On this road trip we call life, I have learned a few things I choose to believe as truths. Yes, they are based primarily on my experiences, so there must be some bias there.
- Nobody can take anything from you that you aren't willing to give. This is not to be confused with being robbed or whatnot, of course that is illegal, and a whole other matter. What I refer to is far less tangible that a wallet or pursue, rather I mean you. Your kindness, your affection, your sincerity, your love. These things can only be given freely and either accepted or not. I often think of Mahatma Gandhi's quote of "If you give someone a present and they do not accept it, to whom does that present belong?" If you offer up your sincere and honest self, pride, affection whatever, and the other person does not accept it, those qualities, attributes, still belong to you. You are no poorer for the prospective recipient not having accepted your gifts.
- You are as happy as you make up your mind to be. This one is not mine, but Eleanor Roosevelt's. A very similar thought is from Dale Carnegie, "If you choose to believe you are happy, this will end up making you happy." There are others of course, but you get the idea. This is not to say that life won't throw the usual challenges and obstacles, but we cope better and more effectively when we are in a happier mood. Let's also be honest, we all know people that just seem to be on perma-scowl, and we can choose not to be like that.
- There is nothing in my life that I do not choose to have there. Often times we get caught up in the everyday rat race and take up habits that are really not healthy but not even our own. It is up to us to take stock of our priorities, our life's choices and change those habits, and leave only what is important to us in our lives.
This is not all, but it's a start. Please feel free to share yours.
