QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
Shed, as you do your garments, your daily sins, whether of
omission or commission, and you will wake a free man [woman],
with a new life.
--Sir William Osler
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
We often carry the regrets of the day with us, and in doing so they build up and drag us down. We spend our time reliving our actions and doing the "if onlys." We feel guilt and remorse. The truth is that most of our actions are done with the best knowledge, skills and tools that we have at the time. Rather than regretting the past, the goal should be to learn from our actions and move on. Accept that you can do nothing about what was done in the past and instead know that you can do everything about what will be done in the present. The present is where change takes place, not the past. Do not let your regrets keep you mired in the muck of self-pity and low self-esteem. Do not stop living because of past actions. Do not make your past negative actions become habits. Learn, grow, let go and move on.
A very wise yogi by the name of Paramahansa Yogananda told a story about two monks who were walking along the bank of a river when they heard cries of help. A young woman was midway across the river and the water was nearly over her head. Without hesitation, one of the monks, who was quite tall, went into the water, got to the woman, and told her to get on his shoulders. She did and he was able to carry her to safety. After making certain the woman was all right, the monks resumed their walk. The second monk was very quiet and after a while the first monk asked if there was something wrong. The second monk just mumbled. As they continued to walk, the second monk kept frowning, shaking his head and mumbling some more under his breath. Soon the first monk said, "All right, tell me what is wrong!" The monk replied how inappropriate it was for him, a monk, to touch a woman, not to mention having her get on his shoulders. "It is against our vows." he said. The first monk said, "Perhaps, but I let her down some time ago at the bank of the river. I see you are still carrying her."
Honor the past. Learn from the past. But do not let it become your present. True living is done right now.
Blessings and Love,
Allen Schmeltz
Copyright © 2000 Allen F. Schmeltz. All rights reserved.
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