September 06, 2023 – A

I come from people 
who were not true to themselves.

Who lived out their lifetimes
being who someone else 
thought they ought to be.

I learned from their mistakes,
and drew my own lines,
but not early enough.

There were severe penalties
for attempting to draw lines
too early.

I came to know that life
is living our own life,
bringing our own true nature
to life in the life we are living.

Too few people want to bring
their own nature to life in their life.
They are looking for action.
Any kind of action.
Mostly, action that takes their mind
off their life.
And fuels their dreams of some other, finer, grander
life than the one they are living.

To be alive is to tenderly tend the life
that needs living,
tucked away in our original nature.

Too many people are ashamed of who they are,
ashamed of who they are afraid they are,
and want to be somebody else,
somebody worthy
that everyone loves, instead.

The need to be loved propels people
past themselves in their quest
to be someone everyone loves.

Elvis Presley asked his spiritual advisor,
"How can I tell whether they love me
or Elvis Presley?"

Nailed it.

If we want people to love us
we only have to love people.
And be true to our own true nature.
Allowing everything to fall into place
around those two things.
Over time.

Nothing instantaneous is worth having. 
Instant coffee comes to mind.

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