When I asked for a gift

 

I looked at a star and I asked for a wish. Maybe the wish came into my life, of that I am not sure…

I looked at the vast sky and I asked for a vision. Maybe I had a vision, of that I am not sure…

I looked at the most beautiful mountain and I asked for a boon. Maybe the mountain granted me the boom, of that I am not sure…

I looked at the lake at the top of the mountain and I asked for magic. Maybe I am magical, of that I am not sure…

I looked at the river on running on the sides of the mountain and I asked for refuge. Maybe I was protected, of that I am not sure…

I looked at my city and I asked for something different. Maybe I am different, of that I am not sure…

I looked at my house and I asked for some newness. Maybe my life is new, of that I am not sure…

I looked at the Christmas tree and I asked for a new toy. Maybe I got it, of that I am not sure…

I looked at my room and I asked for wisdom. Maybe I am wise now, of that I am not sure…

I looked at a mirror and I asked for a gift. And I got a smile, hope and joy, peace and love…

Of that, I am sure.

Merry Christmas!

We are almost there…

I imagine the car of time full of small children asking, “Are we there yet?”

And time, ever patient, replies with a smile, “Not yet!”

As humans, we’re always on a journey. Even when we’re not moving physically, we’re traveling along the timeline of life. “Are we there yet?”

I’ve been reflecting on this question and realized there are three significant destinations in life, three moments when we feel we’ve truly arrived. Let’s explore these moments together, perhaps it will ease some of the anxiety we feel in the car of time.

 

Let’s start at the end. Death is a moment we are all destined to meet. Whether we face it consciously, joyfully, or with fear, it’s the ultimate conclusion to our journey. The car of time eventually leaves us somewhere final, somewhere special.

How do you perceive this inevitable conclusion from where you stand today?

 

Now, let’s rewind to the first time we met our own sense of “I”. That moment when we realized our individuality – separate from our family, our community and the world around us. It was the beginning of understanding our uniqueness, the moment we started to notice differences and learned how to navigate them. It was like raising a flag at the summit of a mountain early in our human journey.

From what you remember, what was it like for you?

 

Now, EVERYBODY in the world has a… how should I call it? A moment of truth… Many years ago, a friend shared a powerful analogy about life: What if everything you’ve been through was a training? This is the moment when life clicks; suddenly, you see how your experiences, choices, struggles, and triumphs were interconnected. Memories, regrets, reasons, love, and peace, all come together to form a clear picture.

What was your moment of truth?

How to help someone who is far from me…

During this pandemic, I have had many situations in which the people going through problems were far from me, physically, and the problems were very big.

Sometimes, I was able to talk with the person and give some comfort. Other times, I just talked…

And at other times, I’ve failed and probably, I’ve made it worse.

But there is something I am sure it works, ALWAYS: to send good wishes.

It may sound something… ethereal… and I don’t have proof it works, but we may all do a few experiments:

Think of someone who is in need and who lives far from you. Think of that person in their best, with a big smile and much energy, and do that exercise during some time, at the same time (hour) and for the same length of time.

When you talk with someone who is in trouble, before talking with that person, do the former exercise, seeing them in your mind in their best. Make sure you are talking with the person in their best moment…

After talking with someone going through a bad period in their life, take some time out to wish the best to that person, in your heart.

Don’t forget that you can only help others if you help yourself first, particularly if you are going through a similar scene in the play of your life. Meditate, empower yourself, study, talk with other people and then extend the hand of your ears and heart to others.

The last plane…

The images of the Khwaja Rawash airport during the evacuation in Kabul, Afghanistan, are still present in the minds of many. A few of us had friends or relatives there, but for most people the sensation has come from an overwhelming feeling of sharing with our fellow human beings, which made many feeling as if they were the ones in despair, trying to be evacuated.

I hope all goes well for the people who got to flee the country, for those who stayed back and my peaceful vibrations for those who couldn’t and their families.

Reflecting upon it, many years later, I understand that without realizing, many of us are going to have a last plane in life, a moment of decision so brutal and critical that will split our lives in two or more timelines. After it, you won’t be the same person anymore.

Maybe it was your marriage – it does not need to be something bad.

Perhaps when your first child was born… or when they left you.

Out of this reflection, I ask myself 3 questions:

• What does it happen when the last plane is available? There is pain coming due to the attachment to all that can’t be anymore, but many positive emotions emerge at the same time. The best would be to focus on the positive and let that heal the pain.
• Is it possible to prepare for that last plane? Some would argue that is what we have been doing in our lives previous to that event. It is as if we have been training for that moment. In this way, we can check and see if we are ready to leave ALL we have now and embrace a total new existence. It means skills and aptitude, but also attitude and awareness.
• So, am I ready for the last plane and if not, which training do I need to be better prepared?

One day, maybe out of the blue that last plane will come to take you, me and us away. It will take off and after that, we will be in a totally different place… Until then, let’s keep training!

How heavy is your present?

Have you ever received a very heavy gift from another person? You would often enjoy, but many times you will feel annoyed while you would try to carry that around. It is possible would get broken.

What about your present (tense)? Is it light and shiny, or heavy and dull?

The situations are what they are, but our perception changes their weight. For instance a person can tell you how the weather is bad and another person would call it wonderful, even though the weather is the same for both of them.

By looking at the weather in a bad way, the person will experience negative emotions and it is possible that affects their health. Also, because the weather is bad, their social life will be affected and possibly even their job.

By looking at the (same) weather in a positive way, the person will experience constructive emotions, which maybe will affect (positively) their health. Perhaps because the weather looks good, their social life and their career will blossom too.

Now, there is a realistic optimism in which the person acknowledges the weather is bad, but that is not an obstacle for their health, social or work life. In fact, it becomes an interesting challenge and the individual has a chance to celebrate after overcoming it.

If you are feeling your present as a heavy burden, about to break the soul’s back, a few suggestions:

• Talk with someone who is more optimistic in relation to the present, but very realistic about it.
• Count your blessings; there are so many things for which you can be proud, happy or excited.
• Try to talk to yourself, reflect and understand why you are feeling like this in relation to the present.
• Meditation helps you to focus on the present and take maximum benefit.

And remember: your present is a gift life has given you.

Building castles in future lands

What is the antonym of nostalgia, a longing for the past? As far as I know, there is no such a word, but unfortunately, it exists in terms of behavior.

I remember a few people who wanted to go to a special program in United States and they didn’t have the visa. Particularly one person who just went to order her passport called me asking for the weather at the place she was going in the US… (to which she didn’t have ticket, visa and not even the passport!)

An image I have in my mind: there are people who build castles in lands that don’t even exist, and they start to live there. As it may happen with nostalgia, they are probably frustrated with the their present and so the possibility of a future that is different than the present they are living makes them leave this place… without really leaving it, just an experience in her mind.

It is quite risky; after all, they have to work, take care of their children, their own health, to talk with friends and do all a person who must do in our society. People who live in these future castles sometimes are careless in relation to their present hut.

There is an even worse frustration as sometimes it happens that their imagined future is not what they were expecting. It may be totally different – a manor instead of a castle – or a maybe unexpected experience – can you imagine to CLEAN a whole castle??

If you really want to live in a castle one day, start with one brick today, another tomorrow… The future does not take place in our imagination but it will be the fruit of whatever we are sowing right now.

Do you live in the past?

Is it a fashion or the desire to listen to old music is growing more than it was expected? Just browse around internet and you will see it is a reality.

With the pandemic, nostalgia is in and not only in terms of music; many people can´t stop thinking of the old times of 50, 30 or even 5 years ago! By the way, I am listening to some wonderful songs of the past right now…

You know, if you really like those things of the past, why not? There is nothing bad about reliving some wonderful experience, memory or reinventing whatever you went through… as long as you don’t start living there.

Maybe you don’t like the present, but you do live NOW and when you try to live in the past, you are probably missing so many opportunities.

A deep reflection is that whatever I lived in the past that left such wonderful memory in my heart – and a song is playing, which used to be favorite of a person I won’t be able to see anymore, I haven’t even been able to say goodbye – I can still live now as memories of that wonderful person, her words and wisdom and her good wishes towards me flood my mind (not my eyes, not my eyes!).

Instead of going to the past, I bring the past to this time and live that beautiful energy in my life without delay; therefore it is like feeling her presence everywhere I go, because I am using those memories here. In this way, the past helps me to create an even better future in which I know she won’t be present, but part of my life will be her legacy.