There is gold in them there hills!
“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.” said Michel de Montaigne. Life is always full of surprises and changes. Feeling frustrated, angry, sad, worried or afraid are all feelings that need to be felt and acknowledged. Having said that, I have learned over the years that the best next step is to let go of judgment. Not always easy to do.
As we reconnect with our hearts and feel our feet on the ground again, we can take an emotional step back. Maybe this thing is not good OR bad. Either way, it is what it is. When I am being the best ME, how will I respond?
When things are falling apart it is still OK to laugh. As the world seems to be in greater turmoil every day, it is all that more important that we express love, friendship, and community. Think of one thing that you thought was the end of the world...and later saw the beauty in it. You can find at least one!
Not long ago my younger sister died of cancer. Eight years before, (through a misundertanding that I don’t think I’ll ever understand!), she chose to stop speaking to me. It hurt deeply. A few months before her diagnosis we reconnected at my parents house. It was a civil meeting, no deep conversation, but broke the ice. As the months drew on I ended up playing a role in her life and her dying that I never would have anticipated, partly because of that 8 year silence and what I learned about myself.
I believe that the universe conspires in our favor, even when we don’t see it. Next time you start to judge something or someone, stop and reframe for a moment. Maybe, just maybe, “there is gold in them there hills!”.
So judge not good or bad. Be in the fullness of all the joys and sorrows life brings. For me, loving ourselves and each other through it is the key to living a life of joy and freedom. In fact, it may be the only way the world will change.
* The opinions expressed here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Natural Awakenings or its publishers.
