On the Lake Front

Taking responsibility for your own choices in life and releasing the blame on others is the first step towards inner peace. No matter the circumstances you face in life it is up to you how you handle them. Eventually you are old enough to make your own choices as to how you handle your life and the past. Realizing that it is your responsibility to protect and nurture your own health and emotional well-being once you have entered adulthood is the first step. No one is responsible for you but you.

The peace you bring to yourself will motivate you to share this with those around you. It could be as simple as letting be, not imposing your own views and looking at things from another perspective. This does not mean ‘tolerance’. This does not mean you cannot have your own viewpoint and share it. What it does mean is you truly let be, not tolerate it but try to understand it though you may still not agree with it, you can let it be. This in turn will allow you more inner peace as you realize that others have their rights to how they see things as well. You should always share your ideas and viewpoints but without expecting someone to ‘come over’ to your side. However, just as you listen to other’s point of view, by sharing yours you are giving someone another perspective to consider before making his or her choices of how to handle something.

Expectations are what get us in trouble, wanting to be right gets us into trouble. When we expect those around us to have the same thoughts and ideas about something, we are imposing our will on them. If their way of thinking is not physically hurting anyone then let it be. There are consequences to everything, good and bad. If the consequence is, you can no longer be around that person because of what they are doing or thinking then that is a choice you make. It’s not the other person’s fault, though of course we wish they would change, but it is not their responsibility to make us happy. It is our responsibility to let go and move on to what is healthier for us and best for us.

Do not make a choice to be ignorant. Do not make choices based on the majority or to fit in with that majority. Do not make judgments based on hearsay and rumors. Get the facts and make informed choices. Do not lump your choice under a label. If you want to make changes in the world, our world, our government then do not vote based on a Party label. Do your homework, get your facts straight and make your decision based on whose right for the job, not what their label is. Don’t vote just because you would love to see a woman as president, I think that would be great, but are you voting for her because of that label or because she is the best person for the job? Remove ego from the equation, remove self from the equation and chose based on what is best for most everyone (you can’t please everyone all the time) and what is best for the long run.

Lastly, don’t ask what everyone else can do to make the world a better place, ask what you can you do? Get involved, find a passion, immerse yourself in making your little corner of the world better, and watch it spread! By doing this you will find your connection to the world not just your street you live on. For we are all connected to each other and the earth in all kinds of ways and for all kinds of reasons. Peace.