at your life cling to the good things and let go the bad. The bad probably was a result of your not having the experience or information needed to make a proper choice. Don't blame God for the things gone awry in your life, after all, he has given us free will and knows that somethings just happen.
Through suffering, for most of us, we do grow and become better people. The old adage of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger is very true. However, how you handle your suffering is your choice and what you gain from it is your decision.
You can only hope to grow more and be stronger. Hope to live to be very old and enjoy your loved ones. Accept that you have made mistakes and that you are a better person for it. Make peace with yourself and those around you and move forward without fear or hesitation.
Can you think of any greater joy than to wake with a smile on your face, knowing someone out there loves you. Stop more often to look at the things you took for granted before. Tell your loved ones every day how much you care for them. Listen to music as if you have never heard it before. Spend time in meditation every day and each day learn something new about yourself or the world around you.
Do not enter into any kind of relationship with your walls up or with a lie on your lips. Reach out to people and just enjoy them for their own individual selves. Why shouldn't you just believe that everything is going to be ok, after all, you've gotten this far.
Once you let the past go and understand your time is limited, life grows more precious. Once you face the consequences of your life and accept you and this old world is not perfect you can accept your own frailties. Once you understand that not always being perfect is quite human then you can become more than just human. You can become yourself and be content with just being you.
One last thing... Understand that previous lost loves or mistakes does not mean mistakes or lost love in your future. If someone comes into your life and lights up your whole world, take a chance. After all, you never know where the twist and turns of life will lead you, and if it fails, keep the happy parts and let the bad go.
Don't spend your life chasing around trying to please others who don't really care for you or just use you up. Quit trying to save everyone from themselves. Afterall, you can't help those who don't want your help. Spend your life with those who love and appreciate you.
Life is way too short to live it in fear of the unknown. Don't let life suck you dry and leave you bitter as you grow old. Don't spend your life with someone you don't love, someone who doesn't love you or someplace you don't want to be. As the old beer commercial said so avidly:
"Grab for all the Gusto you can get!"
....and be content knowing you gave it your best shot.
F. Wayne Johnson
Sept 9, 2000
