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What are you waiting for?
Well let me begin by saying hello.. I hope all is awesome in your life right now and as a result.. SMILES SMILES SMILES!!! That's my wish for you!!
I am once again chillin in my room and having that sudden urge to get some thoughts that are going on in my head out on paper, so to speak, for a my own benefit and also to share a little piece of me with all of you. I kept a journal for many years and no longer do so... I guess you could say that these ideas, thoughts, or whatever of mine
have pretty much built up to this point over a long period of time and something, usually a personal situation or experience, triggers a sudden urge in me to spill my thoughts.. the final piece of my mental puzzle is in place!
Anywho here we go...
Someone once said to me, about 6 years ago, " Keith, If nothing changes nothing changes " and I can remember just like it was yesterday how that simple statement made me felt on that day... It made me feel strange! Didn't sound right... Was a little confused, and then it hit me... This dude is right! Since then I have heard that statment a gazillion times from various friends, strangers. etc... Through reading and studying and such I soon came to realize that it's a saying that goes back all the way to biblical times!
Such a simple statment it is but.. What I also came to realize is the following; when"it's" needed, to put "it" into action, to move forward with "it" in an optomistic way and to straight up accept "it"... "CHANGE" IS A MOTHERFUCKER!!! But over the past few years " it " has been such a major part of my life as well as other people's around me that I am starting to accept and embrace it with optomism more and more everyday..I began looking at change as a good thing a little under a year ago and went as far as tattooing the Japanese symbol for change on my wrist in which I included a picture of in the beginning of this blog... It's makes sense to me on a whole diferent level in which brings me to right now.... Today.. This blog!
One of the many writers that I admire alot is Mark Twain. I had come across this subject in one of his letters and would like to share it with you. when reading it, please on your own replace the word "it" with the word change.. and here it is;
The Old Year is passing.... it found me a waif, floating at random upon the sea of life, & it leaves me freighted with a good purpose, & blessed with a fair wind, a chart to follow, a port to reach. It found me listless, useless, aimless—it leaves me knighted with noble ambition. It found me well-nigh a skeptic—it leaves me a believer. It found me dead—it leaves me alive. It found me ready to welcome any wind that would blow my vagrant bark abroad, no matter where—it leaves me seeking home & an anchorage, & longing for them. It found me careless of the here & the hereafter—it leaves me with faith in the one & hope for the other.
Yeah.. That dude could definitely write..
So let me now share my ideas on the subject...I've come to believe/realize that one of the hardest things for any of us to do is to change our ways for the better. Just accepting change in life is usually uncomfortable. Many people, including myself, fight that acceptance to the point of frustration or even despair. Nevertheless, change is inevitable. The world and events are changing around us all the time. If I/we don't adjust to certain changes I/we fail to grow. And no growth means stagnation. And who the hell wants that?
Changes, in my life at least, can be summed up in two categories: change that happens independent of me, and changes I make. Some changes are in my control; many are not. That's the deal, plain and simple. When it comes to self talk here are the 2 question's I ask myself in which seem to be helping me; Am I going to make changes that are beneficial to my spiritual growth? Am I going to accept change out of my control?
Try asking yourself those same questions from time to time and let me know if they at all helped you.
For those of us seeking some peace and serenity in our lives, ME, I've realized it is best to learn that the acceptance of things that I have no control over is a vital beginning. I also realize that that acceptance doesn't necessarily mean approval... an important distinction.
Let me share with you three writings that I have read and appreciated in the past few years.
The first one is right out of the Big Book, for those of you who have never heard of the " Big Book " nor read it.. Please, have an open mind and try reading it... I learned alot from it!!
The second writing is basically a run down of the Philosophy of Tao in which I'm very fond of and I thought it was appropriate to include in this blog..
And the third and last one I read today, in fact, for the first time and is by an unknow author..
1).YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of those days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds-but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.
This leaves only one day - today! Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of these two awful eternities - yesterday and tomorrow - that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives me mad - it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let Us Therefore Live But One Day At A Time!!
2). Tao or Dao is a Chinese character that refers to a pivotal feature of Chinese philosophy and religion. One of its most generic translations is that of "the way" or "head path." Those who have studied its meaning, place it in a variety of concepts, like that of religion, knowledge, rationality, morality, duty or truth. Central component of Taoism, Tàijítú, which is the black and white symbol of Tao, is considered to convey the fundamental force of nature, or the "noble way" of personal conduct in life. From its discourse as the "Great Tao" or the guiding principle behind all universal processes, Tao extends beyond being and non-being and is considered to transcend the boarders of space and time.
The all-present Tao is the intelligent ordering principle behind the unceasing flow of change in the natural world. In fact, Tao has gained its great significance within its believers as being another theistic representation of the Greek concept of logos or better stated that of God. Tao is the essence of reality and the understanding of change. In fact, many consider it impossible to describe it and concentrate on feeling and observing its different meanings. Its two colors represent antithesis and conjunction, as black is considered to be the absence of light, while white represents the light in all its states. For Chinese philosophers, the black represents the yin or feminine principle, while the white represents the yang or masculine principle. In essence, Tao is the relation between these two opposite but nevertheless complementary principles. Consequently, Tao is the flow of energy in any living object and symbolizes the way in which these two principles behave in life. With the two opposite colored dots inside each complementary feature of the tàijítú image, Chinese reveal the fact that within Yin there is a little of Yang; the white dot inside the black portion of the symbol and reversely. Some argue that this represents the love Yin and Yang feel for each other and thus they enter each other's spheres and interact with each other's nature.
Yet, the concept of Tao and Taoism or "school of the Way" in Chinese philosophy, which is considered a religion focusing on the goal of attaining Tao, is based upon the understanding that the only universally accepted constant is that of change. Moreover, tàijítú represents the constant human battle of understanding this change and entering a stage of harmony and fulfillment. This potential into actual process is symbolized by the circle in which the yin yang components are flowing. Discussed in the Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese text attributed to Lao Tsu, the nature and meaning of the Tao, along with those of Confucius and Mencius, have a far-reaching effect on the intellectual, moral and religious life of the Chinese people. In fact, due to its wide scope of usage and meaning, Tao has become part of contemporary culture and has entered the Western lifestyle as a symbol of purity, truth and the realization of ongoing change in life.
3)."What most of us need to change is the way we live and treat others. Love is the ultimate commandment. That is a principle, by its very definition an unchangeable concept. So, it follows that we need to change from our failure to live up to Christian principles to that ideal. Such perfection is worth striving for and is found only in God's son, Jesus Christ. Paradoxically, in a world of constant change He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow."
Now I'm not trying to go the religious route in any way but that dude said it WELL and I %100 get the feeling that there is a bunch of wisdom supporting those words. Wise teachers have taught us to embrace change. Strive towards the prize. Keep on keeping on. Know thatyour loved ones are cheering you on, providing support and encouragement. As I was taught growing up to be the best I can be and to love and treat all the same as I expect myself to be. I am also beginning to feel the need to support and encourage others to do the same by sharing my thoughts as I am doing so today...
So please in the end, let's all try to remember, if nothing changes, nothing changes.
Thank you for letting me share..most of all thank you for having the interest in reading my thoughts.. I hope, from reading my blog, it helps you as much as it has helped me by just writing it.
For now take care.. and be good to yourself!
Keith
