Nothing is Forever – Learning from Impermanence

"…We do not know where death awaits us: so let us wait for it everywhere. To practice death is to practice freedom. A man who has unlearned how to be a slave." – Montaigne

Death has been on my mind more often than it usually is these past several months. Perhaps this sudden increase of contemplation can be attributed to all of the recent passing of great actors and entertainers like Michael Jackson and Patrick Swayze. Regardless of the trigger I have been thinking more and more about death and lesson that lies within the truth of impermanence.

Such phrases as "enjoy it while you still can" or "you can't take it with you" speak of the importance to understand that we are not what we accumulate. We are so much MORE than the house, car, boat, money or status we work so diligently to acquire yet most of us move through live with not so much as a fleeting thought about what comes after we are gone.

As the title of this blog states, nothing is forever. We must learn the lesson of impermanence – the sooner the better. We must accustom ourselves with death so that in our final moments we are prepared to take the step forward into our next journey to begin a new one. We must be at peace with death, not fear it.

As we embrace our mortality, knowing that death may come for us at any moment, we develop something quite wonderful – a zest for living! We begin to see all the breathtaking beauty inherent in all things. We no longer squabble over meaningless things like status and money because life is too short to care about such trivial matters. Instead we focus on our purpose, or on finding and then focusing on it, and invest all our days to its realization.

I'd like to think I am like the Samurai developing a disciplined mind, ready for death at every turn. Not because I want to throw my life away aimlessly but because I know the value of life. In order to truly live you must have an acceptance of death, not a fear of it.

As the saying goes: "Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth." Live well and die with no regrets.

Michael

MIIS

Faithfulness to Weather the Storm

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." - Gail Devers

I was doing some research on athletes to use in a future Wellness Wednesday post when I was re-familiarized with the story of Gail Devers. What a phenomenal woman! Despite the odds, regardless of what family and friends undoubtedly saw as the end of her blossoming career, Gail flat out refused to succumb to her diagnosis of Grave's Disease. Instead she held firmly to her faith and in just 17 months, despite doctors' saying her feet should be amputated, Gail attended the Olympics in Athens AND won her first gold medal!

The faith that Gail speaks of is not something that can easily shaken. It's as strong as steel yet as flexible as a reed in the wind. It's more powerful than any comic book super hero and as soothing as a mother's touch. With faith we can weather any storm because we know that beyond the thunder claps, lightning and torrential rain we will, eventually, come through the storm. If you find yourself being swept away by the challenges of daily life remember that you possess the Divine spark of creation within you and know that "this too shall pass".

Meditate on This:
I hold fast to my faithfulness and know I can weather ANY storm life sends my way!

Have a PERFECT day!

Michael

MIIS

Image: Sporting Heroes.net