I really love the month of June. So much is happening all around. It's so easy to get so caught up in all that there is to do, that we forget to smell the roses.

 

It's especially hard for me at times to remember what has priority, when there is so much I want to accomplish. Which will lead to just the opposite of what I set out to do, which is to do the best I can do with the task at hand.

 

There is a sense of duty that comes into play, and that is a very good thing. As a husband and father, I will always look to provide and protect. As a consultant at work, I will always look to provide the best outcome that is possible for the company I am providing my services to.

 

And speaking of fathers, I want to acknowledge all the wonderful men in our lives who may or may not have been fathers, but in some way have been like fathers to us.

 

Happy Father's Day to all of you, whoever you may be!

Namaste,

Michael

As a passionate, caring and dedicated person, I can easily get caught up, entangled, emotionally involved with my family and work.

 

I feel it's my duty to both my family and those to whom I provide my services to provide, protect and give them the best I have.

 

One might think that with my dedication to my spiritual path, there is always balance in my life. I always have been able to dedicate time to my spiritual practices every day. It really is a blessing and tremendously helpful. I can't imagine where I'd be without it. But my life is not completely balanced. It has its ups and downs.

 

Remember this is a world of duality and not of perfection. This is not an excuse; it is a reminder. As I've heard it said in the 12-Step meetings, "I am a piece of art in the making," or "a work in progress." In other words, this life is not about perfecting ourselves; this is the trap of illusion or as the Vedas say, maya.

 

In one sense, we are perfect... perfectly imperfect. This is the way God made us. We do the best we can with what we have at the time, even though that best brings us pain and makes us uncomfortable. Because that pain and discomfort will most times bring us to the next stage of our "imperfection."

 

So while we are out and about fulfilling our obligations...don't forget to smell the roses. I'm not just talking about smelling the physical red, yellow, pink, etc., roses. Look around and try see the beauty in all things, even the uncomfortable things...the so-called "ugly" things or those people who you don't like or make you uncomfortable.

 

Ah-Man/Amen.

 

Michael

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