Bumps On The Road

The other day I had one of those experiences that is common to many, when the car you are driving all of a sudden gives out.  It was after work and as I was heading home when this happened and the disoriented feeling of being at the mercy of a tow company and then trying to figure out how to get home afterwards was all encompassing.  As I waited for the tow service to arrive, I did think about how the experience of not being in control and having to adjust to the circumstance was very similar to living life.  In our life experiences, we like things to be a certain way and we get comfortable with what is familiar.  However, if you get to live to be a certain age, one realizes that there are many bumps and curves along the way that caused some perplexing periods which one has come to know as part of the experience of life.  Hard knocks when they occur can be difficult to overcome and I know first hand how sometimes they appear to suck the wind out of you, depending on how much one has to undertake.  I have known people that have suffered tremendous losses and some in a series of occurrences that aside from feeling sorry for what they are undergoing, you begin to wonder why so much can happen to one individual.  Yet, in all of those examples that I have witnessed, I saw great strength and had admiration for those people who showed me along with the rest of the world, that they were still standing.  In every family one does not have to venture for very long to see how many people in our own circles have been affected by a life changing experience.  Whether a person was dealing with a long illness, suffered a loss or had to contend with some other type of difficulty, we have all witnessed what it took to overcome along with the endurance that was needed.  Finding that strength that one did not even know that they possessed, has always been intriguing to me.  It is just like preparing for an emergency, one can do all of the background reading and perform drills, however, until it actually happens is when the true test must be passed.  Ideally, we would all like to have some type of clairvoyance to be able to know ahead of time when to expect a bad turn.  However, the reality is that life is not like that and we must all have our own survival tools at the ready, for when the need arises.  Parents do their best to prepare their children for all circumstances and it is always their wish that if something bad were to occur, they would rather be the recipient of such an obstacle rather than their loved one.  What I have learned is that having lived longer gives you a more diverse look at how these experiences have shaped whom we have become.  We are stronger, more resilient and have a lot more patience when it comes to experiencing a formidable bump that appears on our path.  I have also learned that nothing is forever and that all things similar to all storms do end up passing.  The strength to endure and to be a beacon of hope to others is what I now see as the many attributes that life has given me.  Therefore, when you find that your road is getting bumpy, keep all things in perspective.  Look ahead towards the smoother side that is coming on the horizon and when given the opportunity, help others steer away from the familiar bumps that you have already passed.

Well Wishes Received

There are many times during our lives when someone communicates well wishes to us for a particular occasion.  One of the more common occurrences is when a birthday is celebrated and people that are connected to you in one form or another, send you messages that showcase good thoughts all around. It is a great feeling when you realize that you have a number of life advocates on your side, all with good intentions towards you.  Through out a calendar year other opportunities can also be had for sending out these good intentions.  Perhaps a religious holiday, an anniversary or at the beginning of a new year are other opportunities for these to occur.  When people stop to pause and think about other people's happiness, is something that I find fascinating and powerful at the same time.  I love that we can be selfless in these intentions as we do not think of ourselves fist, but of others and their well being. We have all seen the power of prayer at work, especially when you hear miraculous recoveries of people where a medical professional has no scientific explanation for a person healing from a life threatening illness.  If you were to ask those that are of faith, they will tell you that there was Divine intervention that caused that healing to occur.  Again, if you have a number of people wishing for your best health prospects at the same time, there is an immense strength behind all of that intention.  This is why the subject matter made me think a bit further about the opportunities that we all have to exercise the power of thoughtful motives.  These opportunities can cause other chain reactions which can bring further feelings of joy and human connection to other people.  The other part that I am also intrigued with, is the fact that we all communicate almost instantly these days via some form of electronic or web based mechanism.  One message to a multitude of people reaches so many individuals with just a click or by pressing enter.  Twitter based their platform on this concept, where can have so many people connecting to the messages of one or more individuals, entities or corporations.  It was this thinking that transformed this idea to a powerhouse in the world of social media.  While there is something to be said about the power of immediate communication to the masses, there must be a pause at some point to ensure that what is being relayed has a message that is not derogatory or with ill intent.  I have been shocked as many have been by how some people utilize these types of mediums with complete ill will.  All one has to do is look at an atrocity occurring in the news and there is a video that now captures those very ugly moments.  I can understand that a picture is worth a thousand words, however, the images that we are witness to these days can cause heartbreak.  Although we have made such great progress with the use of technology, again the motives behind it's use can cause different and non-positive reactions when using it for purposes other than good.  Ideally, we would like to live in a world where the messages that are sent and received come from a pure place that only seek to move actions in a positive way.  That being said, I am all for the advancement of technology to assist us to do better things and for the ultimate good of others. When you think about your intentions for others, be mindful that they come from a good place and eliminate any opportunity that may exist to cause a downward spiral reaction to occur.  Our thoughts and wishes for others should cause a positive reverberation and provide for upward spiral energy along with affirmative thinking.  Remember to organize your motives and intentions that they will bring out the best in others, as you would want to be the recipient of that type of power on any given day.