Well, you know the saying. But life is also one
helluva party. Life isn't all good, and it isn't all bad. And even
though your parents brought you to the bash, the older you get the more
you must realize that it's up to you to enjoy being here, especially if
you're gaining in wisdom and not just years.
That's easier said
than done, of course. Life can be indescribably difficult and
distressing, giving you as many reasons to acquiesce to anger,
abjection, and apathy as you might find to persevere, press forth, and
profit from your experiences. Regardless, the choice is yours: You can
will yourself to learn and grow from even your most regrettable
experiences or allow afflictions and adversities to deny you the joy of
living.
You can make life richly rewarding despite how rough and
rugged it can be, first and foremost, by fully embracing this present
moment. And this one, too. And each moment to come. Make the most of
each moment, and allow each moment to make the most of you. Yesterday
is gone, and tomorrow isn't promised. So, put as much into enjoying the
present as you do into building a future. Don't just contemplate life;
live it. Don't just make a living; live life to the fullest on what you
make. Get a life, and get the most from it.
Forsake all hope of
changing the past. And don't allow yourself to be deterred, detained,
or demeaned by those who dare demand that you attempt to reconstruct or
restructure the past. Look to the past only to learn from it and for
reasons to be grateful; not to waste precious energy trying to undo
what can't be undone.
Focus on people and things that deserve
your attention, and give each of them the attention that they deserve.
Organize these priorities in accordance with how you perceive your
purpose for living and your principles of living. Be true to yourself
while treating others as well as you want to be treated and while going
about the business of doing what you must to have the good things you
desire.
Have faith.
Find a reason to believe you can fly. Dare
to believe in someone or something that gives substance to your hopes
and propels you through your problems to continue pursuing your dreams.
Keep your mind clear of negative thinking, which can shipwreck your
passion and leave you drifting aimlessly on a dilapidated raft of
regret, remorse, and resentment. Face the future with powerful
motivation as well as positive expectations.
Think positive, but
be practical, too.
Don't just dream; do what you must to make your
dreams come true. Don't just complain; do what you can to improve your
life and the lives of others. As the famous prayer of serenity
admonishes us, change the things you can, accept the things you can't
change, and seek wisdom to know the difference.
Live creatively
because your wishes are not always life's commands.
Expect the
unexpected and prepare for the unpredictable. Keep an open mind because
there will always be more to life than what you've come to learn, live,
love, or look forward to. Be spontaneous, versatile, daring, and
adventurous because inflexibility and fear of the unknown will stifle
you. Don't limit yourself or those around you. Pursue even those
pleasures the very existence of which you had not suspected.
Make
it a daily delight and a priority to play.
Have loads of fun as you
journey through life because it's good for you and your relationships.
Don't amuse (literally, "not-think") yourself to death nor go through
life so serious and somber that you fail to get plenty of comedic
relief.
Don't permit ephemeral pleasures to impede your
progress. Everything that's good to you doesn't always remain good for
you. As good as some things are, you still need to let them go in order
to grow. The "good" job that has gone from being a comfort zone to a
dead-end zone. The "good" relationships that are keeping you from
having the life you truly desire. Have the sense and strength to put
dubious delights behind you and keep before you the real desires of
your heart.
Embrace your feelings of inadequacy as reminders to
stay humble, keep growing, and always be empathetic, compassionate,
patient, and forgiving of others. Accept your weaknesses as signs
pointing to your need of others. You're not all you can be, and you'll
never be all you'll ever need. Make good friends and acquaintances that
can complement, comfort, encourage, and enhance you. Allow yourself to
love and be loved because nothing else will ever give your life as much
meaning.
If you wrong someone, try to right that wrong by asking
for forgiveness, making restitution, and changing your ways of thinking
and living in such a manner that you don't continue committing the same
offense. If you're wronged, extend forgiveness and illuminate a path
that might lead to a brighter future. Let neither bitterness nor guilt
consume or degrade your quality of life.
Find rest in giving
your very best.
Honestly give your all to discover and delight in all
the good that life has to offer. To err is human, so don't allow your
mistakes to discourage you. Wipe the dust of ignorance and indifference
from your feet, always seek to become a better person, and keep your
conscience clear by avoiding intentional acts of insensitivity and
ineptitude.
Be fair to others, faithful to your word, and follow
the way of peace. Embody what you expect from others and show fortitude
when you must and equanimity in every situation. Keep your mind,
spirit, relationships, and environment healthy, knowing that your life
will never be any more than what you make of yourself, your
relationships, your opportunities, and your influence.
