sundaewrites

The Masters

Have you ever been so passionate about something that you decided it’s going to be your “one thing” in life? Apparently, it becomes deeply ingrained in your personality that there comes a day when there’s no way to tell between you and your passion. You and that thing become one.

Masters of their own craft. Some of them are still living among us. The world may not know about them right now, or perhaps may not know them at all. That’s just how it works. It takes years to realize someone was a genius and a great dose of humility to accept that fact.

But masters don’t really care about how they are perceived by the world. They just make art, do their thing, and allow themselves to be a vessel that nature chooses to work with and through.

The same should be for you and me.
— to not care too much about the outcome or what people say; if whatever we do makes an impact, or whether it’s grand, eloquent, shiny, or too overwhelming for someone to fathom or even feel.

We bring out what nature or the gods intend to create, never refusing or bragging about it and claiming it as our own. Nothing is our own.

You are called to do something today.

If it’s something big, take courage. You were born to do it. Don’t ever doubt that.

If it’s something small, do it great, as if it’s all that matters and the last thing you get to do.

In the final hours, to hear these words echoing between two souls would be the sweetest thing in the world, “You made that happen. Thank you”.

Are You Truly Free?

Getting more does not assure you will find fulfillment. But try wanting less, and you will find peace of mind.

Once you’re on that road, you will question that decision once in a while when you start comparing yourself with others.

And why do you do that?

Ego. It always wants to know where it stands– its place amongst the crowd.

You cannot know everything about the person you’re comparing yourself with more than you know yourself. So don’t be foolish to wish about trading places.

Instead, adjust the lens and focus on your own path.
Where are you right now?
Where do you intend to go?
How far have you come?

Looking inward, you’ll realize you already have everything you need; your path is your primary business.

And know that freedom is about finding peace and contentment in the here and now. It recognizes that this moment is enough.

You are not living years but a million moments that make up those years. So, if you can find peace and contentment in each of them, you could say your life has been complete.

And that matters.

One Day It Will All Make Sense

We should see ourselves as moving parts in a vast space.
Each one with a task to fulfill;
A role to play.

Focus on yours.
Draw out your essence,
and let it fulfill its purpose.
Do not be afraid.

You are one with the universe,
and the universe cannot harm itself.

You will know when a purpose is valid,
as it will be right…
without a doubt.

Do Not Perform For Them

I have been like this- showcasing accomplishments to other people and coming up with stories by stringing together events of the past.

While these stories are true, my motivation is wrong.

I craved and desired attention, projecting this image of myself I’d like people to hold about me.

For what?

Does it add to my self-worth? Does praise come with love?
Affection?
Friendship?
If not, what does?

Suppose from hereon I listen and connect with people; why will I do that?

Is it out of need or out of love?

I believe if love leads the way, the need, whatever it is, will somehow be fulfilled. But the risk is that I’ll be putting some weight on expectations.

So..

Listen, connect.
Do it out of love..
And hold no expectations.

Attention

If I can focus on what’s essential, what matters in the grand scheme of things, I will be able to give more energy to it—more of myself. Then I would have used my life on matters I will not someday regret, but rather, I’ll be proud of.

Remember this: Whatever I give attention to, I’m exchanging my life for it. So it better be worth what I’m giving up. It better be good!

On Building Castles in the Sand

Whatever I am passionate about, I need to remember that I will pass away and will slowly be forgotten.

So what’s the point of all of it?

– of aspiring

– of doing good

– of giving my best

– of creating something I can be proud of?

It’s divine. That’s what it is.

At least, that’s what I believe.

Merely the act of doing gives me satisfaction. Regardless of the outcome, joy is already happening – in the moment.

On Dreams and Reality

Of course I have my dreams and desires. But I think, they don’t weigh as much as what I have at this moment. For the future is not tangible. Reality, as it unfolds right now, is. Though there are those I couldn’t grasp physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, I am okay with it. ‘Coz I believe perhaps some things don’t want to be fully understood. Maybe they just want to be held.

The next day

“Here you go.”

“What’s this?”

“A letter I wrote to myself. I want you to read it.”

Dear Me,

I’m sorry for shoving you into the closet.

I’m sorry for not liking you and loving you enough.

I was too focused on dressing up my ego that I forgot about you.

I know you don’t need me to show you off to the world, and I won’t even think about it.

But, I promise to be true to you and be a good friend.

Nothing can harm you.

And there’s nothing so impressive in the world that you don’t already have, or that you aren’t already.

You are God-made and God-loved.

Nothing can be better than that.

Yours,

Now-i-know-better-Me

A moment later, she took my hand and said, “Come on, let’s enjoy this afternoon together.”

As we sat on the bench

“Why do I shy away from meeting new friends or avoid hanging out with them?”

She sat there a bit upset.

“Well, let’s see. “Sometimes, it’s all about expectations.” I began.

You expect to be somebody else other than yourself.

“This requires a lot of effort. It won’t sit right with your soul. The whole time, you’d be pretending, shoving your true self into the closet, and for what? Even if people end up liking “you,” they’d still be enjoying a “made-up” version of you.”

“So, what should I do it instead?”

“Show up as you, the polite, respectful, unpretentious, unassuming you. Those are your genuine character traits. Don’t apologize for them or try to hide them away.”

Your expectation of who people are or how they’d be like.

“Our ego loves to gauge itself whether it’s higher or lower, greater or lesser, better or worse than others. Why? Because it likes to know where and how to position itself against others. Then, it either gets a sense of pride or feels so insecure.”

“How should I manage that?”

“Receive people as they are, or, as they present themselves, without judgments, expectations, and your personal agendas.”

She pondered for a moment, looked at me, and smiled.

“I’ll come back tomorrow to see you.”

“I’ll be here.”

Your Story

To brave vulnerability in front of many is one of the most difficult things one can ever do but at the same time the most rewarding too. Last night was an amazing time spent with friends, old and new. Talking about one topic opened a lot of stories I never thought have been written in the pages of one’s book. Indeed there’s a lot to every person, a lot that we don’t see, don’t know, and maybe, we may never understand. But that’s one of a couple of gifts I think that we can give to the world- our own make.

Each of us has our own story beginning differently. Some would have had it good, some already bad, and some would be a perfect mix of sugar and spice. However it started, regardless of age, surely it’s embedded in either your earliest memory, or it’s one of a few which carried a lot of weight and created the biggest impact on you. Either way, it kicked off the very first chapter of your book and carried you through this very time.

All of those things: the joys, the trauma, the pain, gain, loss, victory, defeat- it all made who you are now. However that makes you feel, I would say you’re victorious. Why? Because you’re still here- – alive and breathing. No failure has beaten you up and left you for dead. No triumph has stopped you from dreaming and wanting to accomplish something more! So love yourself now, in case you still don’t. You’ve come so far, and the pages you’ve filled out up to this time is already a gift. A gift that you can share to the world. Someone somewhere will be blessed by it. Your story may inspire, encourage, or awaken another soul at one perfect time. You’ll be surprised of what it can accomplish.

Now that you know what you’re made of, what you can become is your second gift to the world.

Knowing where you are is one thing, knowing where you want to be is another.

This chapter and the ones that follow are still unwritten. You have to decide how it continues. Imagine what you would want to read about yourself when you reach 80 or 100. Coz then time will have taught you what you already knew- that everything from here and now will just be a memory. What would define it’s worth is up to you- – it’s up to the choices you make.

You’ve already learned how to play the cards you’re dealt with, but you can do more than that, and you can do things differently this time. You may want to stop doing and start being. Stop reacting and start pro-acting. Whatever it is, don’t stop here. As the song goes, “It ain’t over, till it’s over”.

Dream some more and make it happen, so that when you’re old and gray, you will have an ocean of beautiful memories to accompany you. You’ll have bags of wonderful stories to share with your grandkids. You’ll have plenty of highs and lows to tell the rest of the world. Then they will all know that behind those wrinkled hands and the feeble frame is a person of strong heart and a tough will, who refused to give up, who gave more and gave all!