February 2

HOPE MONTH: DAY 2: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” ― Thomas Merton

Hope can keep us going. There is a need for ego to “know” things. We are addicted to being right, to have the answers, to “knowing” what we are doing. Our need for control is great.

Without control, we are afraid anything can happen. Truth: Anything CAN happen! I find this a hopeful statement. I have fallen in love with HOPE, POSSIBILITY, CHALLENGE.

Without those, I am a fearful, cowering, cringing soul (picture Gollum!) who cannot venture far from my sheltered enclosure (cave!) because of the inherent dangers life presents.

I know people like this. They have been my teachers. When I see how frightened they are of not getting what they believe they want and how frozen they are in the middle of their lives, I get to see what I am doing the work of recovery for and about. Breaking FREE of these manacles and having unlimited energy to throw into the mix of life is my favorite part of being ME.

I believe in healing, in deep and unfettered freedom from the bogey-man that lives in my head (the screaming purple monkeys-SPM). I am here to yell, “Oh hell no! You are NOT going to run the show!” When I spend time with the SPM, I am not able to live at all. I am frozen and cowering in the corner, believing all the crap ego and SPM throw at me.

Holding that shit in my hand means I am believing it and letting it drive my life. Hope is quiet, not screaming. It lives in my gigantic heart and there is a great deal of courage there as well. Listening to that gigantic heart and not my ego is so important.

There is so much life to live. I do not know what is coming each day, but I sure am excited to find out! I have no dread of what is coming…it is LIFE!!! I am happy to meet it head on, hug the crap outta it and get on with what it brings to my door. I know it’s gonna be a great adventure!

None of us EVER get to know what is going to happen. If we could truly predict that, we would be in great demand. It is very important to NOT know and get dressed for the day anyway. Isn’t that what living is truly all about.

What is really funny, to me, is how angry those cowering, fearful people are…blaming others because they are stuck in the corner. And they HATE how happy, joyous and free the rest of us are, dancing around, having a great life! So sad!

They cower and hate, telling the story about how they are miserable and why they are miserable and why it should be that way. Taking themselves and their misery SO seriously. Life is short, the only way to do this thing is to get out of your corner, get rid of your ideas about why misery is your lot, and get on with living!

Happiness IS an inside job. It is all about who and what you let determine your happiness. If it has conditions tied to it, you need to figure shit out and that will keep you miserable for a very long time. Trying to control life is how it dies. Let go! Let God…we are gonna be on THAT step next month. For right now, gather your hope and get the hell out there in life and grab some! Woohoot!