If You Only Hand One Year to Live

Over lunch with some like-minded friends earlier today, I mentioned the home work for a writers' intensive I had just completed a few moments before joining them. One of the group is moving back to Canada after living here for twenty-seven years. I don't see her often, but I will miss knowing I might see her any time soon.

Take a poll online. 

Designed for your discovering what motivates you, part of the homework process was based on a post by Mark Manson (touted as an author, thinker, and life enthusiast). 

Mark's 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose started out with "What's your favorite flavor of shit sandwich?" The point he was making is that even when you do what you love, there may be parts of that you do not enjoy. The list of questions ended with "If you knew you were going to die one year from today, what would you do and how would you want to be remembered?" 

When I put the phrase "If I only had one year to live" into a Google search, about 540,000,000 results came up! We are not alone thinking about things like this. 

That is why I write. To share what has meaning in life is what has meaning in life. 

My answer to the first question is: Some people I love die. I discovered that years ago. Not all, but some, and I open my heart to be broken again and again. 

My answer to the last question is: I would do what I am doing now, with even less sense of urgency. Being in the present moment would allow one year to feel like forever. 

Whatever is up for you right in you life right now, you might appreciate the insights to be gained by Mark's strange questions. 

Click here to access all seven questions. For sure, what has meaning is worth thinking about….

World of Words

Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

I first heard this quotation by Pablo Picasso watching a YouTube video of Amanda Palmer talking about being an artist. "Connecting The Dots" is about the way digital publishing has leveled the playing field and how vulnerable writers are in this venue.

Yes, writers and painters and musicians are able to now share their gifts via social media, but Palmer compares the Internet to the Wild West where pickpockets and snipers abound. With the Internet you do not get to choose. Cyber criticism can be cruel.

It is very interesting to me that I watched the video because I am participating with a handful of other writers in an eight-week intensive. A few years ago, I discovered my love of writing and I added the word author to my online bio. 

Admittedly, that late discovery of myself as a writer seems strange. I am someone with fifty years of journals. I am also someone who blogs regularly, publishes a wellness tip and a wholesome thought (audio and text) weekly, and co-authors a monthly newsletter.

But am I a writer just because my heart lives in a world of words?

Texting clients, family, or friends, meeting with a couple, creating a custom wedding ceremony for them, and then officiating at their wedding are also part of my world of words.

My maiden name is Smith. In my heart, my prayer is that I am a wordsmith: a person who works with words; especially a skillful writer (Merriam-Webster).

As Palmer says, once you share your art, the response is what it is. "You, as the writer, have to weather the critics." That made me think of the Eight Worldly Dharmas I have been working with for a bit over a year. The dharmas come in pairs, and as we grasp for one, we are vulnerable to the other. I think they will make good sense to you. 

Pleasure and pain

Loss and gain

Praise and blame

Fame and disgrace

My work around the dharmas included the "Reflections on Universal Well-Being" chanted by the monks of Abhayagiri Monastery, a Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah.

May I abide in well-being, in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill will, in freedom from anxiety, and may I maintain well-being in myself.

May everyone abide in well-being, in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill will, in freedom from anxiety, and may they maintain well-being in themselves. May all beings be released from all suffering, and may they not be parted from the good fortune they have attained.

When they act upon intention, all beings are the owners of their own action and inherit it's results. Their future is born from such action, companion to such action, and it's results will be there home. All actions with intentions, be they skillful or harmful, of such acts they will be the heirs.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, "Spiritual practice is difficult in the beginning. You wonder how on earth you can ever do it. But as you get used to it, the practice gradually becomes easier. Do not be too stubborn or push yourself too hard. If you practice in accord with your individual capacity, little by little you will find more pleasure and joy in it. As you gain inner strength, your positive actions will gain in profundity and scope."

May it be so....

True Freedom

There are no problems, there are only situations that ask for your loving attention.         

 ~ Aaron

I was blessed to be the guest speaker at Pilgrim Congregational Church and some requested I share these practical suggestions for how you can keep an open heart and experience true freedom.

Pema Chödrön suggests when we are frustrated or disappointed or otherwise not approving of life's current circumstances, we can benefit by playing a game of "Just Like Me" to help us recognize our connection to all other beings. Sitting in traffic, think, "Just like me, these people have other things they would rather be doing." Frightened by medical tests or procedures, realize, "Just like me, these people are frightened and suffering." Concerned about finances, remember, "Just like me, others worry whether there is enough money." 

She says you can let life stop your mind and create a "Pause Practice." A car backfires, a siren blows, a crow caws. Each of these common events can call us to be present, teaching us to live our lives without giving the conditioned mind the reigns. Take a few conscious breaths and say something that inspires our clarity such as: Loving others is an act of my true freedom.

The freedom of loving others as ourselves requires awareness and compassion. Our own response to racism, sexism, or fundamentalism may be fueled by our unconscious prejudice. We may be prejudiced against racism. The best way to lessen prejudice in the world is to not be prejudiced about the prejudice of other people. 

Use this wonderful practice to develop sympathetic joy and keep your heart open. Bring to mind the person or situation and affirm, “May your happiness continue, may it increase.”

Breathe the phrase, "May your happiness and good fortune continue, may it increase. May it expand out into the world. May all beings experience happiness and good fortune."

Use the practice for general categories: "May all women/men/children find happiness and good fortune. May all on this planet have a sense of well-being and enjoy success. May all be free from suffering and feel joy."  

Bring to mind any specific professional groups: doctors/lawyers/politicians. "May right livelihood bless our world. May all on this planet aspire to do no harm. May all on this planet and beyond aspire to do great good for all beings. May all be free from suffering and feel joy."

Practice for corporations/countries/ethnic groups/institutions: "May all beings experience happiness and good fortune."

Bring to mind the animals in the air, on the ground, in the ground, in the oceans and rivers and streams. Their particular happiness and well-being. "May they be well-fed and treated with kindness. All beings. Whatever happiness or well-being. May it continue and grow."

Sacred Text: Galatians 5:13-14 (from the Message)

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. 

Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. 

Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love, 

that's how freedom grows. 

For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: 

Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.