Happiness and sadness are a choice that we make in life.

I would have to say that for a large portion of my life, I had not realised that my attitude to things was, in fact, a choice. I used to blame circumstances and people for the way that I felt. I was often a victim to life's blows. I was at the mercy of those who decided to be the boss of a situation. I would take the lesser, more humble position and allow whoever to take control. It was not being agressive. It was being polite. It was the right thing to do. And I was not happy with the outcome, all the time feeling that I was doing the right thing. OK - I guess I could be the other person. Be the boss. Be on top. But that wouldn't make me feel happy either. I have done a lot of readings on matters of the heart and of the mind. It is really only now that I realise that everything in life is not even/ is not always fair. But it's how I react to things that is iportant. I don't want to hold grudges for past grievances. I need to let go, and to forgive both myself and others, as well as past situations. But most of all, I can choose my response. I can choose to be happy and to be at peace.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE THROWS YOU A BALL, DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO CATCH IT!

This is a newer saying to add to my list of pearls of wisdom from others. Bryce told it to me last year. I was always saying "YES" to people. Can you do this? YES,OK. Can you come to this event? OK, YES I CAN. And then I was finding that I was getting too "S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D" and not having any real quality time to enjoy being. It's hard to say "NO". I feel like I owe someone an explanation for why I am being so ungenerous with my time. I'm still working on some plain "NO's" without needing an explanation. But I have found on the occasions where I have said "NO", I have felt a little empowered. Like I have made the choice of whether to or whether not to and have reclaimed a little bit of time for me. But it is not easy. I wonder if there is this hinged sense of guilt that I am not obliging others. I keep repeating this pearl of wisdom when I am being bombarded with requests, especially in the workplace. I think sometimes if you say YES all the time, people take you for granted. The occasional "NO" spells out, "this person is not a doormat. They make choices" and that's got to be a good thing.

I am always a student...

I am no more important or no less important than any other human alive today. I am learning my wisdom day by day by the Masters that have gone before me. Their wisdom teaches me how to live in this world of uncertainty. I want to share some of the Pearls of wisdom that I have learnt, and how they apply to my life.
I have constantly questioned "what is this all about?" "why is this all so hard?" and "why me?". I guess asking questions propells you forward in thinking. But I don't have the answers. Not yet.
I am a life student. I am calm. I am patient. I am waiting for answers.
The first wise saying that comes to my mind is
"THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP"
This saying is my mantra. It propells me forward to not just dreaming about something, but doing it. Not just jumping from project to project, but continuing along the journey, one step at a time. It has made me try new things and not shy away from my dreams. In my life at the moment, I am trying to reach my artistic pinacle. This may take a lifetime's work, but I am taking the journey, one step at a time.