Mine.

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Life takes interesting turns.  

I am thankful for this one.  More than I ever imagined. 

As I work through reconciling my calamitous past self with how I am now honestly changing and what I endeavor to ultimately become. I learn from anyone that will offer their wisdom, support and ultimately, love.  A moment doesn’t seem to pass when something I see, hear or feel enlightens me, fills my heart and touches my soul. 

This portion of a shared reflection set all sorts of things in motion within me: 

 “No matter how unreasonable others may seem, I am responsible for not reacting negatively. Regardless of what is happening around me I will always have the prerogative, and the responsibility, of choosing what happens within me. I am the creator of my own reality.”

Goes back to the concept of event plus response equals outcome.  Or,  within all manner of adversity lay true opportunity. 

A modicum of self-discipline and personal responsibility are choices I can make both for the sake of others, and ultimately, my own. Choosing what happens within me, my reaction, my thoughts. In doing so, I choose.

The creator of my own reality. 

Mine.

“How are you today?”

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What’s the best way to meet new people while traveling?

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To me, traveling can be to the store to pick up groceries or a box of nails.  It might be a walk down the street.  Perhaps down into the state below to see family, friends, attend a reunion. 

In my prior life, I traveled roughly three out of the four weeks of the month.  Via air some, but most of the time behind the wheel.  Branches were such that you could connect the necessary dots driving a little north, east and then back west home.  

Being in sales, I grew fond of just stopping to see what it was they did, how they did it and if we might be able to work together.  Sometimes yes, sometimes no, often times maybe.  But worse case, I always got to engage, interact and learn.  Some amazing people out there, that built things from nothin’, came from nowhere, just did their thing and found life in the process. 

These days, in support of those with diverse abilities, I get to the do the same.  I just engage, interact and learn how they might assist in creating independence and a new found life for those challenged. The radius  has shortened dramatically, but the mileage is still up there.  And yet, I get still get to travel.  

I have found a simple, effective and lasting way to meet new people whenever and wherever I go. 

I tuck this gentleman into my desk drawer for later. 

And bring this one along,  in the front seat with me for the day. 

What a difference a smile can make. 

Opens all sorts of doors.  

External. 

And internal. 

“Hi!” 

“How are you today?” 

Gort is.

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If aliens arrived tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d ask them?

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“Klaatu barada nikto” *

* So this stuck in my craw on the way to, during and back from mass. I looked for a translation, and there was none offered. It was created by Edmund H. North and its true meaning will remain souly with him, but open to the never ending conjecture of others.

Some genius, not saracasm just awe, came up with this possibility:

“I die, repair me, do not retaliate”.

If that were the case, that tends to support my impression of the universe. He created something far beyond our comprehension. And He did so, solely out of love. He knows no other way.

So if a distant relative were to visit, he or she would have done so to connect, embrace and become as one with us as well.

But not his robot.

So if I die, repair me Gort.

Do not retaliate Gort.

They are just scared.

And do not know.

He is not a robot.

Gort is.

Something to write home about.

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What’s the most underrated life skill?

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Quite the conundrum.  

But then again, part of my composition is to take things deeper and make them wider than merited.  Perhaps just the way I have learned to process, learn and hopefully, eventually grow.  Lord knows I have spread plenty of manure around for the past six or so decades.  One would think that ample ground to blossom and bloom.  Sigh….

My initial impression was guided towards an aptitude of presence.  Being fully there in the moment.  Regardless of the calamity or the joy.  Then, add to that, a genuinely crucial and forever human component.  Enjoining in the twin sense of another. 

Empathy that feeds into compassion. 

Presence is what it says, not me.  Neither choosing to escape back into my past or get ahead of myself, determined to know precisely what will happen next.  As painful as it can be, in the grand scheme of things, my moments have not been perpetual.  Well, calamitous yes.  Joyful, no. That is, unless I choose to allow them to be.  

Back to today’s assignment.  

When I am locked into myself, nothing else exists.  Those with far heavier burdens, greater fears and joyous absentia (I think I just made that up, and Ai was really confused.) are in dire need of another, more than anything else. 

Another needs another just to be there to gain a sense of where they are.  That is, isolation – in all its degrees and variations –  is a truly painful and life draining existence. It seems to be rampant these days, though appearances may connive us to believe otherwise.  

When I am not into myself, I can sense those around me.  Gain a sense of where there are and how I might share in that state as well.  Actually feel it. Chances are, I have been where they have, even if only for a moment.  Just that simple, singular level of camaraderie might be that one life altering connection.  Where I feel what they are feeling, am where they are, and not know what to do next. 

That is where empathy feeds right into compassion and ultimately brings each of us closer.  

Once the guard is reduced, the heart can open. Honesty can be shared and trust begins to flow.  Nothing about this interation is transactional whatsoever. 

It is just because I was there and they were there.

Present.

And ultimately, we just needed to sense and feel each other right then.  

Presence opening empathy into the bloom of compassion.

Back to the assignment.

To rate something means I first need to know what I am rating. And not all of my skills are readily apparent, if even known. I am still growing. Maybe you feel the same way.

And life? I am still simply trying to live it to the best of my ability. I am not alone in this. This too connects me with all of you.

Nothing underrated about that.

Something to write home about.