Life 100

Basic life thoughts:

1) Work hard. A life without work not only lacks discipline, it also lacks the satisfaction of accomplishment and the joy of service to something outside yourself.

2) Take the time to take care of yourself. Nothing is more important than moving, stretching, quieting the mind, cleansing; it gives you the ability to hear inside yourself and to answer.

3) Practice gratitude. There is nothing more powerful than gratitude. To give thanks even when you would be perplexed about what life is dishing up at the moment, that is to trust that God's only interest is to love you. That kind of gratitude leads to the greatest gifts.

4) Serve. Do things for others without any expectation of anything in return. Step outside of yourself. Look into the life of others, so your ego can take a break, and your heart can get a shot of compassion and strength.

5) Challenge consumerism. Sales and marketing is a strong force, but rational, truthful thought can beat it down any day. Are there ways you can save? Try it. Can you do without the latest and greatest, skip a few, limit yourself to one every 5 years, instead every year? The planet is dependent on humankind's willingness to stop letting sales and marketing control you like robots. And in the end, it is your dollars which control the market. Make your money speak loudly by concerning yourself with the welfare of the planet and buying less.

6) Take action. Don't complain. Complaining has absolutely nothing to say for itself. It does not change anything and it doesn't even make you feel better. Take action instead. Action makes you feel good - little steps lead to large outcomes, that is how change happens.

7) Make time for playtime. Life is serious enough - you need to give yourself a break. Breathe deeply, have some fun. invite people over, cook together, eat together, talk together, laugh together. Get out into nature and enjoy it. Play with the children - they have the most amazing imaginations ever and they'll entwine you the most incredible made up non-sensical games imaginable. And children laugh for the sheer joy of it, there's nothing like their giggles and laughter and time spent with them is well worth it.
8) Love, love, love. There is nothing more worthy in life than love. Can you love a raindrop, a breath, a starlit sky? Can you take in this moment and love every atom of it? Can you? Love is our saving grace, our only saving grace. When we learn love, we have learned the highest lesson and it is so beautiful that there is nothing else so beautiful and all-consuming as love.

In times of hardship, in times of confusion, in times of contentment, all of these things hold true. Joy is found in the willingness to not evade the essence of life and while downtime, playtime and funtime are essentional, so is taking life seriously - working, making change where needed, taking action as necessary. A happy life requires all of it - in balance and equanimity.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2009 Darshan F jessop