In my meditation this morning, Forrest Gump came to me. And he said what he always says, “Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Well, I love me some Forrest, but this time I thought, you are dead wrong on this one, wise friend! And I think you need my enlightened opinion on the matter.
So I said back to him, “Oh, Forrest. No, no, no! Life is like a box of crayons. You get to choose from a bunch of colors and create your life away!”
Yes, I have conversations in my head with fictional characters while I meditate. Don’t judge.
Honestly, I think the truth is somewhere between the two philosophies. I learned a long time ago, while studying metaphysics, that life is not happening to me, but instead, life is happening through me. It is always, always, always my choice how I react to a situation or experience, even if it appears to be devastating, chaotic, and downright ugly.
“I learned a long time ago, while studying metaphysics, that life is not happening to me, but instead, life is happening through me. It is always, always, always my choice how I react to a situation or experience, even if it appears to be devastating, chaotic, and downright ugly.”
The filter through which I see the world is my own Conscious Mind, one with Infinite Loving Spirit. When I can really know and accept this, down in my bones, I am free to see everything that comes down the pike in a new way, with a New Thought mentality. A great example of this is the recent transition of my amazing dad, Herman Steinberg.
Dad passed suddenly of a massive heart attack, with no warning, at a young age. My family has taken it very hard because we were all extremely close to him. It is so easy to fall right into self-pity, sadness and despair. He was too young. It’s not fair. How can I go on with out my champion?
My crayon choices in this situation can get really dark; the black and blue of the deep pain, the brown and grey mucky feelings of anger and hurt. I can even go to a bright red of blame and guilt and shame if I choose.
But the crayons I pick up around my Daddy’s death are bright, happy colors. I choose yellow, green, and purple! I will draw a big sun above his head in my mind and remember the light he was and still is in this world. Using the green I will create a beautiful field around him representing how much he got to see me grow in recent years. And with the purple I will color big stars around his head, remembering how he sparkled, and how proud he was of my sparkle that I inherited from him.
I can choose to think of all the good he brought to me, the lessons he taught me, and be grateful that I had such a fantastic father figure for so many years.
So, yes, life is somewhat box-of-chocolatey. It certainly can be surprising. But how I choose to draw over the situation, memory or feeling with my Conscious Mind is entirely up to me. I choose to live life in color, and you can too! So break out the crayons and get busy thinking rainbows of joy, peace, and love!
Photo credit: Brandon O’Connor via Flickr
What a beautiful way to remember your father.
Prayers and love, Fabiola
You are a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others.