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The
"Your Life is Your Story" Blog Archives
© Tom
Gilbert
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November, 2019
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Life is a Spiral and We Keep Coming Back to Certain Lessons
November 26, 2019
Do you know the saying, "Three steps forward, two steps back"?
That's really how our life works. Your life journey is not one
straight line. Although we do experience our life in one thing after
another, the path we travel is really a winding one.
For sometime now I've been fascinated by the spiritual experience of walking a labryinth.
As you slowly and meditatively take your steps along the circuitous
path, from the outside to the center, you can experience a calmness, a
reflection and an appreciation for how we travel in life. Once you get
to the center, pause, stay, maybe pray - and then begin the slow walk
back to the outside.
I have found that I often re-learn lessons I've been taught before.
We go through stages in life and sometimes we need to come back
to certain lessons. I came across an article today, The Spiral of Life: Why We Keep Coming Back to the Same Lessons Over and Over.
It was a fascinating read that reinforced what I've learned over time.
Our ego wants to control things and our reality in life is that we are
not in control. Things are going to happen and how we respond is more
important than how we react.
How have you viewed the unfolding of your life? Do you see the spiral
pattern? As a closing comment, look for spirals. They are all around
us, including our very own Milky Way galaxy.
Thanks Receiving
November 24, 2019
November is a great month for giving thanks, especially with the
soon-to-be-here Thanksgiving holiday. But how many of us are able to
humbly and graciously receive thanks?
It's time for some thanks receiving.
This is not to imply that we should be focused on getting. Rather, it is to be in a proper state of receiving.
Gratitude is good anytime and always. This time of year there is more
reflection on it, not only because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but
also because the year is winding down and it is a good time of year for
us to reflect on what we have and what we have done. I know it is true
for me.
A danger that exists from our reflection is to go towards the negative
side, to look at what we thought was going to get done or happen that
didn't. Or to be sad or depressed over failure to live up to
expectations. And there are losses to look at. It is important not to
ignore the past and the disappointments, but oh the danger of it
becoming morbid or to fall into apathy and dejection.
Focusing on positive things is healthy. It takes more effort and energy
to look at, reflect on and hold dear the positive. It is good for us on
all levels, or so I believe. We must nourish our physical, but also the
emotional, intellectual and certainly spiritual.
But just trying to be positive misses part of the whole. We need to
embrace all of our life and living. All experiences are part of our
journey. The shadow side is difficult to see, so we need others to help
with this. When we become aware of shortcomings it can be tempting to
rationalize them or to even deny. Realistic surveys of ourselves
requires patience and courage.
It seems very apparent to me that life is not a straight line of
steady progress. Lots of starts followed by lulls; many times of
resting on laurels. Three steps forward and two steps back.
Winding and twisting turns with hills and valleys. It surely
keeps it interesting.
Keep striving for steady progress, but don't discard the hardships and
sorrows. Don't try to wish them away or bury them deep down. They
will just re-emerge in some other fashion. Better to see it for what it
is and recognize that it is part of life. It has been surprising to me
to learn how much I grow from these times.
My year has contained a lot of good. Some hard times, too, for sure.
What a treasure to live a full life that is connected to others, shared
with others and lived for others. Being present is an ongoing challenge
and I don't think you can achieve it by just trying to be there. It is more just accepting that you are there - right here, right now.
Be here now. Cherish it, live it and remember it. Because life is happening whether you are present to it or not.
Wounded Souls and Wounded Soldiers
November 10, 2019
Tomorrow is Veterans Day
in the United States. It is observed annually on November 11. It
started as a day to mark the end of World War I, an event known as
Armistice Day. It was picked to mark the day and time that the
Armistice with Germany took effect, on the 11th day of the 11th
month and in the 11th hour of 1918.
Veterans of the military services deserve to be recognized and thanked
for their service. Many return from conflict with wounds, some
physical, but all of them emotional and even mental and spiritual. The
wounded souls of wounded soldiers is a hard burden to carry, but many
do it as bravely as the courage they displayed in service of our
country.
Twenty-five years ago the movie Forest Gump
came out and the saga of Forest Gump included his heroic service in
Vietnam. The storyline continued after the war with Lieutenant Dan,
Gump's commanding officer played by Gary Sinise. Gump saved his life,
but the lieutenant lost both his legs and was also anguished that he
didn't die on the battlefield like the legacy of his older family
members. Eventually Lieutenant Dan comes around to gratitude, but
his very real trauma reflects something many wounded veterans
experience. This is a driving reason for the foundation Gary Sinise
founded to help wounded soldiers. You can find out more about the Gary Sinise Foundation here.
CBS Sunday Morning today delved into this as well as another veteran with close ties to the Forest Gump movie.
Michael Conner Humphreys was just a young kid with no acting experience
who was given the role of young Forest in the movie. Later in life he
served in the military including 18 months of combat duty in Iraq.
Our combat veterans go through a lot. Preserving their stories and their dignity is worthwhile. Let's honor their memories.
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