                       Reflections From Beyond the Pale
                                   by Pagan
                                                                (c) 1994 Pagan

     Are you happy?  I mean, are you enjoying Life?  When you wake up in the 
morning (afternoon, evening, &c.), do you mount the day with eager 
anticipation, or do you dread the hours that must pass before the blessed 
forgetfulness of sleep once again overtakes your consciousness?

     Well you know, Life really is what you make of it.  In a very real sense, 
we do create our own Reality--and outlook, attitude, is 90% of it.  What am I 
talking about?  You've asked the right question.  Here it comes.  Are you 
ready?

     Basically, we get out of Life what we put into it.  Fear, Anger, 
Bitterness, Resentment, Hatred breed more of the same.  So also do Courage, 
Sympathy, Tolerance, Love.  Whatever we put forth into the World, that is what 
will return to us.  The Golden Rule, the Law of Karma, and just plain old 
common sense all teach the same message:  what goes around, comes around.

     Now sure, sometimes "bad" things happen to "good" people, and on the flip 
side some folks actually seem to get away with murder.  But it's not the 
"good" or "bad" events per se that matter; rather, it's what we choose to do 
with them.  Permit me to illustrate:  Joe Schmoe is basically a "good person."  
But, like all of us, Joe sometimes makes mistakes, uses poor judgment.  What 
Joe has put forth returns to him, in the form of the consequences (direct or 
indirect) of his actions.  Now, here is the critical point.  Joe can either 
rue his situation, beat his breast, tear out his hair, and be angry and 
miserable... OR... he can recognize what has happened, learn from his 
mistakes, grow from that learning, and then move forward.  The more Joe 
learns, the better judgment he will have in the future, and the fewer mistakes 
he will make.  Sounds like progress, hmm?

     There is, of course, no single path that is right for everyone.  How 
could there be?  We are, after all, unique and special individuals.  I believe 
that one of the biggest reasons that people get depressed, bitter, and 
despondent is that they are not really following their own true path, but 
rather "doing what is expected of them" (in their perception).  Intercourse 
that!  Not one of us is here on this Earth to live up to someone else's 
expectations--we're here to learn how to be the best, most balanced and 
complete human beings we can be.  One goal, but a different road for each 
traveler.  

     Do what you love.  Follow your heart.  Learn from the past, but look to 
the future.  The rest will follow.

     Thought for the Week:

          What a curious phenomenon it is that you can get men to die for the 
liberty of the world who will not make the little sacrifice that is needed to 
free themselves from their own individual bondage.

                                        -- Bruce Barton (1886-1967)

     Peace, Love, and the "D" Word!

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
