Why wait until it's too late!

Hi friends,

Today's inspiration comes after a 5 hour workshop with Venerable Amy Miller, an American born Buddhist nun. She was a political organizer in Washington, D.C. until she was ordained in 2000. She currently travels the world and teaches the Darma while running the Milarepa Retreat Center in Northern Vermont. Today's teaching was actually about a topic quite taboo and that most of us westerners are greatly uncomfortable speaking about, death! She lead the topic by asking us to meditate for a few minutes on the following question: If you only had 3 months to live, what would you do between now and then? After the meditation, she asked us to share our thoughts. One woman said, she would eat everything she ever desired, another said she would go to Bali, another said fulfill his bucket list which included skydiving. When she got to me, I said, I would want for everyone in my life to know and understand how valuable they are to me and how much I loved them. She glanced at me with her piercing blue eyes and shaved head and nodded with approval. Then she asked, why are we not doing all these things now? Why do we always seem to wait until its too late to do and say all these things we know would bring us happiness until either we come to the end of our lives or until the people we love have departed?

She then explained that what  we fear most, death, just so happens to be one of the certainties of life...As we all were born into this world, so shall we all depart, so why should we be fearful. She continued to say that this thing we fear so much can and should actually make us live our lives that much more purposefull and fulfilling. As a Buddhist, she frequently meditates on death as they believe that at birth and during their existence, it is all a preparation for death. I know what you're thinking, how morbid, right? Actually she said that it was the opposite, that this allows her to wake up everyday.  Her practice is as soon as she comes into consciousness in the morning, she gives thanks for awakening in her human body and sets the intention to live the day with mindfulness and purpose benefiting all sentient(living) beings while realizing that it may be her last awakening, last breakfast, last month of March or trip to the grocery store. She stressed the point that 2 things are certain, one, we will die and 2, we have no clue when. This way, every waking hour can be an expression of deep gratitude for this precious life we have. Friends, if you think about it, is that not precisely how we should live every single day? Filled with hope and faith and compassion looking, seeking and expecting the very best life has to offer? Don't we often tend to anger easily over seemingly insignificant things such as traffic or a long line at the grocery store...instead of taking advantage of the few minutes of peace and quiet we have in this busy world we live in? Don't we neglect and forget too often to stay in touch with people we care about blaming our busy lives for it?  When at the end of the day, our interpersonal relationships are our most meaningful thing. We even  fail to see the beauty of the pink Hibiscus bush that greets us everyday with its natural beauty because we are in a hurry to get to our next appointment? Rather than taking a second to acknowledge how outstanding our planet earth is to provide us with such beauty.

The truth is, that in order to fully appreciate all of the above mentioned little gifts of life, we first need to deal and address uncomfortable topics in order to move past them and gain freedom from them in order to have the liberty to appreciate all of our gifts? There is no way around our fears, the only way is through them. Just like any other painful issues in our lives, brutal honesty with ourselves and perhaps those who have hurt us, the acknowledgement, the regret, the pain and at last, the letting go of that fear is what allows us to soar like the eagle and rise above those dark clouds. As I have learned today, the mere fact that the time of our death is uncertain, should encourage us to mend and forgive any unresolved issues with ourselves or others. Why walk around bitter, angry and resentful when our time is limited here. I wish for you to be encourage to realize that the past is like our rear view mirror, small because it is not as significant as our present and future which is why the front window of our car is bigger...to look ahead only. Similarly, forgiveness is something we do in the present and no the past. Our job is not so much to forgive others as it is to forgive for the sake of letting go and allowing ourselves to move forward. I had a wonderful conversation at our potluck lunch today with a psychotherapist and we both agreed that regardless of past experiences and patterns of behavior we have learned as a result of our experiences, we are not bound by these experiences, we seem to become repetitive creatures of habit. We are not adult-children, we are simply adults that have the right to move past any hurt or pain caused int he past realizing that today is all that matters. And although it is absolutely harder for some people to let go and move on than others, the fact remains that the only person that can liberate you is YOU....by making the decision that you so deserve to experience unconditional love and peace of mind. To allow yourself a certain degree of vulnerability and fearlessness in the areas you were previously afraid to encounter. The point is to be the author of your own present and future. The past is the past, if it calls, don't answer because it has nothing new to say. Your present and future however,  you are totally in control of and i implore you to make yourself the hero of your life. Write the happiest and perfect ending you can possibly imagine. Make the decision today to write a new story for your life and very consciously, decide that you are no longer a victim of you past but rather the victor of your future.

The last thing any of us want is to live with guilt and regret because we were too afraid to take that leap of faith and allow ourselves to fully reap and benefit of all the blessings this life is excited to give us. Don't wait until it's too late...be present, be thankful and be mindful that any day can be your last... so....live, laugh and love life, everyday in every way!

Namaste friends and peace, love and light to you all.

Sasha xo