I had a teacher once who, when faced with a decision, would always tell me
"Choose Life". I took this to mean, make the decision in the direction of expansion, creativity, joy, LIFE.
In my morning ritual, after writing everything I love about my life, after I've gotten into a juicy state of appreciation, I then direct the energy forward by writing what I want in my life. It may be ease in traffic if I'm going to be on the road that day, or it might be gaining clarity on something I need an answer to, or it might be inspiration for a project I'm working on, or money flowing to pay my taxes. Or it might be more universal. I want the Haitians to have shelter and a roof covering their heads before the monsoon.
I believe that we are so conditioned to be at the effect of our lives, that we often forget the power we truly wield.
Sometimes the simple act of stating what we want, begins the process of flowing the energy to that end. This is why making a decision is so powerful.
Anyway, while I was doing my morning ritual reading over some of my writing, I came across a passage that actually inspired this memo:
"I want to make feeling good my new religion"What would it be like to make feeling good a religion? Does it sound too hedonistic?
Because I think most of us lean the other way. We have duties, responsibilities, jobs to do. We show up out of obligation. We do something because we think we should, or have to, or we've always done it that way, even though it stopped serving us a long time ago. We don't have time. Who has time to feel good? We have work to do!
But really.
Isn't it true that it is the simple pleasures in life that make up the moments you savor?
Last week I was in LA visiting my family and it being spring break, my sister asked if I wanted to spend time with my niece while she was at work. So as an activity, I suggested to my niece as well as my parents, who are retired, that we all go bowling. Why not?
So on a Monday morning, we're at All Star Lanes, the only foursome in the place, bowling to 50's
music and watching as more than one ball goes down the gutter, but cheering each other nonetheless. At the end of our game, my mom takes out her camera (she brings it with her everywhere) and asks the guy working the shoes to take a picture.
It's a moment. And it's wonderful. And it goes in my "things I love about my life" notebook.
My dad said something interesting to me the other day. They just got back from a trip to Australia and now they've decided to plan a new trip to China. He said, "When you're my age, you have to plan things to look forward to."
There's something poignant about this. We all have to have something to look forward to and sometimes we have be the ones that create that for ourselves.
We have to be the ones responsible for our happiness. And yes, even though it seems trite, it is important.
Why?
Tell me that your happiness doesn't make an impact on your work place. That it doesn't make an impact on your children? Or your relationship? Or your sex life? That your happiness doesn't make an impact on strangers? Or your health?
Tell me that your happiness doesn't make an impact on the planet.This week, do something for yourself that brings you pleasure. It could be as simple as buying yourself a bouquet of flowers to enjoy on your table; sitting under the sun for a ½ hour in the middle of the week; going on an artist's date to somewhere new; getting all your loose change together and buying yourself a mocha; discovering a local park trail; perusing the travel section in your local bookstore and deciding where you'd like to visit; pulling out an old recipe book and cooking something new; spending the extra .75 cents and buying the vine ripened tomatoes for your salad because it tastes better; packing a picnic and heading somewhere wonderful with your family; sitting in your backyard listening to the birds sing.
In other words, find something that will make you happy and do it every day. Make feeling good your new religion.
Why?
For self-transformation and planetary change. Or, simply because it's time.
