2016 has seen the last breath drawn by icons such as Prince (57), Muhammad Ali (74), and on Christmas day, George Michael (53). May their souls rest in peace. Last night the apocalyptic movie, 2012, was playing on TV. Its premise was based on the forecast predicted by the Mayans. In the movie, the earth's core was affected by solar radiation through some cosmic planetary alignment that caused catastrophic events to occur such as earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. In some of the scenes, we can see characters holding signs reading "The end is near, repent"...
The end is technically near all mortals as humans only live about 80 to 90 yrs on this planet. After our deaths, the earth will continue to spin and life goes on. Our egos are concerned with our attachments to the earth. It is something to contemplate. The moment of our death is unbeknownst to us; therefore, it is up to us to make the remaining moments we have count. As children, we are often unaware of our own mortality. This is one of the gifts of youth as we are busy experiencing the beauty and novelty of life instead of worrying about the consequences of death. As we age, we become stubborn and more set in our ways. Change and mental plasticity become difficult as ascribed in the age-old saying, "you can't teach an old dog, new tricks".
For some, life brings everything one could hope to want and yet their happiness or satisfaction eludes them. This is mostly attributed to the mental state of the individual. Their attitude is in need of some adjustment. The good news is that our attitudes can change the instant we decide we want something strong enough...
"Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
I believe that genuine happiness is easier found by those who can be happy without the fancy things in life. Poor in spirit refers to those who are simple and down to earth. In fact this saying is derived from God who, by the Holy Spirit, deigned to become a mortal human born in a manger. Humility and simplicity are the keys to being happy. This way one can keep an even keel (and a level head) on the waves of emotion that affect us all.
This is not to say that one must actually give away their prized possessions (but respect be to those who can). In order to achieve a worthy goal, a sacrifice must be made. If someone wishes to lose weight for their health, they must sacrifice the portion of their diet that causes them to stay where they are and spend time and energy into exercises that build their bodies. If one wishes to strengthen their minds, then they must sacrifice time and effort through learning and education. If one desires to strengthen their spirit, then they must sacrifice time and effort in prayer, meditation, sincere repentance, and practicing a clear conscience.
We don't need to wait until the end of the world to be happy. Life is too short to live in fear and insecurity.
The good news is that we each have until we draw our last breath to release ourselves from our glass prisons of fear, guilt, and insecurity. It is on us to find our path, to have faith in ourselves and our plan, and finally to sincerely commit to walking it. Whoever has ears, let them hear...
Inspiration found under the Mopac Bridge while walking around Town Lake.
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