June 27, 2022

01

More for them is not less for you, 
for me, for us.

We have the idea that they are 
out to get us,
when we are the ones who have gotten them,
and we are sure they will do the same to us
as we have done to them
if we let our guard down
and give them a chance.

We are the eternal victim
in our own mind.
Always behind the 8-ball.
Never getting a break.
Poor, poor us.
No one is ever on our side.
No one ever cares about us.
We'll show them.
They will be sorry they ever messed with us.

Our bleak story is a sorry perspective.
Our perspective is the sorriest thing about us.
We would be new people
with a different perspective.
Why do we never think about
starting with our perspective?

With it being our perspective
instead of "how things are"?

All it ever takes is turning the light around.

Turning the light around
is as simple as being aware of our perspective
and flipping it.

If you are going to practice anything,
practice that.

I don't care who you are.
The only thing wrong with you
is your perspective.
Flip that
and you have it made.

–0–

02

Everybody's looking for it.
When they find it,
they look for the payoff.
Finding no payoff,
they look for it with a payoff.

They would be wise
to settle in with it
and let the payoff go.

Wisdom is not 
the strong point of the species.
That would be more on the order of
willful, determined, stupidity.

Insisting on a payoff commensurate
with our idea of a payoff
constitutes willful, determined, stupidity.

Wanting more than we have any right to expect
is violating the entire notions of lines
and drawing them 
in ways appropriate to the occasion.

People who do not know 
where to draw the line,
or refuse to draw it,
and live without lines
are fine examples
of people who do not know 
where to draw the line,
or refuse to draw it,
and live without lines.

They are legion.

Slack-jawed,
blank-eyed,
looking for the jackpot,
dissatisfied
and inconsolable,
trying to play their cards right
and have it made.

Having it made
and knowing when you have it made
are not the same thing.

Finding it and letting it be enough
is having it made.
Wanting more than that
is not knowing when you have it made.

The price of having it made
is knowing when you have it made
and letting that be enough.

It is rarely enough.
When you find it
let that be the payoff
and stop looking for a payoff.

Live to know good-enough
when you find it.
And draw the line.

–0–

03

Rather than striving 
to order,
control,
direct our life,
we might opt for 
exploring what is called for
and seeing where it goes.

In any situation--
in any age--
at any point in time
and range of the times,
something is called for
and something is not called for.

The art of living
is knowing what is called for here/now
and treating that with fealty,
liege loyalty,
and filial devotion
in doing it,
when, where and how it needs to be done,
and allowing that alone
to lead us along the way.

The path of doing what is called for
one situation at a time
creates its own momentum,
direction,
meaning and purpose,
based solely on our sense 
of what is needed,
our feel for what is right.

We have to trust ourselves
to more than the eye can see
and more than the mind can understand
in finding the way
through the maze of choices 
and possibilities,
options and opportunities.

Emptiness,
stillness
and silence
are fine traveling companions.

Innocence,
integrity,
sincerity
and spontaneity
are all the weapons/tools we need.

Our original nature
and innate virtues
are reliable guides
through the darkness
that is "the cradle of light"
(Rumi).

Energy,
spirit,
vitality
and life
are hallmarks of the way.

Leaving only courage,
grit,
determination,
resiliency,
resolve
and perseverance
as our contribution
to the task 
that is always at hand: 

Seeing,
hearing,
knowing,
feeling,
trusting,
doing,
being.

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