“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
― Marcus Aurelius
It will take a few weeks to get the pictures of people lost and wandering in the flooded streets and yards out of my mind. It will take longer for them to get a clear picture in their own minds of what life might be like in the future. Watching people dig through rubble after any of the disasters in our world leaves most of us feeling a portion of the sadness and loss they are experiencing. Our choices in life are made so much clearer when we watch people recovering from storms, natural or otherwise. We can live afraid of dying or as Aurelius reminds us, choose an even more fearsome alternative — that we never really begin to live.
“Mom, did you sign my permission slip?” either of our sons would ask when they were younger. With my signature and a small fee, they were off on another adventure to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch or to march in a parade — to see life outside of our town. Children shouldn’t need permission slips to be themselves or to find the joy of splashing in a puddle, though many are programmed exactly that way. Neither should we as adults require another’s permission to reach for stars that might seem unattainable or too pointed to those around us.
This is it, this is your PERMISSION SLIP!
I do hereby give you, (fill in your name), permission to enjoy your life, as long as it doesn’t endanger another person. What items might need to be included on your permission slip? You have permission to:
Recently, I’ve given a lot of thought to the messages I’m sending — especially to myself. For a year, I wanted to move my desk, and I finally did it. A small thing, but I gave myself permission nonetheless. Who is waiting to receive permission from you to experience more in life than a trip to the apple orchard (though as adults even that might be a fun and unexpected trip)? Your children, your spouse, your parents, your friends? Who needs to hear, “I hereby give you permission, even though you do not need it.”
It seems we use our words and judgments to prevent people, especially ourselves, from living full lives. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take that trip with the guy I love, I’m going to tell my kids to reach for the stars, but to have a plan. I’m going to not fear death and not die having been afraid of living.
Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.~ William Butler Yeats
Whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right. - Henry Ford
The best way out is always through. ~ Robert Frost
Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail
Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. ~ Oliver Goldsmith
You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi
I was SOOO tempted the other day to jump in one of the puddles in the patking lot at work. I even went so far as to stand over one and mimic a lift-off! Unfortunately, it was during my lunch break and there were others relying on me to be there; however, next time we get a good rain, I may just follow through. I’ll wait til I’m at home, though. I wouldn’t want to end up getting sick, and being of no use to anyone.
Haha! I love that! We do have to be adult enough to know the right time, don’t we? Hope you are able to splash the next time!