It requires no effort or intention to disregard how charmed my life is.
I gnaw on nonsense daily that poisons my spirit and pollutes my joy. Forgetting the whole time that I’m no true friend of hardship. Any hardship I experience is usually self-manufactured. I’m living a safe life surrounded by loving family and friends. I’m not wealthy (by American standards) but I’m not put out very often by my living circumstances and lifestyle.
Still I find things to complain about. Sometimes that something is a someone. They’re in our way. They’re not playing along. They’re probably not even in on the joke. Form doesn’t matter. A complaint is a complaint and complaints are vampires. The only thing they give is a sense of emptiness and longing.
“Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present and fear the future.” – Seneca
Seneca is getting at how you can live the same amount of earth days as me and live a longer life than I do if you are in control of your time. The more time you control, the longer your life is. If you spend your time thinking about what’s not right today and what may be wrong tomorrow you aren’t in control of your time and you won’t be at peace. You’ll also miss the beauty that is already before you.
You’ve realized this already. So have I. It’s just that I go back to my old ways. I stop trusting. I listen too closely to the fear. I get distracted. I forget.
I share it here with you in case you have a memory like mine.
