The Sin of Time

One sin seldom mentioned is that of killing time.

Extrovert and Introvert

Laughter is an extrovert expression of the deepest joy and deepest sorrow.

Tears are an introvert expression of the same two.

Silence is one step beyond, into the realm of profound impact. It does not necessarily mean there is a lack of response or lack of understanding, but that your response is more intense and it cannot possibly be displayed… at least not yet.

Some things just cannot be expressed without undue complexity. And a good part of it is letting time process it, unravel the details like a tangled skein.

Complex reactions need to ripen like grapes on a vine.

So, take your time, as you would with fine wine, and never underestimate silence.

Expect the Unexpected

Some people love surprises, others hate it. Well, tough luck to the second group. Because that's what ordinary living gets you -- one surprise after another, in a nonstop rollercoaster.

Unexpected things come in all sizes and all flavors, from tiny bad to huge wonderful, and vice versa.

The trick to dealing with the unexpected is to learn to maintain a personal balance that will act like a buffer for you against the thrown pies and baseballs and apples and bullets and gold coins that come your way in an unending stream.

You might not enjoy rollercoaster rides, but there's a good reason you are on this one, at this very moment.

And that reason is that somewhere somehow someone figured that you can take it.

Here's betting that someone was you.

Peace of Mind

The most precious treasure of all is peace of mind.

It can cure insomnia, lower your high blood pressure, improve circulation, help you achieve your ideal weight, allow you to cope with loss and daily hardships and financial hell, give you the confidence to be real, encourage you to love, and grace you with the ability to live -- you know, all that good stuff.

How do you achieve piece of mind in this complex world?

The same way you would achieve anything else worthwhile.

Earn it.

So, get cracking.

The Proper Way to Smile

The truest smile happens when the mouth remains immobile. It's in the way the eyes fill up with positive energy, bursting to come out. And the muscles of the whole face take on a subtle "smile configuration."

There's really no way to fake that kind of smile. In any given moment, you either have it or you don't.

When the next genuine smile opportunity comes up, try smiling only with your eyes and keep that annoying mouth out of the picture.

Then, observe the impact.

Like Gossip

Sometimes I think that wisdoms slip from my mind like drool from the lips of an idiot...

Where's all this stuff coming from? Is it any good? Any good in, you know, the wisdom sense? Who am I to spout this stuff anyway?

Well, here's the thing. You too can find yourself shedding wisdom like cat hair if you only allow yourself the liberty of introspection.

Think about what you alone know that no one else does. That one neat wonderful profound insight. It is fully yours. No one else on this planet of about six billion people understands it like you do.

Now, see if you can share it with someone. Bestow it, a gift of yourself.

Wisdom is like gossip. Except it's the good kind.

Do . . .

Creativity is an excess of personal energy. What to do, oh what to do with it? The best use of this energy is when it's organized into meaningful constructs.

If you have too much energy and no outlet, just possibly you might need to create something, and soon.

Focus the energy into solid form of your choice. Use your hands, your mind, your ability to feel and interpret. That depressed empty feeling will go away really fast. Sure it's a temporary solution, but isn't time all we've got anyway?

Fill your time up with something that generates wonder.

It's All in the Movement

Everyone's depressed, empty, useless -- when stopping to consider one's life instead of simply going about the business of living it.

Really, think about it. Or better yet, no, don't -- it'll only make you feel the "slow nothing" that is apathy, a harmful downer thing that lurks between the living moments like a bloated blah-troll. Sort of like when you put the movie on pause and go to use the bathroom -- generally unrewarding, as experiences go.

I won't insult your intelligence and tell you to cheer up. Perky people grate on everyone's nerves (unless you are having your own perky moment, in which case, shoo!).

So what's the solution?

Simple. Keep looking for it! It's all in the movement. And yes, it exists.

Wants and Needs

Life is a constant process of discrimination between wants and needs.

The low-carb muffin or the mocha latte? The new ultra-thin laptop or the MP3 player and keychain storage media? The rice or the uncontaminated water?

Don't feel guilty, don't feel envious, don't feel angry. Simply make your choice.

Because once the choice is behind you, then comes real gratification -- the ability to question and the will to initiate change.

Welcome

This moment is the only moment during which you are alive.

Everything else is either a memory of the past or a dream of the future.

Use the moment well.