Responsible

Day 117. Responsible.

In spite of what we might think, there's no such thing as fate. Our lives are our own, to bend or break as we see fit. We can choose an easy life, or a difficult one. We can take the high road, or wallow our way through the ruts. It should be simple to walk the path of least resistance, but for some reason most of us take the less travelled road.

From time to time it's fun to close our eyes, and in that dark say to ourselves, 'I am the sorcerer, and when I open my eyes I shall see a world that I have created, and for which I and only I am completely responsible.' Slowly then, eyelids open like curtains lifting stage-center. And sure enough, there's our world, just the way we've built it. Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever.

We may not realize how simple and beautiful life could be. Everyone around us has their stories of how their life was difficult, how hard they had to work to overcome adversity. How much easier if we all built our own bridges, blazed our own trails, and just got on with it? Why the comparisons? Does it make us feel better to struggle harder than the last generation?

Accept your limitations and, soon enough, they're yours. Richard Bach, Illusions.

The life we can imagine for ourselves: full of love, laughter, people we care about. Less responsibility, more chocolate, lots of free time for the things we enjoy. Why can't we just accept that, and make it happen? It's right there, all we have to do is take it. We control our destinies, we make our future. Our happiness is predicated on one person's actions: our own. Any pain, any sadness, we allow them. Why do that, when the simplest thing would be to allow joy?

Lesson One Hundred Thirteen: Just do it. Let the good times roll. It's your own fault if you don't.

613 to go...