Reason
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Reason and Happiness
Happiness with Reason
Happiness Today
The World and Happiness
Where can I find Happiness
Sorrow and Unhappiness
Happy Stories
Progress into Happiness
***** o0o*****
INTRODUCTION to our subject – Everything
Happens
We all have heard that ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’ and more
often than not would welcome the good things, but would become
frustrated and annoyed about the bad things.
This week we shall study whether this symbolic statement has a root in
truth and has value in our world of wisdom.
I’ll start with an important observation and an excerpt, its content
is very thought provoking…
A LESSON IN LIFE
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they
were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a
lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You
never know who these people may be, your roommate, neighbour,
professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who,
when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will
affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible,
painful and unfair, but upon later reflection you realise that without
overcoming those obstacles, you would have never realised your
potential, strength, will power or heart.
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Nothing happens by chance or by means
of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true
greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your
soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or
relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat
road to nowhere; safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and
downfalls you experience, they are the ones who create who you are.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from... those lessons are the
hardest and probably the most important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks you heart, forgive them.
For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being
cautious to whom you open your heart to.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because
they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening
your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt
without them.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it
everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to
experience it again.
Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold
your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a
great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in
yourself, no one else will believe in you either.
You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and
then go out and live it.
(Unknown Author)
So how do you feel now? It certainly implies it is a good idea while
ever you remain in a positive frame of mind.
What about its root in truth? This answer may be different for every
reader with this very root being determined only by individual
observation. Do you trust your instant reactions? The sooner you can
rely on what your instant reactions present you, what your inner gut
feeling is; the sooner you’ll be able to have a sense of what IS
wisdom and WHAT isn’t
So onto this week’s story…
1. STORY
Does everything happen for a reason? The very reason you’re reading
this newsletter is because you’ll need this next story, perhaps not
immediately, but certainly in the future.
STORY OF THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS
The following story is one that I heard when taking a course called
Renewing Life. At the time I was down, during my Residency training
and wondering whether or not I was making a difference by being in
medicine. This story helped me to realise how many "Golden Footprints"
I had left with patients and their families. This story helped put
things into perspective for me. I reread it from time to time when I
need to remember why I chose the path that I did in pursuing the
career in medicine.
This story, similar to the theme of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life, "
reminds us especially during times of depression and grief, to look
past the bad things, recognise and remember the good things and
realise the difference we make in others lives.
(This story as remembered by Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS)
Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah who lived in the
village below the Mountain of the Golden Footprints. She was feeling
very sad and depressed. Nothing or no one could make her happy. She
had been very unhappy and depressed for a long time. "What is the use
of going on?" she said. Nothing anyone said seemed to make a
difference.
Her best friend went to visit Sarah and told her the story of the
Mountain of the Golden Footprints. "It is a special place where as the
sun sets you can look out over the city and see sparkling golden
footprints on the places and people where you have made a difference."
"But I haven't made any difference in anyone's life, " she said. There
won't be any golden footprints for me to see. So why should I bother
to go there?"
***** o0o*****
Reason and Happiness
Happiness with Reason
Happiness Today
The World and Happiness
Where can I find Happiness
Sorrow and Unhappiness
Happy Stories
Progress into Happiness
***** o0o*****
"But, " said her friend, "If you don't see any golden footprints, there
is alternatively a special village on the other side of the mountain,
which is a place for all those people who haven't made a difference.
It is comfortable and very pretty and there you can be happy. So you
see, you have other options besides not going on with your life. If
you went to the village on the other side of the mountain, I would
miss you, but it would be better than you not being alive. You have
nothing to lose."
So Sarah decided to give it a try. She walked up the path to the top
of the Mountain of the Golden Footprints, although sometimes she just
wanted to stop climbing and curl up and cease to exist. At the top she
was greeted by a woman called Faith, whom watched over the Mountain of
the Golden Footprints.
Sarah was thinking about her life, the sun began to set. She did not
really pay any attention since she did not expect to see any golden
footprints. But soon a golden twinkling light began to appear in the
park in the middle of the village. She still did not believe it could
possibly be a Golden Footprint. "Look, " Faith said excitedly, "There
is your first Golden Footprint!"
"But how could that be?" asked Sarah. "I don't ever remember anything
I did in the park that could have possible made a difference."
"That is my department, " answered Faith. "I have watched people make
Golden Footprints from this mountain top for many years. I remember
all the Golden Footprint happenings."
"One day a long time ago, when you were a little child, you went
laughing through the park. There was a man sitting there who had just
left his wife and child over a silly argument. He saw your laughter
and missed his child so much that he returned to this family and lived
with them happily ever after."
"Well, that was kind of accidental. I certainly didn't know I had done
that, " said Sarah. As she finished speaking, another golden sparkling
footprint appeared on the house of her friend.
"Well, I have loved my friend very much."
"Remember when she was very sick? You went to see her and brought her
flowers and stayed with her and talked many hours and held her hand.
If you had not done that, she would not have survived."
"But how could that be?" asked Sarah. "I'm not a doctor. I do not give
medicine. How could I have saved her life?"
"The doctor gave her good medicine, but you gave her hope. You gave
her strength and courage so that her body could make the medicine
work."
Suddenly the valley below was aglow with Golden Footprints. There was
one on the school where her smile and love for learning had inspired a
fellow student to stay in school and become a great philosopher. There
was one over a tree that she had planted in the yard of her house, and
one over the flowers that she had planted. There was one over the
place where her stubbornness had convinced the King that the village
needed a smoother road for travellers, and he had smiled at her
outspokenness and feisty nature.
There was a footprint right on top of the roof of her house. That was
where she had taken her children one night to watch the stars.
There was one over the pub in the village. There was where she had met
her husband and they had fallen in love.
"I had forgotten all those things, " said Sarah. "I was so depressed
that I only remembered the sad things and not the good things. I guess
I have made a difference."
"And you will in the future. There are stars to show your
grandchildren and a birthday to spare with your friend. And your
husband needs a romantic evening at the pub, " said Faith.
Sarah smiled and thanked Faith. She started on her way down the
mountain and knew that someday she would tell others about the
Mountain of the Golden Footprints and make a difference in their
lives.
(By Carol Troestler, from ‘A Healing Place in CyberSpace’)
3. EVERYDAY EXAMPLE
Your emotions maybe the only aspect of life that prevents you from
believing that ‘Everything Happens for a Reason, ’ find in this example
how they toil with your soul.
A GREAT LOVE
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived:
Happiness, Sadness, Vanity, Knowledge, Richness and Love. We saw a
contented existence until one day to everyone's dismay it was
discovered that the island was sinking. Everyone was told they must
leave. So the feelings all prepared their boats and started leaving
their beloved island.
Love was the only one who stayed, behind. Love so cared for the island
home that he wanted to stay until they were sure the island was really
sinking. When Love realised that the island was finally sinking, he
decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a beautiful boat. Love said,
"Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't.
There are a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no room in
here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by, "Vanity, please
help me!"
"I can't help you Love, ” Vanity answered, “You are all wet and will
damage my boat."
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me go with
you." "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I can't help anyone. I prefer to go
alone!"
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an
elderly man.
Love became very happy that and forgotten to ask the name of the
elder. When they arrived to safe grounds, Love asked Knowledge who was
the elderly man.
"It was Time." "Time? But why did Time help me?"
"Because only Time is capable of understanding such a great Love."
Remember that when things may look the bleakest, and when all appears
abandoned, Time is capable of solving anything.
Things may not have a solution today, but tomorrow you may find one!
(Unknown Author)
4. RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTIONS
QUESTION: “I have a problem within my marriage as I am always
ridiculed by my husband. I am a little overweight as he constantly
reminds me. Yet he did fall in love with me as a person. What one
thing could I say that would remind him of this?”
ANSWER: I’ll give no explanation, other than give you the perfect
story to tell him.
BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE
Lisa, my two-year old daughter, and I were walking down the street
toward home one sunny morning when two elderly women stopped in front
of us. Smiling down at Lisa, one of them said, "Do you know you are a
very beautiful little girl?"
Sighing and putting her hand on her hip, Lisa replied in a bored
voice, "Yes, I know!"
A bit embarrassed by my daughter's seeming conceit, I apologised to
the two ladies and we continued on our walk home. All the way there, I
was trying to determine how I was going to handle this situation.
After we went into the house, I sat down and stood Lisa in front of
me. I gently said, "Lisa, when those two ladies spoke to you, they
were talking about how pretty you are on the outside. It's true you
are pretty on the outside. That's how God made you. But a person needs
to be beautiful on the inside too."
She looked at me uncomprehendingly, I continued, "Do you want to know
how a person is beautiful on the inside?" She nodded solemnly. "Okay.
Being beautiful on the inside is a choice you make, honey, to be good
to your parents, a good sister to your brother and a good friend to
the children you play with. You have to care about other people,
honey. You have to share your toys with your playmates. You need to be
caring and loving when someone is in trouble or gets hurt and needs a
friend. When you do all those things, you are beautiful on the inside.
Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, Mommy, I'm sorry I didn't know that, " she replied. Hugging her,
I told her I loved her and that I didn't want her to forget what I'd
said. The subject never came up again.
Nearly two years later, we moved from the city to the country and
enrolled Lisa in a preschool program. In her class was a little girl
named Jeanna, whose mother had died. The child's father had recently
re-married a woman who was energetic, warm and spontaneous. It was
readily apparent that she and Jeanna had a wonderful, loving
relationship.
One day Lisa asked if Jeanna could come over to play for an afternoon,
so I made arrangements with her stepmother to take Jeanna home with us
the next day after the morning session. As we were leaving the parking
lot, Jeanna said, "Can we go see my mommy?" I knew her stepmother was
working, so I said cheerfully, "Sure, do you know how to get there?"
Jeanna said she did and, following her directions, I soon found myself
driving up the gravel road into a cemetery.
My first response was one of alarm as I thought of the possible
negative reaction of Jeanna's parents when they learned what had
happened. However, it was obvious that visiting her mother's grave was
very important to her, something she needed to do; and she was
trusting me to take her there. Refusing would send her a message that
it was wrong of her to want to go there.
Outwardly calm, as though I'd known this was where we were going all
along, I asked, "Jeanna, do you know where your mother's grave is?"
"Not exactly, " she responded. I parked on the road in the area she
indicated and we looked around until I found a grave with her mother's
name.
The two little girls sat down on one side of the grave and I sat on
the other and Jeanna started talking about how things had been at home
in the months leading up to her mother's death, as well as what had
happened on the day she died. She spoke for some time and all the
while Lisa, with tears streaming down her face, had her arms around
Jeanna and, patting her gently, said quietly over and over, "Oh,
Jeanna, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry your mother died."
Finally, Jeanna looked at me and said, "You know, I still love my
mommy and I love my new mommy, too."
Deep in my heart, I knew that this was the reason she'd asked to come
here. Smiling down at her, I said reassuringly, "You know, Jeanna,
that's the wonderful thing about love. You never have to take it away
from one person to give it to another. There's always more than enough
to go around. It's kinda like a giant rubber-band that stretches to
surround all the people you care about." I continued, "It's perfectly
fine and right for you to love both your mothers. I'm sure your own
mother is very glad that you have a new mommy to love and take care of
you and your sisters."
Smiling back at me, she appeared satisfied with my response. We sat
quietly for a few moments and then we all stood up, brushed ourselves
off and went home. The girls played happily after lunch until Jeanna's
stepmother came to pick her up. Briefly, without going into detail, I
told her what had occurred that afternoon and why I'd handled things
as I had. To my profound relief, she was very understanding and
appreciative.
After they left, I picked Lisa up in my arms, sat down on a kitchen
chair, kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly an said, "Lisa, I am so
proud of you. You were such a wonderful friend to Jeanna this
afternoon. I know it meant a lot to her that you were so understanding
and that you cared so much and felt her sadness."
A pair of lovely, dark brown eyes looked seriously into mine as my
daughter added, "Mommy, was I beautiful on the inside?"
(Pamela J. deRoy)
5. PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTES
“Problems are to the mind what exercise is to muscles, they toughen
and make strong.”
(Norman Vincent Peale)
“What we actually learn from any given set of circumstances,
determines whether we become increasingly powerless or more powerful.”
(Blaine Lee)
“Concentration is a fine antidote to anxiety.”
(Jack Nicholas, Golfer)
Next week we look at the subject ‘
Bye for now.
PS: “What was hard to bear is sweet to remember.” (Portuguese
Proverb).
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Courtesy:
www.Wisdom-and-Philosophy.com
***** o0o*****
Reason and Happiness
Happiness with Reason
Happiness Today
The World and Happiness
Where can I find Happiness
Sorrow and Unhappiness
Happy Stories
Progress into Happiness
***** o0o*****
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