Spinning wheels and fast cars miss living. When you are focused so far in the future that you can’t wait to get there, what happens to the here? You miss it. You speed toward the new job or new boyfriend or new home. You are thinking that “oh, if you only had that one thing in your life, then all would be perfect and then you would stop speeding forward.” But even if you achieve that thing you so desire, you’ll find something else to press toward. I’m not saying not to try to improve yourself but I just don’t want you to miss where you are right now. Do you feel the grass tickling your toes? Do you taste your food and enjoy it to the fullest extent? (There are many who would, if they could afford such abundance as you are holding today). Do you listen to the birds? They are singing for you – stop and listen. More importantly, while you are working so diligently to get to that place you so desire in your career, do you say hello to your co-worker and ask how they are doing? Do you “see them” as fellow human beings that deserve love and kindness, or do you just see them as pawns on your chess board of life. I ask you, for today, engage yourself in the now. At the water cooler, ask about how someone is doing and really listen to their answer. Look them in the eye. Maybe even try to care. When you drive home, drive consciously. Treat even the cars roaring by with respect, as if they have real humans in them (oh, they do have real humans in them – so often we forget). Tonight, sit your child on your lap (regardless of age), and hug them tight, real tight. Tickle them. If you are fortunate to have a “significant other” get close to them and go head to head. Not in a fighting stance but touch your forehead to their forehead. Try to connect. Try to accept them; to “see them” and accept them. We live in a world so diverse and so grand, but it is your world, your experience. It is here for you to learn and grow and live and love. Are you doing that? Or do you find it a chore to be here? This is not a practice run – this is it. So, if you are just biding your time to leave work today so that you can start your weekend of “fun,” try to engage yourself in your work and those around you – never as a distraction, for when you think about it, what are you distracting yourself from? Life? Speak to your neighbor and really hear them. That could be your job today – that could be why you are here. So often people want to be doing something else; well, what if the most important thing you are to do in your life was to happen today – in the job you are working in right now. And maybe (most likely) it has nothing to do with your “work.” Maybe it is to give encouraging words to your boss – maybe your encouragement empowers your boss to find a cure for cancer. Maybe your words to the janitor encourages him enough to decide not to commit suicide. Or maybe it is visa-versa (the janitor finding the cure for cancer and the boss deciding not to commit suicide). Since we can never live another’s experience we will never know how we affect those around us, but I can assure you how it will affect you. Say things hateful, and hatred builds in you. Say things loving and love builds in you. That is Karma.
