MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT

So many are in an uproar over the Mayan calendar. There's multiple discussions about the world ending, but in reality, their civilization disappeared before Mr. Acan could print up the new calendar. Maybe the next one would have depicted maize and salt in various poses...but who knows? It's just another mystery for us to ponder about that culture.

The point is, that just as our calendar ends on December 31st in anticipation of renewal, filled with second chances for a better life, so does theirs...at least that's what I think. My guess is that they just didn't stick around long enough to see how the world has evolved, or publish the next date-keeper for their version of a fridge.

There are a bunch of like minded people who believe that December 21,2012 will bring about a time of change. It appears we are certainly warming up for it, but it is up to us about whether or not it will be a turn for the better or worse.

Hurricane Sandy was the opening act, followed closely by the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. 
Both events were devastating to many, and caught so much attention that they rippled out to the entire country, affecting millions of people.

The talk about both is basically the same...BLAME. Blame God, guns, LIPA, global warming, etc. Two violent acts befall us, and we inject anger and fear into the mix. 

But, there has also been much kindness. Prayers have been offered, financial, practical and spiritual donations have been passed out by the truckful...however, it concerns me when I realize which voice has been the loudest. Some of the same people who have been generous have also been almost eaten alive by anger and fear. 

I just released a book that talks about being grateful for what you have everyday because it can all be taken away in an instant. Our reaction to tough times can either destroy us, our loved ones, and our lives, OR we can grieve it, and grow from it. Unfortunately, my story was only recently released and hadn't had a chance to gain real momentum. I originally wrote it in order to make sense of my own experiences, but eventually made it public, hoping that many could benefit from its message.

For those not directly affected by these tragedies, the biggest thing we can do is to look to be of service rather than trying to place blame or become angry. God or no God, good or evil, we are on this planet with the capacity to love...and that changes EVERYTHING.

Sometimes a lesson learned is not always obvious because the situation seems so horrific. Think about the shooter in Newtown for instance. He might have taught us something. Maybe the lesson is...the way you treat someone ripples out and has an affect on MANY because in reality we are all connected. We are all one. His pain became the children's pain, which became their families' pain, which is now our pain...look at how much we talk about the pain. All of the souls lost were incredibly brave for coming here and blessing us for such a short time...because the opposite is also true if we are all connected...the joy they felt and brought their parents, rippled out in the form of kindness, good moods, generosity, etc...and that also affects the rest of the world... 

The lives that were lost are at peace. The turmoil is over for them and now they are watching us. They were heroes. What will they see when they look down on the Earth?

My advice: Turn your attention on the joy and celebrate the big and little heroes who have brought the focus back to what is really in our hearts...LOVE. If we didn't LOVE, we wouldn't grieve so much for them and what their families are going through. They have woken up others who have been sleepwalking through their lives, and for that I say Thank You.

Do not hug your children tightly just because this happened in Newtown...hug them tightly EVERY DAY. Do not start talking to your neighbor just because you are helping him rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, and then forget he ever existed. Show each other kindness EVERY DAY. Be happy that the people you know and love are here to spend time with you right now and create joy EVERY DAY....then, if it is taken away, there will be no regrets...only happy memories. A wise woman named Amanda said, "It's where YOUR heart ends up that is most important."
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 I am reminded of something someone told me once... a mother of a friend of mine was in the hospital watching her son die. She wanted to donate his organs, but there wasn't much left of him to donate. The mother was grief stricken, but clear enough in her higher self to say, "Find something. Do your best and find something you can use for someone else. MAKE HIS DEATH COUNT." 

Do something kind in the name of the victims of either disaster and document it in the comments section of this blog. Type in what you did and who you did it for. It doesn't have to be a big organized event; sometimes a smile or a "hello" can mean everything. Use the names of the victims (living or deceased) if you can. If you follow my advice and change your mind set, then for those who died, their deaths WILL COUNT, and for those who are still with us, but are trying to rebuild, their lives will count now while they are here.

As for me, I will be giving $1 from every copy of the book I just released, SUKI, (sold in December, January, and February) to either The Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund or to The Newtown Memorial Fund...the buyer's choice. When you order from the website:
 readsuki.com  
and you check out, just specify where you would like the money to go to in the buyers instructions box. 
For those of you who buy it locally at THE SPOON on Wellwood Ave in Lindenhurst, NY, please leave a note with management, and they will get it to me.

Think about how you want to spend the rest of your time here, whether it's the next two days or two hundred years...I'm going to bet you'd like to look back on a life spent being joyful and loving...even through the tough times...especially then.