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Some thoughts for the New Year - Celebrate your life! - Embrace the gift of Celebration

 
"We become what we celebrate." Matthew Kelly

 

Some quotes you read have an immediate impact on you. The above quote, a chapter title from a Matthew Kelly book, is that type of quote.

 

To be able to celebrate life is a profound gift that is given to all of us.  Unfortunately, many of us lose this insight. To celebrate life, and in particular your life, is the key to having hope, and eventually a love for living that comes by embracing the gift of celebration.

 

Easy to say, of course.  Hard to do, it goes without saying.  Nevertheless, it does not dimnish the power of celebrating your life.

 

To do so is to say yes to your being, no matter what your troubles are, no matter the despair that might exist in this often tragic life, you say yes to your life and its meaning.  This is the strongest statement you can make to bring the love and hope we all yearn for to come into being.

 

So regardless of where you find yourself when you read this: Celebrate your life.  It is never too late. Focus on the good things you have done, consider what you still can do to make things better, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.  This is your road to hope, meaning and fulfillment.

 

Celebrate your life!     Brother Giovanni

 opd 410      We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

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"To simply be" --- no longer as easy as it used tobe

 

 

Dear John,

 

We have pretty much shut down for the holidays.  The events here have been so fast and furious these past few months, we all need to stop, and that is what I am about to do.

 

You recently asked me why I choose to live in this fictitious world, and I have given it some more thought.  No matter how free we think we are, the world or its people will leave its imprint on you. We are the sum total of our experiences and they have left their psychological mark.  Make no mistake about it; it is as true as the coming of death.

 

If you are aware of a basic conflict in what you want to be and what you are, the question is what to do about it?  First recognize it. That’s what I had to face up to.  For me, to face this reality with clear and determined purpose was the first step to freedom.

 

Once you have done this, simply be, nothing more, nothing less, and everything falls into place.  But in your world, there is virtually no place where that is allowed to happen. Here in the fictitious world we simply, be.  Not to be or not to be, but simply, be.

 

Once you have emotionally experienced this freedom, you will never turn back.  Until next time, I remain your friend and brother monk, Giovanni

 

We also recommend: "The Pizaonian."

 

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And never forget --- life is always a matter of willingness rather than will.

 
The need to take credit for what we do is an obstacle to being whole. 

 

We are given so many gifts that make us the person we are and were meant to be; and yet it is hard to accept these gifts since we had little to do with them being there.

 

We would rather struggle against the darkness trying to be something we are not.  Then we can claim whatever result as our own.  This is why so much success is never satisfying.  No matter how much we accomplish it has no relationship to who we really are and who we were meant to be.

 

We always remain wanting and never fully understand why.  The most difficult act in life is to accept willingly with gratitude, the gift of our being, as we are, in all of its wonder and glory.

 

When we realize and embrace who we are is all we need -  then and only then are we ready to embrace life for all that it is. 

 

And never forget --- life is always a matter of willingness rather than will.

 

Brother Giovanni

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