from
Adrian Archambeau, Sr.
"THE AWAKENING"
A time comes in your
life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and
insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside
your head cries out ……………
ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child
quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder
once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world
through new eyes. This is your awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change…or
for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon.
You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or
Cinderella and that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings
(or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever
after" must begin with you…and in the process a
sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will
always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK.
They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing
yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of
self-approval You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things
they did to you (or didn’t do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count
on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say
and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it’s not always
about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in
the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they
are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties..and in the
process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize
that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a
result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your
psyche.
And you begin to sift through all the junk you’ve been fed about how you
should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what youshould
wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what
you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the
importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents,
family, and friends.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really
stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard
the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to
begin with … and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.
You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is
power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through
life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are
not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds
together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you
don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t
teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the
importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that
martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love.
How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk
away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you
would have them be.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.
And you learn that alone does not mean lonely. You also stop working so
hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your
needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK….and that it
is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want … and that
sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated
with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won’t settle for less.
And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet drink more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take
more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.
So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you
believe you deserve…and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing
for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success
you need direction, discipline and perseverance.
You also learn that no one can do it all alone…and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all:
FEAR itself.
You learn to step right into and through your fears because you
know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is
to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a
cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get
what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to
unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things.
You learn that Creator isn’t punishing you or failing to answer your prayers.
It’s just life happening.
And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state – the ego.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and
resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life
out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple
things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon
the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a
soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you
make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle
for less than your heart’s desire.
And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to
every wonderful possibility.
Finally, with courage in your heart, and Creator by your side, you
take a stand. Smiling, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the
life you want to live as best you can.
~I Will Not Judge You~
For your beliefs.
For I have friends from every spectrum of religion across the map.
My feelings…
are whatever they need to keep the warmth of their souls alive.
Who am I to say what you need to give you strength in your day?
By the color of your skin. Your skin, hair or eye color,
have nothing to do with the heart within.
I will not judge you for your wealth. For richer or poorer ,
you still have a soul, a heart that nourishes friendships and love.
Nor will I judge you for your age.
For we continue to learn no matter what age we are.
Everyone has something to contribute to our lives if we listen.
Most certainly not for your health.
I have seen the weakest of the weak with the biggest hearts alive.
No matter what your health you still feel, need,
love just like everyone else.
Everything outside is but a shell that holds the heart within.
I will not judge you for the company you keep and call friends.
Life is made up of a variety of humanity.
What may interest one person may not interest another.
Keeping an open mind to all aspects of life,
leaves no room for judgement here.
There is no judge ,
who can tell you who your heart belongs to;
Who your partner of choice may be.
That is all there is to say on this subject in a nutshell.
Many times in life we don’t even have the choice ourselves..,
when it comes to who our hearts are most fond.
I find no wrong in someones happiness and love.
I will not judge you by the country of your birth or loyalty.
There is a world out there beyond my doors…….
why should I shut out the possiblity ….
that another way of life may be lived by others?
They still bleed, they still hurt and….
most important of all they still love.
Nor will I judge you for the job you work,
or the lack of work thereof.
As the old saying goes it may be a dirty job,
but someone has to do it (winks)
We all make a living in our own way.
Living day to day tends to require a bit of work wouldn’t you say?
I will not judge you by the clothes you wear.
My wouldn’t the world be boring if we all wore the same clothing,
with no personality what so ever?
Be as funky or bland as you desire.
Give in to your hearts content.
I certainly won’t judge you for the home you keep.
Wither you live in a tent , or a mansion keep.
I see a human being in need of a friend no matter who you meet.
I’m not a judge, a jury, or anything else that will condemn you.
I am a Friend !!
I accept you as you are. Nothing less , nothing more.
In matters of the heart,
I’ll keep you close for friendship does NOT judge another.
I hope you found some enjoyment in this……I will NOT judge another.
This is who I am, take it or leave it.
Don’t expect me to abandon my opinions or choices …
because they may not mirror yours.
In the end we are all human beings who can think
and choose for ourselves.
If we all followed the simple philosophy of this post,
wouldn’t the world be a lot kinder, gentler, loving and forgiving?
For all we could wish, it comes down to those who DO judge.
Perhaps someday we will all agree to disagree in the essence of harmony.
STAY SAFE AND LOVED!!!
MY HEART TO YOU…………
>
Cat o' Ninetails 