July 30-A, 2022

In order to be an independent,
self-reliant,
human being,
we have to be able to pay our bills--
and to know how to incur only the right bills.

Once that is down,
we have to be able to establish
our own boundaries
and draw our own lines.
So that we do not have to 
explain/defend/justify/excuse ourselves
to anyone,
but are free to do what we determine
needs to be done
and that's that.
There is no one we have to answer to
or make happy.

When we are at this point in our life,
we are then free to explore our own 
original nature and innate virtues,
and live in ways that are aligned with them,
and flow from them,
within the circumstances of the here/now of our living.

That means negotiation and compromise
between what our life allows
and what our nature and virtues 
need to be able to do.

This is an on-going struggle 
that will never be put to rest,
being an individual within the community,
and we have to come to terms with that
and take up the work of dealing well with it.

This is the work of balance and harmony,
of integrity, sincerity, spontaneity,
of spirit, life and vitality
within the here/now 
of each situation as it arises.

It is a dance all the way.

We are choreographers, 
composers,
artists,
poets
and our life is our production
within our circumstances.

Each moment calls us to do our thing
here/now.
And we have to rise to the occasion again,
and show our stuff again.

It helps if we understand what the deal is
and love doing it.
Performing.
Perfecting our art.
Living our life.
All the time.
Wherever we are.