|
Today's
Meditation:
This
is a refreshing perspective, a great departure from much
of the "victim" talk that we hear so often in
life. Many people like to think that everything in
their life is a result of forces that have
"conspired" against them. They've been
born to a certain family, so they'll never be
wealthy. They've been born a certain race or gender
or personality type, so "society" will never let
them advance in the directions in which they wish to
advance.
Historically
speaking, of course, such limitations have been more
likely in many people's lives. There are certain
careers that women could not aspire to three hundred years
ago; two hundred years ago in America, an African-American
man or woman could not aspire to do many things. But
one of the most important tricks in life is to recognize
and accept certain limitations and then find your life's
directions with those limitations in mind. I would
love to be a singer, but my voice isn't very good and I
don't have the coordination to play instruments well; I've
found other things to do that are just as fulfilling to
me, though, and I don't worry about not being a singer.
This
world is full of opportunity. Sometimes opportunity
requires us to make sacrifices or to change places where
we live; sometimes opportunity can be intimidating and
keep us from seeking it out because it involves a certain
amount of risk.
But
if we do make the decision to avoid the risk, it's also
important to keep in mind that in avoiding the risk, it's
our choice to neglect the opportunity that is there behind
the risk. It's not because of our race or gender or
religion, but because of a decision that we've made.
Let's not make victims of ourselves-- we may not take every
risk that comes along, but that's not life's choice for
us-- it's our choice for ourselves.
|
