A friend of mine has been coaxing me into joining The Art of Living. Much As I respect the teachings and methods of such a course, I find no need to take it. To me the art of living can not be preached, but it can only be learnt and realized from within.
Living is an art, there will be stress, unhappiness, sadness, but then there also is joy, happiness, laughter and all that is positive to view. I myself have to have the mental and emotional clarity to be able to take the good with the bad, happiness with sadness, pessimism followed with optimism and so on.
Life is meant to be lived to the fullest. It is full of surprises, sometimes there is more sadness and less happiness, but then we have to know how to make the best of both. You have to be able to stand firm and take all that life bestows, the expected and the unexpected.
What is the Art of Living to me, I have been asking my self. Have I learnt from my mistakes? Am I a pessimist? Do I keep seeking more, than be satisfied with what I have…questions galore…but one thing I know for sure, I am mostly a happy fun loving person. I always find something to laugh about. If God was to ask me to make some changes in my life would I want to live this Life again……YES, I say. I have a few regrets, I would do something’s differently, but I would want to live this life again and again…..The changes I would make are within my own self, but not ever would I change my family, my friends, my life…I have it all…..am mastering the Art of Living. What does the Art of Living mean to me….in my Quest to understand myself……?
Art of Living to me is…….
Living one day at a time. I live to live, knowing one day I shall die. But as long as I am living, death does not concern me, because when death does come I shall not be alive. If I live well, I know I shall die well too.
I try not to cling on to the sadness more than I cling onto happiness. Happiness and sadness are like children, who you have to let go when they grow up.
All that I have today is, all that I had hoped for yesterday…….so I cherish my today.
When faced with sadness, deep within me I know Happiness shall follow, as I have seen in life the two always balance each other.
I have discovered the capacity within me to enjoy the simple things, feel deeply not for myself only, be needed, and give happiness when ever needed.
I have learnt to laugh at myself more than I laugh at others. My best jokes are directed at myself and this always gets me heartwarming laughter.
To me the art of living is to make the good out of the bad. I firmly believe that whatever happens happens for the best.
I try never to go to bed angry, resentful or mad. What comes with today goes with today. I do get mad, but I also get over it.
My ego. I have realized, always shuts me from people when ever it raises its hood. I am learning to surrender it. It can be big, but am learning to move beyond it. ..Relationships I have realized cannot be built and conflicts not resolved with ego.
The years in my life have gone by, but am glad I gradually learnt to add life to those years. When I look back, I know living has been worth while.
I am gradually learning who I am, and as long as I do not fully discover myself I am curious. But I know for sure my life does not belong to me alone. I am learning to touch lives with warmth and compassion. I do not want to exist, I want to live.
I have learnt to love solitude. When all is still, I feel no anxiety, loneliness. I look within and I feel more acceptance of myself. My inner peace guides me.
My friends and family I cherish, every interaction with them teaches me a little about myself, a chance to build myself as a better human being. They give me trust and joy and make my life rich and abundant.
My soul guides me and my heart tells me that if it is the source of worry, contentment also rises from there. The choices I make, the reactions I give, will define the human being that I am…Yes, am slowly but steadily mastering the art of living…my way at my pace. The overall picture of my life shall be the way I paint it. The way I live it.
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I believe the Art of Living changes with time. What I mean is that it is in a constant process of 'updates' based on the life we lead and the changes that comes from it. Basic core and values will of course be the same. The big 'ideal' ticket will be the same.
The most important element in the 'NOW' state is what defines the art of living.
A...u r so right, as we grow, we evolve..and learn from our experiences in life...Many of us are fortunate, while some get stuck in their mindset....U said it, its the NOW state that defines it all. Thank you for saying so aptly what I did not.
Kahlil Gibran's lines on
Joy and Sorrow
Then a woman said, 'Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.'
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, 'Joy is greater than sorrow,' and others say, 'Nay, sorrow is the greater.'
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
Kahlil Gibran
Thanks Poonam:))your lines too made me think again :))(((hugs)))
You make so much sense when you say 'To me the art of living can not be preached, but it can only be learnt and realized from within.'
This post definitely made me think..
A guru can help us practice what we know is the right art of living.
***
"When faced with sadness, deep within me I know Happiness shall follow, as I have seen in life the two always balance each other.
I have discovered the capacity within me to enjoy the simple things, feel deeply not for myself only, be needed, and give happiness when ever needed.
I have learnt to laugh at myself more than I laugh at others. My best jokes are directed at myself and this always gets me heartwarming laughter.
"
Stars for those. For they speak of experience both the laughter and the tears, of accepting, and believing and knowing... and that comes from living.. and nothing else.
Love this post too, for how it makes me want to know a bit more, of myself, but not all... as you say.. a bit of curiosity is needed to keep one going!
Thought provoking, Poonam, this one is!
Indyeah....welcome back..from where ever u were..Kahlil Gibran...yes, I have his complete works..what thought provoking words..on everything...When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight....I never forget this part..and there is another one on marriage......u r like two pillars of the temple...together yet apart....U too made me think of the beautiful thoughts of Kahlil Gibran..Thanks Indyeah.Life is all about learning, isn't it?
Smitha...Yes,I truly believe in that. Thats my thought, I am glad I have the willingness to learn from life...Guess thats what middle age is all about.
D...I donot disagree with your thought.A guru can guide me, but I too have to be able to grasp His teachings...a clay can be molded only when the clay is ready....
Usha....I always Thank God, for giving me the capacity to learn from life, from my mistakes...and I have realized that I can grudge people,situations in my past..or say my yesterday..but my Today..I have taken in my own hands...with each day I evolve, I learn..thats a commitment I have made to myself..in the bargain, I might hurt others[hopefully not]but I will also hurt myself...I am learning..Living Life I know is not all easy, but I am striving to make it worthwhile....Trying, trudging, and Living with smiles, even thru tears.....Am glad u liked the post..Thank You.
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