Here Comes the Sun

So today is officially my last day of summer before grad school starts. I have to admit I am a little nervous. Its been several years since I stepped foot into a classroom and been the student. I am looking forward to it though so that I can put my energies towards something productive rather than dwelling on all the crap.

The race is also in less than two weeks now. Super excited about it and looking forward to seeing that finish line on the horizon. You know a lot people say that life is like a race. I don't really agree with that kind of comparison though. First of all I don't know what baby starts out running. Second, when you are running you always know that the finish line is somewhere up ahead. Life isn't like that. You don't know where the finish is and in the midst of running towards it you could get lost because our paths are usually not so nicely labeled.

When I was sick last summer, my doctors thought that I could use some spiritual guidance I guess and sent in the chaplain. He recommended a book to me that I am still learning from called Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser. I am constantly thinking about the things she says in it and how I can use them in my life. It is hard though. Reading something and being inspired is one thing. But actually using it is another. Here is just one of the bits of wisdom from the book that I like.

"Things do fall apart. It is in their nature to do so. When we try to protect ourselves from the inevitability of change, we are not listening to the soul. We are listening to our fear of life and death, our lack of faith, our smaller ego's will to prevail. To listen to your soul is to stop fighting with life--to stop fighting when things fall apart; when they don't go our away, when we get sick, when we are betrayed or mistreated or misunderstood. To listen to the soul is to slow down, to feel deeply, to see ourselves clearly, to surrender to discomfort and uncertainty and to wait." -Elizabeth Lesser

So to you my friends I say if you are living your life like is a race, stop. It is not healthy. You are setting yourself up for failure I believe. Life is not a race. It is something much more beautiful.