D on bitterroot trail
I know of nothing more dreadful than living a life at the mercy of powerful forces beyond my control.
As a whole, we are a species futilely trying to insure ourselves against the unfortunate events that inevitably befall our innocent selves. We live as victims trying to fend off poverty, illness, unhappiness, and discontent. We try to find causes for everything as to enable us to create a system to defeat the boogeyman.
We follow the system and still wind up saying “Why me, how could this be happening?” How does one become a victim of this cruel, harsh world? It’s simple, one chooses it.
When one accepts responsibility for everything, they cannot, by definition, be a victim anymore. Do not acknowledge any outside forces and you become in control of your entire life.
Now in control, you can sit back and say “Who and where I am was my choice.”
Now, it becomes interesting. One can now reflect on one’s life in terms of choices made, and motivation for making them.
- Why did I do what I did?
- Was it fear?
- Was it ignorance?
- Did I need the experience to get here?
- Was it just fun?
Behind every choice there is a reason. Choice implies options. Options imply control. “I control my life!” One can change one’s mind because one is in control.
In this one simple step, we can remove blame for everything. Everything now has a reason. “I chose it!”
When I wonder how I wound up in a ridiculous circumstance, I now know. I chose it and if I don’t like it, I can make like a tree and leave.
In closing, I would like to include an excerpt from “The Teachings of Don Juan”.
Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions.
Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use.
One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.
