When the end of the year is the end… A tale

What would happen if this year was the last year of my life?

A retired man decided to think like that for the whole year, since January, 1^st; every act, every word and even every thought had the energy of this is the end.

Every time he went for shopping or just for a walk, that thought was present: what would happen…

Gradually, his behavior changed according to his thoughts and he started to buy less and less. He also stopped wasting his time and he endeavor for EVERY SECOND of his life to be useful.

He started to talk with people he didn’t hear for years and he forgave… Oh, he forgave so many people!

He also asked forgiveness and appreciated others much more. He started to open his hearts to others, greeting acquaintances and smiling to unknown people.

By the end of the year, he realized he was having the best time of his life. He felt so light and yet so confident… He even studied something, even though he thought he couldn’t learn anything anymore!

When the year came to an end – and he noticed his life will continue – he reflected while looking at a beautiful starred sky.

What would happen if this year was the last year of my life?

And a new year started for him!

Is it Christmas yet? A tale…

“Is it Christmas yet?”

The blond nurse looked at the little boy with a smile.

“Not yet, but it will be Christmas very soon.”

“Thank you…” a faint sound came out from his mouth.

He loved Christmas as it was the day his family would come to visit him. It is not they didn’t visit at other dates – there were always someone around him – but for Christmas as a tradition the whole family would come.

They wouldn’t bring big packages with them, the nurses wouldn’t allow them, but his mother would show him a picture of his room: there were always HUGE PACKAGES, even a private Christmas tree…

He wondered again if he would see his room one day…

Late that night, a big man came. It was his first time around and it seemed to him he was mopping the floor, as he was almost lying down on the floor. Sleep didn’t come easy for him or most of the patients there.

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

The big man heard and froze in the act. Slowly, he stood up and then he could see the big man WHO HAD A WHITE BEARD, A RED UNIFORM… SANTA CLAUS!!

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Shouldn’t you be preparing for Christmas?”

Both laughed and they talked for quite a while – it seems one of the nurses missed their shift again – until the little boy fell asleep.

Next day, he woke up with his family all over him; the best of day of the year has come! They talked and talked until he mentioned his close encounter with Santa Claus. Immediately his siblings mocked him.

After a very hot argument, he said he left him a gift.

“There are no gifts except the ones we brought.” his father spoke with some amusement.

“It is there! Look under my bed!”

Trying to end this argument, the man went to look and…

…came out with a beautiful package!

The boy wouldn’t be able to lift the package, so along with his elder sister, they opened it: a beautiful skateboard!

“That is what I always wanted!”

And every year, for a long time, there was always a package under the bed… From whom? The mystery remains, but the question “Is it Christmas yet?” was always followed by “Can you check under my bed?”

Almost there… the end of the year!

Before coming to the end of the year, what about stop and reflect a bit about what is going on…

A few points may help you with that:

If this year would be my last year on Earth, what am I taking with me?

If this year would be my first year on Earth, what have I learnt that was completely new?

Think of the memories I am carrying with myself…

Think of the memories I am definitely not carrying, and how am I going to dispose those?

What has been the main development in the self – a quality, an inner power, a talent – that will be very useful for next year?

What has been the main realization I had and how to keep on living that realization next year?

Who was the person I was able to have a powerful conversation and with which results?

Who was the person I could not have a powerful conversation and how to do it next year?

If I could come back from twenty years ahead and could give an advice to my present self, which advice will it be?

If I could travel back several years before and could give an advice to the then present self, which advice will be?

King or pawn?

If your life was a big game of chess, which position would you take?

I think at least in the level of perception, we all have thought of ourselves as kings of our own game… or pawns, at times.

When you are a king, you have power and so many people protect you, they are ready to leave the game if that is the case.

When you are a pawn, on the other hand, you are basically fodder for the cannon. You are made to die!

However, let’s think deeply… after all, the king can also be defeated and if this game is between me and, well, me, then who is the winner and who is the loser? On the other hand, the pawns are amazing in the game as they are the first ones to start and they are very courageous.

In reality, if you feel you are in a human chess game, even when you are the pawn – things are going wrong, you feel you are not supported, etc. – you can still let your courage and heart guide you.

Just…

Just say it… If it is in your mind, it won’t disappear. Add love to it.

Just do it… If it is in your mind, you are wasting lots of thoughts. Add determination to it.

Just think… Stop to think, to reflect and to contemplate. Add interest to it.

Just love… Don’t choose; love whatever comes in your way. Add selflessness to it.

Just hope… Hope never dies, don’t kill it then! Add enthusiasm to it.

Just dare… Courage is always present, use it! Add a smile to it.

Just have… Whatever you have is a reflection of what you are. Add value to it.

Just be with… Whomever you live or work with is showing the things you have to learn. Add a lesson to it.

Just work… When you work, you are emerging the best of yourself. Add relevance to it.

Just be quiet… Whenever you are quiet, you are emerging the best of yourself. Add silence to it.

Just BE… Know who you are, live who you are. Add spirituality to it.

Heroes of my life

Some time ago, I started noticing that in the various platforms I operate, in terms of social network, I started to see heroes…

I am not saying Hollywood or Bollywood heroes; true heroes, people who are doing unthinkable things to make others’ lives better. Have you seen anyone like that lately? Maybe your mother or an old uncle? Perhaps your neighbor or your kid’s teacher? They are everywhere!

And as I love the topic of heroes, I would like to talk about 3 things in relation to heroes and the first thing is: why do they become our heroes?

Many would say they are helping others in an extraordinary way, but the reality is others are also doing it and yet, they are not heroes, at least not for everyone.

The reason is simple: they become our heroes because we have that potential and see it expressed in them. That is, WE could be the ones doing that same thing this person is doing… In this context, the heroes that are emerging are helping us to understand more about the self.

The second thing is: what is their superpower?

The other day, I had a lecture on love and when I did a research, I found out those heroes that make me smile all the time they have very different skills, and they come in all sizes, shapes, color of the skin and religion, but one thing is common: a very deep love.

Maybe past heroes were not like that, but present heroes are expressing their love in ways that go beyond their duty and that also inspires us to express our love in different ways.

The last thing is: what is the real benefit of being a hero?

If you used to be a fan of heroes, maybe a comics collector, you have probably noticed a trend as modern heroes are depicted vulnerable, maybe even weak. A movie, considered by many the best movie based on a comic hero, shows exactly that: how a very macho hero succumbs to love and tenderness at the end…

So, if heroes are also vulnerable, what is the benefit? In fact, no matter what, (present) heroes are learning in two dimensions. On one hand, they WIN, that means, somehow they defeat evil, but on the other hand, they CHANGE deeply.

That’s why heroes are relevant to us, because they show no matter how rigid you are, how fixed is your role, you can change.

Now, stop reading this and be the hero you are!

Goals in life, are that important?

What is your goal in life? Goals?

Ok, let’s rethink that question: what can you do with your life, so that you become happy, peaceful, full of love and in harmony with others?

Tough question? Not so much… even though we often don’t ask us that question out loud, most of the time we would ask that question in a subtle way, particularly when we have a big decision to make.

In fact, goals are not as important in life as it is to have a memorable life, a life that at the end of the journey you will feel was so worthy to have lived it.

Now, don’t misunderstand me: to have goals, aims or objectives are EXTREMELY important. The problem is that to fulfilling a goal, sometimes you lose your happiness and peace, you miss whatever makes you feel loved and you fight other people.

So, are you going for a big goal in life? DO IT! Conquer your fears and overcome your obstacles, but don’t lose focus of what is important in life.