Tuesday, October 4, 2011

To thine own Self be True

"The river that flows in you also flows in me."-Kabir

We are not separate though with our eyes we look out from one perspective imagining we observe another. Our perceptions can be wrong when we imagine a life, a motivation or the happiness of another. No one goes without challenges in life and if things look great today for them, I cannot know what they have already weathered in life or what might be in their future.
Years ago, an ex-boyfriend of mine who's life I envied, he was now married with three lovely children while I remained single, said to me, "There's nothing to envy." I couldn't see what he meant. I wanted his life.
Yet I traveled round the world, climbed mountains and saw sights that today still bring me no end of pleasure in their recollection. I would not trade any of my experiences.

We each make our decisions according to our hearts. With each commitment to a path we cut away other possibilities in order to have the experiences we have chosen. This is part of the creative process of living. Not choosing we cannot live. Choosing we must let go of what we did not choose.
So I make a choice today so I may live my life according to my unique perspective and know that further along there will be other choices and opportunities. My life will look different to my friend's life but I don't know what he has had to cut away in order to have his experiences. No path is better than another, especially if we allow ourselves be guided by our own inner compass. So be at peace today with your life and gather the wisdom of your unique experiences. You have chosen and you represent one of the many variations in color and flavor that life offers. Without you, life would be lacking  and we would all feel the loss.

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. - William Shakespeare

1 comment:

  1. I often quote that Shakespearian motto and have tried to live by it . His wisdom endures !
    Your piece reminds me of the Robert Frost poem "The Road not Taken "
    I shall be telling this with a sigh
    Somewhere ages and ages hence:
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
    I took the one less traveled by,
    And that has made all the difference "
    x Trudi

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