Random thoughts on life:
A few weeks ago we received an email with words of wisdom from the Dalai Lama.
Last week I looked at the cover story in the National Geographic. The article looks at the similarities between 3 cultures known for longevity. (NOV 2005)
The cultures are overlapped by western science to ascertain why these people live longer and happier lives than most.
While you are smoking your cigar,let your Ying and Yang harmonize and contemplate these thoughts.
Here are the common points from the artical:
Finding purpose in life is important
Having a spouse to share your life with is important.
Eating well is important.
Eating with friends and loved ones is important.
Doing something constructive every day is important.
Having faith is important. Not faith in God or some other entity, but faith in yourself, your life, your path, your spouse and loved ones, having faith that tomorrow will bring a brighter happier day.
Having friends that you can talk to, open up with, share your secrets with is necessary.
Having a partner to take those tasks they do better, prevents stress on you and is important.
Being part of a community is important.
Setting goals and following through is a key ingredient.
Learning to be happy with what you have is a key ingredient.
Giving something back is a key ingredient.
Sticking with it no matter how many times it gets knocked over is a key ingredient.
Mix a little of each in small doses every day and you have the recipe for a long happy and fruitful life.
Here are the Dalai Lama’s words:
Take into account that great love and great achievements involves great risk.
When you loose, don’t loose the lesson.
Follow the 3 “R”s”, Respect for self, respect for others, and responsibility for your actions.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly
Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
When you realise you made a mistake, take immediate action to correct it.
Spend some time alone every day. (just a little)
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer, (note: and yes I’ve bit my tongue often, which is very difficult for me!)
Live a good honourable life, that way when you get old and look back you can enjoy it again.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
In disagreements with loved ones deal only with the current situation, do not bring up the past.
Share your knowledge, it’s a way to achieve immortality.
Be gentle with the Earth.
Once a year go someplace you’ve never been before.
Remember that the best relationship is the one were your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
Judge your success by what you had to give up to in order to get it.
Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
In disagreements with loved ones deal only with the current situation, do not bring up the past.
Here are some of the values I try to achieve in myself:
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
If it is broken, fix it.
If you don’t know how, find out.
If you don’t know why, ask.
Don’t throw stuff away with out careful consideration.
(Be gentle to the Earth, yes but also:)
Extrapolate: A rule about plumbing can also be an analogy about life.
Expropriate: if you need something, get it.
Be sure you don’t confuse need with want.
Given time most problems either go away or solve themselves.
What was a problem yesterday may be the solution today.
Try to accomplish at least one positive thing everyday.
If you are unhappy it’s your choice, simply choose to be happy.
Every one wants a good roof over their head, but few are willing to build the foundation or walls.
If a task seems just to big, overwhelming, undo-able, chop it down , by doing just a little bit every day.
The difference between successful people, and unsuccessful ones, is that the first are willing to do what the later are unwilling to do!
I like to take lot’s of breaks when I work, I appear lazy, and I am. I also realise that if I take my time, work slowly, I actually get more accomplished because I make less mistakes, and find the easiest solution.
Sometimes there is no easy solution:
Murphy was an optimist: if something can go wrong, it will always happen at the worst possible time!
The guy who wrote that was both right and a defeatist. How you choose to deal with something will determine the ultimate outcome.
Home is not a place, home is a feeling, a love, a sharing, a time where good things happen, a day to love and live, a feeling of unity.
There are some things that are just carved in stone.
There are some things that are just meant to be.
There are something written in the stars.
But most things in life are only of your own making.
Not all words attributed to God (Ala) came down from the mountain with Mosses
Taking no action is, in it’s self an action and still has consequences.
Try to give something back.
Share your wisdom, even if they don’t want to hear it.
People always imagine worse about you, rather than what is true and real. It’s Human nature to do so. It makes them feel somehow elevated.
Shock people with the absolute truth and they won’t believe you.
Tell people your darkest secrets, and it will overwhelm their dirty little imagination.
Answer peoples inquiries with your own experiences and they will feel closer to you, take comfort that they are not alone, feel that they have a friend.
Don’t hope to be invited to a party, throw one yourself.
Don’t look for a club to join, start one yourself.
You can do anything that any one else in the world can do. After all, you have the same 8 fingers, and toes, 2 eyes, 2 ears, a bucket full of grey stuff between them, and determination galore.
When God burnt the tablets on the mountain, he made one mistake. Line 3: thou shalt not steal….go ahead and steal, steal with your ears, steal with your eyes!
There is one thing no one can ever take away from you….what’s in your head. (but they can out some bad stuff in there!)
Notice that the poorest nations, communities and villages have some of the Happiest people.
True wealth comes from knowing you did it yourself.
True happiness comes from with-in.
True Happiness is a journey not a destination.
And I certainly enjoy my journey with my Friends and Loved Ones
Keep the Faith
Robert
January 14, 2006
