Part Eight

Let me suggest that the bad things that happen to us in our lives DO NOT have a meaning when they happen to us.
They do not happen for any good reason which we would accept them willingly.But we can give them a meaning.We can redeem these tragedies from senselessness by imposing meaning on them.The question we should be asking is not Why did this happen to me? Or what did i do to deserve this?
That is really an unanswerable,pointless question.A better question would be,NOW that this has happened to me, What am i going to do about it!

Part seven

God does not cause our misfortunes,Some are caused by bad luck,by bad people,and some are simply an inevitable consequence of our being human and being mortal,living in a world of inflexible natural laws.
The painful things that happen to us are not punishments for our misbehavior,nor are they in anyway part of some grand design on God's part.Because the tragedy is NOT Gods Will.We need not feel hurt or betrayed by God when tragedy strikes.
We can turn to him for help in over coming it., precisely because we can tell ourselves that God is as outraged by it as we are.

Part six

They discover that they have more strength,more courage than they ever knew themselves to have.Where did they get it ,I would like to think it came from prayers,Thier prayers helped them tap hidden reserves of faith and courage which were not available to them before.
I believe God does not send us the problem,He gives us the strength to cope with the problem.I believe God gives us strength and patience and Hope, revewing our spiritual resoures when they run dry.We need only turn to Him admit that we can't do this on our own.

PART THREE

We can maintain our own self-respect and sense of goodness without having to feel that God has judged us and condemmed us. We can be angry at what has happen to us, Without feeling that we are angry at God.When tragedy is inflicted these events do not reflect Gods choices, They happen at ramdom,but evil nonetheless because by causing tragedies at ramdom, it prevents people from believing in Gods goodness.

TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE

1) Take a 10 minute walk everyday;  Smile
2) Sit in silence for at least 5 minutes
3) Sleep for 7 hours
4) Live with energy enthusiasm and empathy
5) Play more games, Surf
6) Read more books
7) Practice Meditation, Yoga and Pray
 Dream while you are awake
9) Eat foods that grow
10) Drink more water
11) Make 3 people smile
12) Don't waste precious energy on gossip
13) Forget past issues
14) Don't have negative thoughts, stay present, it's all about NOW
15) Life is a school; learn
16) Smile and laugh
17) Don't hate others
18) Don't take yourself or anyone else to seriously
19) Agree to disagree
20) Make peace with your past
21) Don't compare your past to others'
22) No one except you is in charge of your happness
23) Forgive everyone for everything
24) What others think of you is none of your business
25) However good or bad a situation is it will change
26) Envy is a waste of time; you have everything you need
27) The best is yet to come
28) No matter how you feel get up, dress up, and show up
29) Do the Right thing
30) Your inner most self is always happy so be happy
31) Call your family often
32) Each day give something good to others
33) Don't over do it; you know your limits
34) Know yourself
35) Dream Big; the only limitations are those you place upon yourself
36) Share all this with someone else; pass it on

SUMPTUOUS LIFE

My experience is more complex, if perhaps less unsavoury.Milieus taught me to be more polite to everyone,reveal nothing to anyone,outwardly respect the authorities,and give no hint of self-importance nor self-consciousness at the temporary loss of my surfing status,I regard my confinement,though not voluntarily assumed like an abrasive but bearable reminder of my imperfections.It was also reassuring to confirm that i could equably forgo all luxury and revert to a less sumptuous life.
Martin

You make it what it is

As far as iam concerned,you are the maker of your own destiny,You can lead follow or get out of the way,As they say,But  one thing you should never do is feel sorry for yourself,And your predicament.Accept responibility where it is appropriate to do so and move on with your life.Whether in the street or in prison,You make it what it is,And whether your in for a year or 20 years there is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is truly a siliver lining behind that black cloud that is presently overwhelming you .Its all about your attitude.But rest assured,the experience will only exacerbate  my drive for the future.There is a subtext of humility,fallibility,loss and perseverance in this scenario that we can all learn a lesson.Life is to short ENJOY every minute,So many people take life and people for granted!!!!


Martin.....