Daily Gratitude: How egotistical of us to think that we are the be all and end all. That’s what we’re saying when we say “oh yeah. I was on the road to success but life got in the way”. What we need to realize is that life goes on all around us no matter what. It’s the nature of the universe. We are just tiny pawns upon life’s chess board. We have to stop thinking of ourselves as so important. Our aim should be to dance in sync with the universe, moving with it as it does. Going with the flow as some say. Just realize that there are things and powers out there much, much bigger than us or our wants and desires. We should just be grateful to be able to play on the big baseball diamond in this wonderful universe. Think of the awe of a little boy or girl going to the majestic Yankee Stadium for the first time. They are in wonder and are soaking up as much as possible. Then think of the mother or father who’s only interest is finding their seats, knowing where the kid is all the time, worrying about where the bathrooms are, how long is this game going to be; where the car is parked and how long it’s going to take to get out of the parking lot and oh yeah don’t forget “what’s for dinner?” One person (the child) is simply living in the moment, feeling joyous in the pure and perfect experience while the parent is existing in the future and in the “what ifs” and as such is unable to enjoy the stadium or the game. Which one do you want to be like? Of course the adult has more responsibility but what good does worrying about where you parked or where the bathroom is going to do you? Maybe you can think about what’s for dinner since that is within your control but most of the other stuff is not at all in your control. Trim away all that extra baggage and enjoy being put where you are right now and recognize it as a gift.

Daily Gratitude: I can tell you from personal experience that this is so true. Way too often we “decide” what needs to happen if something is to go as it should. Yet, who died and named us king (or queen). We do not know how everything is supposed to align in the universe. Indeed, if we believe in a universal power – no matter what name you give it – we have to laugh at ourselves thinking we know how everything is supposed to fit together; how all the pieces of the puzzle should drop into place. Most of the time we can’t even keep our own lives in good working order. “I have faith” we say. But then we set about deciding exactly how everything should work and how everyone should act. Faith is actually letting go. Now, I’m not proclaiming to be able to do this as you can tell from recent posts. But at least I do understand my hypocrisy, not that that will do me any good. I think my failure to let go (have faith) is an even worse “sin” because I’ve seen this quote work perfectly in my life. I’m sure I told you that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon for about the same time as i was told I was going to be a doctor (but that’s another story). Then when I was 21 I developed epilepsy. As you can imagine, there went any hopes of becoming a neurosurgeon or any kind of surgeon. I then took various detours in my career, trying this road, then that road and finally ending up in a field that was home for me. I finished 26 years on that one path after floundering around trying other things. And you know what? I’m glad I got epilepsy. Why? 1) because it, along with being fat and being a smoker, helped me understand my patients better. 2) this was a place where I could help thousands more than I could if I had gone into neurosurgery. It was also a much better fit for my personality. In every way it was the best. Had I maintained control, I would have lost out on this opportunity and perhaps been unhappy all my life. Who knows. But what I do know is that I ended up in a place where I could do good and the people I met as I traveled this path impacted my life in phenomenal ways. So, even though it’s hard, try to just have true faith and know that the universe really does have your back. Let the universe be the quarterback and you be the receiver. You’ll be happy you did.

Daily Gratitude: This comes from the great race director and ultra running legend, Lazarus Lake. It’s something that I have to remember as I move through life and wish I’d known before. It makes perfect sense but we’re often taught as children that making mistakes is a horrible thing, a sin, a disaster. The primary learning we get at that point is to be afraid and to try to be perfect “next time”. At that age (and many times it’s at any age) we don’t know that perfection is impossible to attain. Therefore, trying to be perfect is a no-win situation. Often when we’re being yelled at for making that mistake, we’re not being told how to avoid it. We’re just being criticized for doing something wrong. No one calmly takes us by the hand, saying “if you do x or y, it’s more likely you’ll get result z than p”. Wouldn’t that be much more beneficial? So it’s no wonder we beat ourselves up when we make a mistake. However, it is much better for us to say “oh yeah, I messed that up…..BECAUSE I did a and c but forgot b. If I had added b in there AND put them all in the right order, this wouldn’t have happened. Great. Now I know what to do.” Isn’t that more useful than berating ourselves. I think we should be grateful for the mistakes we make because they teach us more. I’m certainly not advocating going out and intentionally making mistakes but when they do happen, celebrate them and learn what you’re supposed to be learning.