A Few Random Birthday Thoughts

Today is my birthday.

It seems that on birthdays or other of life's milestones it is in our nature to wax a bit nostalgic, so please indulge me as I ramble through some random thoughts of my own self serving nostalgia so that I may feel like I am actually sharing things that are relevant to you as well.

If life is about learning and doing better and climbing obstacles, then I consider my life the finest university. I have made good decisions, bad decisions, and decisions that seemingly have been neither good or bad (should I have the turkey or roast beef today?)

I have reveled in the good decisions. Learned sometimes very painful lessons from the bad decisions, and have learned that even the neutral decisions have had consequences, even if I don't realize the neutral decisions directly.

I would have learned nothing in life if I have not realized that anything I decide not only affects myself, but every decision affects others as well.

My life is a part of a grand scheme of your life, and your life is a grand scheme in my life.

We are all connected.

The myths of "rugged individualism" and "pulling yourself up by your boot straps" are myths hoarded by the greedy seemingly perpetuated to the masses so that those needing help would be too ashamed to ask for it. These myths are also the dogma for those who have received help from the time they were young, but have gotten their very large piece of "the pie" but still perpetuate the myth so that their "pie" remains very large.

You are not a "rugged individual" and you have never "pulled yourself up.." you and I have had help every step of the way throughout our lifetimes. By the very fact that you are reading this and I am writing this; the fact that you and I have survived to this age, no matter what age you are, means that someone has fed and clothed you and educated you. You are not here right now by your own merit. We all need each other to continue to exist and survive.

This day, being my birthday, has caused me to remind myself to be less selfish and exclusive, and to be more selfless and inclusive. Less dogmatic and more to seek gnosis and to find whatever the truth is no matter WHAT the truth is and to walk the path that gnosis and truth leads me to no matter what the path is.

So, welcome to my birthday nostalgia. I am hopeful you will find peace and joy and happiness in any path and in any decision you choose to take.