A TIME COMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU FINALLY GET IT . WHEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL
YOUR FEARS AND INSANITY YOU STOP DEAD IN YOUR TRACKS AND SOMEWHERE,THE VOICE
INSIDE YOUR HEAD CRIES OUT - ENOUGH! ENOUGH FIGHTING AND CRYING, OR
STRUGGLING TO HOLD ON. AND, LIKE A CHILD QUIETING DOWN AFTER A BLIND
TANTRUM, YOUR SOBS BEGIN TO SUBSIDE, YOU SHUDDER ONCE OR TWICE, YOU BLINK
BACK YOUR TEARS AND THROUGH A MANTLE OF WET LASHES, YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE
WORLD THROUGH NEW EYES.
THIS IS YOUR AWAKENING...
YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO STOP HOPING AND WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO
CHANGE, OR FOR HAPPINESS, SAFETY AND SECURITY TO COME GALLOPING OVER THE
NEXT HORIZON. YOU COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT PRINCE CHARMING
AND YOU ARE NOT CINDERELLA AND THAT IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE AREN'T ALWAYS
FAIRY TALE ENDINGS (OR BEGINNINGS FOR THAT MATTER) AND THAT ANY GUARANTEE OF
"HAPPILY EVER AFTER" MUST BEGIN WITH YOU AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF
SERENITY IS BORN OF ACCEPTANCE.
YOU AWAKEN TO THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT PERFECT AND THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL
ALWAYS LOVE, APPRECIATE OR APPROVE OF WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE . . . AND THAT'S
OK. (THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN VIEWS AND OPINIONS.) AND YOU LEARN THE
IMPORTANCE OF LOVING AND CHAMPIONING YOURSELF AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF
NEW FOUND CONFIDENCE IS BORN OF SELF-APPROVAL. YOU STOP COMPLAINING AND
BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE FOR THE THINGS THEY DID TO YOU (OR DIDN'T DO FOR YOU)
AND YOU LEARN THAT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN REALLY COUNT ON IS THE UNEXPECTED.
YOU LEARN THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS SAY WHAT THEY MEAN OR MEAN WHAT THEY SAY
AND THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU AND THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS
ABOUT YOU. SO, YOU LEARN TO STAND ON YOUR OWN AND TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF SAFETY & SECURITY IS BORN OF SELF-RELIANCE.
YOU STOP JUDGING AND POINTING FINGERS AND YOU BEGIN TO ACCEPT PEOPLE AS THEY
ARE AND TO OVERLOOK THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND HUMAN FRAILTIES AND IN THE
PROCESS, A SENSE OF PEACE & CONTENTMENT IS BORN OF FORGIVENESS.
YOU REALIZE THAT MUCH OF THE WAY YOU VIEW YOURSELF AND THE WORLD AROUND
YOU, IS A RESULT OF ALL THE MESSAGES AND OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INGRAINED
INTO YOUR PSYCHE.
YOU BEGIN TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THE JUNK YOU'VE BEEN FED ABOUT HOW YOU SHOULD
BEHAVE, HOW YOU SHOULD LOOK AND HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD WEIGH, WHAT YOU SHOULD
WEAR AND WHERE YOU SHOULD SHOP AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DRIVE, HOW AND WHERE YOU
SHOULD LIVE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO FOR A LIVING, WHO YOU SHOULD MARRY AND
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT OF A MARRIAGE, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AND RAISING
CHILDREN OR WHAT YOU OWE YOUR PARENTS.
YOU LEARN TO OPEN UP TO NEW WORLDS AND DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. YOU BEGIN
REASSESSING AND REDEFINING WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU REALLY STAND FOR. YOU
LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTING AND NEEDING AND YOU BEGIN TO DISCARD
THE DOCTRINES AND VALUES YOU OUTGROWN, OR SHOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT INTO TO
BEGIN WITH AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU LEARN TO GO WITH YOUR INSTINCTS.
YOU LEARN THAT IT IS TRULY IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE AND THAT THERE IS POWER
AND GLORY IN CREATING AND CONTRIBUTING AND YOU STOP MANEUVERING THROUGH LIFE
MERELY AS A "CONSUMER" LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT FIX.
YOU LEARN THAT PRINCIPLES SUCH AS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY ARE NOT THE
OUTDATED IDEALS OF A BY GONE ERA, BUT THE MORTAR THAT HOLDS TOGETHER THE
FOUNDATION UPON WHICH YOU MUST BUILD A LIFE. YOU LEARN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
EVERYTHING; IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO SAVE THE WORLD AND THAT YOU CAN'T TEACH A
PIG TO SING.
YOU LEARN TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GUILT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF SETTING BOUNDARIES AND LEARNING TO SAY NO. YOU LEARN THAT THE
ONLY CROSS TO BEAR IS THE ONE YOU CHOOSE TO CARRY AND THAT MARTYRS GET
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
THEN YOU LEARN ABOUT LOVE. ROMANTIC LOVE AND FAMILIAL LOVE. HOW TO LOVE, HOW
MUCH TO GIVE IN LOVE, WHEN TO STOP GIVING AND WHEN TO WALK AWAY. YOU LEARN
NOT TO PROJECT YOUR NEEDS OR YOUR FEELINGS ONTO A RELATIONSHIP. YOU LEARN
THAT YOU WILL NOT BE MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE INTELLIGENT, MORE LOVABLE OR
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE MAN ON YOUR ARM OR THE CHILD THAT BEARS YOUR NAME.
YOU LEARN TO LOOK AT RELATIONSHIPS AS THEY REALLY ARE AND NOT AS YOU WOULD
HAVE THEM BE. YOU STOP TRYING TO CONTROL PEOPLE, SITUATIONS AND OUTCOMES.
YOU LEARN THAT JUST AS PEOPLE GROW AND CHANGE, SO IT IS WITH LOVE; AND YOU
LEARN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND LOVE ON YOUR TERMS, JUST TO
MAKE YOU HAPPY. YOU LEARN THAT ALONE DOES NOT MEAN LONELY.
YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT YOU WILL NEVER
BE A SIZE 5 OR A PERFECT 10 AND YOU STOP TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE IMAGE
INSIDE YOUR HEAD AND AGONIZING OVER HOW YOU "STACK UP." YOU ALSO STOP
WORKING SO HARD AT PUTTING YOUR FEELINGS ASIDE, SMOOTHING THINGS OVER AND
IGNORING YOUR NEEDS.
YOU LEARN THAT FEELINGS OF ENTITLEMENT ARE PERFECTLY OK AND THAT IT IS YOUR
RIGHT, TO WANT THINGS AND TO ASK FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT AND THAT
SOMETIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE DEMANDS.
YOU COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH LOVE,
KINDNESS, SENSITIVITY AND RESPECT AND YOU WON'T SETTLE FOR LESS. YOU ALLOW
ONLY THE HANDS OF A LOVER WHO CHERISHES YOU, TO GLORIFY YOU WITH HIS TOUCH
AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU INTERNALIZE THE MEANING OF SELF-RESPECT. AND YOU
LEARN THAT YOUR BODY REALLY IS YOUR TEMPLE. AND YOU BEGIN TO CARE FOR IT AND
TREAT IT WITH RESPECT.
YOU BEGIN EATING A BALANCED DIET, DRINKING MORE WATER AND TAKING MORE TIME
TO EXERCISE. YOU LEARN THAT FATIGUE DIMINISHES THE SPIRIT AND CAN CREATE
DOUBT AND FEAR. SO YOU TAKE MORE TIME TO REST. JUST AS FOOD FUELS THE BODY,
LAUGHTER FUELS OUR SOUL; SO YOU TAKE MORE TIME TO LAUGH AND TO PLAY. YOU
LEARN THAT FOR THE MOST PART IN LIFE, YOU GET WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU DESERVE
AND THAT MUCH OF LIFE TRULY IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY.
YOU LEARN THAT ANYTHING WORTH ACHIEVING IS WORTH WORKING FOR AND THAT
WISHING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, IS DIFFERENT FROM WORKING TOWARD MAKING IT
HAPPEN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU LEARN THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS YOU
NEED DIRECTION, DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE. YOU ALSO LEARN THAT NO ONE CAN
DO IT ALL ALONE AND THAT IT'S OK TO RISK ASKING FOR HELP.
YOU LEARN THAT THE ONLY THING YOU MUST TRULY FEAR IS THE GREAT ROBBER BARON
OF ALL TIME; FEAR ITSELF. YOU LEARN TO STEP RIGHT INTO AND THROUGH YOUR
FEARS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS YOU CAN HANDLE IT AND TO GIVE
IN TO FEAR, IS TO GIVE AWAY THE RIGHT TO LIVE LIFE ON YOUR TERMS. YOU LEARN
TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE AND NOT TO SQUANDER IT LIVING UNDER A CLOUD OF
IMPENDING DOOM.
YOU LEARN THAT LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS FAIR, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU THINK
YOU DESERVE AND THAT SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO UNSUSPECTING, GOOD
PEOPLE. ON THESE OCCASIONS, YOU LEARN NOT TO PERSONALIZE THINGS. YOU LEARN
THAT GOD ISN'T PUNISHING YOU OR FAILING TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS; IT'S JUST
LIFE HAPPENING. YOU LEARN TO DEAL WITH EVIL IN ITS MOST PRIMAL STATE; THE
EGO. YOU LEARN THAT NEGATIVE FEELINGS SUCH AS ANGER, ENVY AND RESENTMENT
MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AND REDIRECTED OR THEY WILL SUFFOCATE THE LIFE OUT OF YOU
AND POISON THE UNIVERSE THAT SURROUNDS YOU.
YOU LEARN TO ADMIT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG AND TO BUILD BRIDGES INSTEAD OF
WALLS. YOU LEARN TO BE THANKFUL AND TO TAKE COMFORT IN MANY OF THE SIMPLE
THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED; THINGS THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE UPON THE EARTH
CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT; A FULL REFRIGERATOR, CLEAN RUNNING WATER , A SOFT
WARM BED, A LONG HOT SHOWER.
SLOWLY, YOU BEGIN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF, BY YOURSELF AND YOU
MAKE YOURSELF A PROMISE TO NEVER BETRAY YOURSELF AND TO NEVER EVER SETTLE
FOR LESS THAN YOUR HEART'S DESIRE. YOU HANG A WIND CHIME OUTSIDE YOUR
WINDOW SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE WIND, AND YOU MAKE IT A POINT TO KEEP
SMILING, TO KEEP TRUSTING AND TO STAY OPEN TO EVERY WONDERFUL POSSIBILITY.
FINALLY, WITH COURAGE IN YOUR HEART AND WITH GOD BY YOUR SIDE YOU TAKE A
STAND, YOU TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND YOU BEGIN TO DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO
LIVE AS BEST AS YOU CAN.
THE AWAKENING.........."UNKNOWN" A TIME COMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU FINALLY
GET IT . WHEN IN THE MIDST OF ALL YOUR FEARS AND INSANITY YOU STOP DEAD IN
YOUR TRACKS AND SOMEWHERE,THE VOICE INSIDE YOUR HEAD CRIES OUT - ENOUGH!
ENOUGH FIGHTING AND CRYING, OR STRUGGLING TO HOLD ON. AND, LIKE A CHILD
QUIETING DOWN AFTER A BLIND TANTRUM, YOUR SOBS BEGIN TO SUBSIDE, YOU SHUDDER
ONCE OR TWICE, YOU BLINK BACK YOUR TEARS AND THROUGH A MANTLE OF WET LASHES,
YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH NEW EYES.
THIS IS YOUR AWAKENING...
YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S TIME TO STOP HOPING AND WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO
CHANGE, OR FOR HAPPINESS, SAFETY AND SECURITY TO COME GALLOPING OVER THE
NEXT HORIZON. YOU COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT PRINCE CHARMING
AND YOU ARE NOT CINDERELLA AND THAT IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE AREN'T ALWAYS
FAIRY TALE ENDINGS (OR BEGINNINGS FOR THAT MATTER) AND THAT ANY GUARANTEE OF
"HAPPILY EVER AFTER" MUST BEGIN WITH YOU AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF
SERENITY IS BORN OF ACCEPTANCE.
YOU AWAKEN TO THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT PERFECT AND THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL
ALWAYS LOVE, APPRECIATE OR APPROVE OF WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE . . . AND THAT'S
OK. (THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN VIEWS AND OPINIONS.) AND YOU LEARN THE
IMPORTANCE OF LOVING AND CHAMPIONING YOURSELF AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF
NEW FOUND CONFIDENCE IS BORN OF SELF-APPROVAL. YOU STOP COMPLAINING AND
BLAMING OTHER PEOPLE FOR THE THINGS THEY DID TO YOU (OR DIDN'T DO FOR YOU)
AND YOU LEARN THAT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN REALLY COUNT ON IS THE UNEXPECTED.
YOU LEARN THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS SAY WHAT THEY MEAN OR MEAN WHAT THEY SAY
AND THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU AND THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS
ABOUT YOU. SO, YOU LEARN TO STAND ON YOUR OWN AND TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
AND IN THE PROCESS, A SENSE OF SAFETY & SECURITY IS BORN OF SELF-RELIANCE.
YOU STOP JUDGING AND POINTING FINGERS AND YOU BEGIN TO ACCEPT PEOPLE AS THEY
ARE AND TO OVERLOOK THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND HUMAN FRAILTIES AND IN THE
PROCESS, A SENSE OF PEACE & CONTENTMENT IS BORN OF FORGIVENESS.
YOU REALIZE THAT MUCH OF THE WAY YOU VIEW YOURSELF AND THE WORLD AROUND
YOU, IS A RESULT OF ALL THE MESSAGES AND OPINIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INGRAINED
INTO YOUR PSYCHE.
YOU BEGIN TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THE JUNK YOU'VE BEEN FED ABOUT HOW YOU SHOULD
BEHAVE, HOW YOU SHOULD LOOK AND HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD WEIGH, WHAT YOU SHOULD
WEAR AND WHERE YOU SHOULD SHOP AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DRIVE, HOW AND WHERE YOU
SHOULD LIVE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO FOR A LIVING, WHO YOU SHOULD MARRY AND
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT OF A MARRIAGE, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AND RAISING
CHILDREN OR WHAT YOU OWE YOUR PARENTS.
YOU LEARN TO OPEN UP TO NEW WORLDS AND DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. YOU BEGIN
REASSESSING AND REDEFINING WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU REALLY STAND FOR. YOU
LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANTING AND NEEDING AND YOU BEGIN TO DISCARD
THE DOCTRINES AND VALUES YOU OUTGROWN, OR SHOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT INTO TO
BEGIN WITH AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU LEARN TO GO WITH YOUR INSTINCTS.
YOU LEARN THAT IT IS TRULY IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE AND THAT THERE IS POWER
AND GLORY IN CREATING AND CONTRIBUTING AND YOU STOP MANEUVERING THROUGH LIFE
MERELY AS A "CONSUMER" LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT FIX.
YOU LEARN THAT PRINCIPLES SUCH AS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY ARE NOT THE
OUTDATED IDEALS OF A BY GONE ERA, BUT THE MORTAR THAT HOLDS TOGETHER THE
FOUNDATION UPON WHICH YOU MUST BUILD A LIFE. YOU LEARN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW
EVERYTHING; IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO SAVE THE WORLD AND THAT YOU CAN'T TEACH A
PIG TO SING.
YOU LEARN TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GUILT AND RESPONSIBILITY AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF SETTING BOUNDARIES AND LEARNING TO SAY NO. YOU LEARN THAT THE
ONLY CROSS TO BEAR IS THE ONE YOU CHOOSE TO CARRY AND THAT MARTYRS GET
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
THEN YOU LEARN ABOUT LOVE. ROMANTIC LOVE AND FAMILIAL LOVE. HOW TO LOVE, HOW
MUCH TO GIVE IN LOVE, WHEN TO STOP GIVING AND WHEN TO WALK AWAY. YOU LEARN
NOT TO PROJECT YOUR NEEDS OR YOUR FEELINGS ONTO A RELATIONSHIP. YOU LEARN
THAT YOU WILL NOT BE MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE INTELLIGENT, MORE LOVABLE OR
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE MAN ON YOUR ARM OR THE CHILD THAT BEARS YOUR NAME.
YOU LEARN TO LOOK AT RELATIONSHIPS AS THEY REALLY ARE AND NOT AS YOU WOULD
HAVE THEM BE. YOU STOP TRYING TO CONTROL PEOPLE, SITUATIONS AND OUTCOMES.
YOU LEARN THAT JUST AS PEOPLE GROW AND CHANGE, SO IT IS WITH LOVE; AND YOU
LEARN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND LOVE ON YOUR TERMS, JUST TO
MAKE YOU HAPPY. YOU LEARN THAT ALONE DOES NOT MEAN LONELY.
YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT YOU WILL NEVER
BE A SIZE 5 OR A PERFECT 10 AND YOU STOP TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE IMAGE
INSIDE YOUR HEAD AND AGONIZING OVER HOW YOU "STACK UP." YOU ALSO STOP
WORKING SO HARD AT PUTTING YOUR FEELINGS ASIDE, SMOOTHING THINGS OVER AND
IGNORING YOUR NEEDS.
YOU LEARN THAT FEELINGS OF ENTITLEMENT ARE PERFECTLY OK AND THAT IT IS YOUR
RIGHT, TO WANT THINGS AND TO ASK FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT AND THAT
SOMETIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE DEMANDS.
YOU COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH LOVE,
KINDNESS, SENSITIVITY AND RESPECT AND YOU WON'T SETTLE FOR LESS. YOU ALLOW
ONLY THE HANDS OF A LOVER WHO CHERISHES YOU, TO GLORIFY YOU WITH HIS TOUCH
AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU INTERNALIZE THE MEANING OF SELF-RESPECT. AND YOU
LEARN THAT YOUR BODY REALLY IS YOUR TEMPLE. AND YOU BEGIN TO CARE FOR IT AND
TREAT IT WITH RESPECT.
YOU BEGIN EATING A BALANCED DIET, DRINKING MORE WATER AND TAKING MORE TIME
TO EXERCISE. YOU LEARN THAT FATIGUE DIMINISHES THE SPIRIT AND CAN CREATE
DOUBT AND FEAR. SO YOU TAKE MORE TIME TO REST. JUST AS FOOD FUELS THE BODY,
LAUGHTER FUELS OUR SOUL; SO YOU TAKE MORE TIME TO LAUGH AND TO PLAY. YOU
LEARN THAT FOR THE MOST PART IN LIFE, YOU GET WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU DESERVE
AND THAT MUCH OF LIFE TRULY IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY.
YOU LEARN THAT ANYTHING WORTH ACHIEVING IS WORTH WORKING FOR AND THAT
WISHING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, IS DIFFERENT FROM WORKING TOWARD MAKING IT
HAPPEN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU LEARN THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS YOU
NEED DIRECTION, DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE. YOU ALSO LEARN THAT NO ONE CAN
DO IT ALL ALONE AND THAT IT'S OK TO RISK ASKING FOR HELP.
YOU LEARN THAT THE ONLY THING YOU MUST TRULY FEAR IS THE GREAT ROBBER BARON
OF ALL TIME; FEAR ITSELF. YOU LEARN TO STEP RIGHT INTO AND THROUGH YOUR
FEARS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS YOU CAN HANDLE IT AND TO GIVE
IN TO FEAR, IS TO GIVE AWAY THE RIGHT TO LIVE LIFE ON YOUR TERMS. YOU LEARN
TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE AND NOT TO SQUANDER IT LIVING UNDER A CLOUD OF
IMPENDING DOOM.
YOU LEARN THAT LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS FAIR, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU THINK
YOU DESERVE AND THAT SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO UNSUSPECTING, GOOD
PEOPLE. ON THESE OCCASIONS, YOU LEARN NOT TO PERSONALIZE THINGS. YOU LEARN
THAT GOD ISN'T PUNISHING YOU OR FAILING TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS; IT'S JUST
LIFE HAPPENING. YOU LEARN TO DEAL WITH EVIL IN ITS MOST PRIMAL STATE; THE
EGO. YOU LEARN THAT NEGATIVE FEELINGS SUCH AS ANGER, ENVY AND RESENTMENT
MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AND REDIRECTED OR THEY WILL SUFFOCATE THE LIFE OUT OF YOU
AND POISON THE UNIVERSE THAT SURROUNDS YOU.
YOU LEARN TO ADMIT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG AND TO BUILD BRIDGES INSTEAD OF
WALLS. YOU LEARN TO BE THANKFUL AND TO TAKE COMFORT IN MANY OF THE SIMPLE
THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED; THINGS THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE UPON THE EARTH
CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT; A FULL REFRIGERATOR, CLEAN RUNNING WATER , A SOFT
WARM BED, A LONG HOT SHOWER.
SLOWLY, YOU BEGIN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF, BY YOURSELF AND YOU
MAKE YOURSELF A PROMISE TO NEVER BETRAY YOURSELF AND TO NEVER EVER SETTLE
FOR LESS THAN YOUR HEART'S DESIRE. YOU HANG A WIND CHIME OUTSIDE YOUR
WINDOW SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE WIND, AND YOU MAKE IT A POINT TO KEEP
SMILING, TO KEEP TRUSTING AND TO STAY OPEN TO EVERY WONDERFUL POSSIBILITY.
FINALLY, WITH COURAGE IN YOUR HEART AND WITH GOD BY YOUR SIDE YOU TAKE A
STAND, YOU TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND YOU BEGIN TO DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO
LIVE AS BEST AS YOU CAN.
