There is only one rule, that I know of, babies....

God dammit, you've got to be kind-Kurt Vonnegut

This is one of my favorite quotes. It's simple; it's straightforward; it's a little sassy.

There is infinite wisdom all around us-Gibran, Rumi, Hesse, Gandhi-these great figures and so many others offer us words to stir the soul, words to inspire men and nations, words to feed the mind. But these simple words simply say it all. Be kind. That is the only rule.

On this path to meaning, one thing that I have always sought is purity of soul. To absolve myself of any earthly concerns, and find love in everything around me. To remove fear. I have a long way to go......but I hope that, by adopting this mantra, I will find myself a little closer to that peaceful place.

Until next time.....

Get Up Offa That Thing!

What motivates a person? This conversation was sparked this weekend, and it got me thinking.

My significant other is a highly motivated, goal driven individual. In my younger days, I would have said the same thing of myself. It was easier in those days, because the goals were predefined. Get good grades, get into college, excel at extracurriculars. However, as I have gotten older, (and the "adult goals" have become less defined)  I have noticed a change.

When comparing "goal notes" with my honey, here's what I said: My goal is simply to be  happy. Sounds simple enough. I want my happiness to be free, unattached to thoughts of money, success, or material possessions. If my happiness is pure, and resides in my being, then it cannot disappear or be taken away by circumstance.

But there is a drawback to abstract goals and a preoccupation with temporal satisfaction: If left untended, it can create stagnation. And while I think it's important to be able to be happy in any given situation, how do I motivate myself to move forward?

Perhaps there is a difference between "happiness" and "satisfaction". I would say that I am not satisfied with my present circumstances, even though I consider myself happy. So maybe it's simply a matter of defining the things in my life that are unsatisfying, and addressing them, all the while maintaining a positive disposition, and having faith in the journey.

Until next time......

No Man is an Island

It is true that we cannot walk this path alone. Of all the things in life that we need in order to survive, perhaps the greatest of these is, in fact, love.

Life can be trying at times. Sometimes the burdens we bear seem unbearable. But when we are surrounded by those who love us, suddenly those burdens become lighter. When things seem dark, love and support allow a little light to shine in. Simply knowing that we are not alone can turn a seemingly desperate situation into one that is manageable.

If there is someone in your life who has been that beacon of hope for you, take a moment to reflect on that act of kindness and remember how it felt. Then pass it on. We can all make the world a better place for someone. We can all share the load. :)

The Hat Has Spoken

Sometimes you have to shake it up. So when my significant other suggested a couple of weeks ago that we take an international trip next year, I decided we should make it fun. So here's what I suggested:

We each pick 3 places that were reasonably traversable in roughly a ten day period.

We don't tell each other our selections.

We put them in a hat.

We draw one out.

And away we go!!

So that's what we did. :) Narrowing it down to three wasn't easy. I'll admit my selections came down to the wire. But we did it!

And...drumroll please....

We're going to PERU!!!! We are both very excited. Let the planning and adventure begin!

HeartBodyMindSoul

It stands to reason that on the path to finding meaning in our lives, we must take care of ourselves along the way. That is not to say that the occasional hangover isn't worth it. ;) After all, how fun is a perfectly straight path?? So let's just say we need to ensure that on the scale of being good to ourselves we have a net positive. :)

But there are a lot of steps to taking care of ourselves. We must ensure that we are taking care of our bodies, nurturing our souls, challenging our minds, and opening our hearts. In my quest for meaning, I'm trying to ensure that I am consciously pursuing all of these goals. I'm opening my heart in ways I never have before, breaking down walls long ago constructed. I've started attending the YMCA, and am loving every minute of it. (Working out is so much more fun than watching what I eat!!) I've been able to read more this summer, and my mind is grateful for the brain food after being a bit starved for far too long! As far as feeding my soul goes....this is probably the most important, and the one that is most elusive. I'm learning that there is a difference between traveling and soul traveling. Traveling just to see vs. traveling to grow and experience. Since travel has become such a staple for experience in my life, I want to ensure that when I do so, I'm choosing the latter. This is a goal that I can move forward with soon, with a couple of visits to the west coast on my horizon! Wish me luck!

Curves ahead

The road to meaning has been a curvy one. I suppose it is never a straight line for anyone. From pursuing my endeavors in the classroom to volunteering at the homeless shelter to finally picking up a guitar, I have searched for peace and a quiet soul. Through all my searching, I have known to some extent the fruitlessness of my search, It is in me and it is all around me. "I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty", Kabir tells us.

Traveling has always been one of the most literal manifestations of this search for meaning. I was bitten by the travel bug early, but probably caught the fever my senior year, when I visited London for the first time. Despite the freezing temperatures, I fell immediately in love with the city, and vowed to return, which I did for the first time last year. There is something so wonderful about putting yourself in a new setting, talking to different people, seeing different things, experiencing different cultures/customs/foods. For me, it's like being shaken awake. Lately, so much of my day to day feels robotic, like I'm on auto pilot. Traveling wakes me up to the real possibilities of life. A soul awakened.

I think you have to break up the monotony when you sense its presence. You don't have to cross oceans to do it. Just remember to keep shaking it up. Try something new. Talk to someone you've never spoken to before. Do something. Do anything. This is your life. Don't miss it.

Wisdom from Dostoevsky

"Listen! I know that talking is wrong: it's better simply to set an example, better simply to begin… I have already begun… and-and is it really possible to be unhappy? Oh, what are my grief and my trouble, if I am able to be happy? You know, I don’t understand how it's possible to pass by a tree and not be happy to see it. To talk with a man and not be happy that you love him! Oh, I only don’t know how to say it… but there are so many things at every step that are so beautiful, that even the most confused person finds beautiful. Look at a child, look at God’s sunrise, look at the grass growing, look into the eyes that are looking at you and love you…"

--Fyodor Dostoevsky, "The Idiot"

I'm not going to add anything to this one. Just wanted to share. :)