May 13

INTEGRITY MONTH: DAY 13: “Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.” – Ayn Rand

So, I must have integrity, because my life is insanely happy; and without any of those things that most folks deem necessary for true happiness. I do not have a partner, although I have had the kind of love that took my breath away. I do not have a home that is anything like others I have had…this one is very, very tiny and just big enough for me. I do not have a savings account with money in it, nor do I have the kind of wealth I enjoyed most of my life. So it has all been removed. But I do what I do because it is what I love doing. And my days are filled with lots of outdoor activity, because I am such a big nature girl. And I am healthy as can be and work enough to keep my mind active and love what I do. So I guess I am fulfilling my moral purpose in life. This is a different quote, and it was a challenge to begin to write about this idea. Integrity is such an elusive concept/idea/principle to talk (write) about. It incorporates honor and honesty, but goes much deeper than that. I totally ‘get’ what is being stated here, because we are only integral when we are living out our purpose for life. If I am doing something in my life that is making my days feel uncomfortable and disjointed, wishing and hoping and longing for something else, then I am not living with integrity. I always hated the quote: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” But it is true. We sell our souls for the cars and the homes and the clothes and the travel and the toys and do not enjoy any of the time we spend in creating that life. Work is synonymous with hell for most people. Why would we ever want to do that? Because we place those things above our joy and happiness in value. Our cultural indoctrination tends to discount quiet, simple pleasures as the fare of those who must ‘do without’. I disagree so heartily. I feel rich beyond words when I get to walk along the beach and watch things happening that most people are missing out on because they are so ‘busy’ with running hither and yon; doing, doing, doing and feeling no connection to their lives or their time or what they are doing with them. I am a big fan and collector of spectacular sunrises and sunsets. I want to witness all the beauty and splendor of this world in every possible way, all of the time, day after day. I don’t know of another reason for flowers and trees and oceans and animals…I personally accept the gifts of their presence as a personal favor for me from the Creator. And I believe they are here to teach me how to be perfectly and completely ME. I love that dogs don’t try to be cats or birds, but are quite content with their selfness…the same with oak trees, they do not ever try to grow anything but acorns. And they are spectacular at being oak trees. Every creature I have ever seen or heard about is being its perfect self…we are the only species that seems hell-bent on acting like someone or something other than who and what we are. Today my integrity means that I will live just like Kelly all day and if I find that I am called to do something other than what I am doing right now, I will do it. I have truly learned to cease fighting the Universe to do my will or to create my life along any other plan. This is the way that I find my happy place…it is always in my heart, waiting for me to tap into it and follow its Divine guidance…and I love it very much!