A SUCCESSION OF LIVES

TODAY'S QUOTE:
A woman's life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each marked off by some intense experience...
Wallis Simpson

These words were certainly true for the woman who said them; a king abdicated his crown for love of her. Her life was dramatic enough to wobble a kingdom. She became instantly world famous as well as infamous and their life together inspired countless books and movies. For Wallis Simpson this quote was a bit of an understatement, but it's true in some lesser measure for most of humanity.

I think the only thing I may disagree with is the limiting of it to the female gender. Males suffer in life too... maybe not in the same fashion or for the same reason; women don't possess a monopoly there. We simply show our true colors more often and most alterations are done center stage. Men are less likely to turn themselves inside out in public... that doesn't mean they're not very well acquainted with life's challenges.

With that respectful tip of my hat I return my focus to the female portion of, "how to unpucker, untwist, and unwad with grace." Life unfolds, one layer at a time when we're young; gain a bit of age and the speed increases dramatically. Before too long the layers begin to overlap. One role is followed by the next at a speed guaranteed to confuse. That dizzy pattern continues until we learn to unite all layers to create a single masterpiece.

Awareness is the key. As the distance between roles shrinks who we were tangles with who we are and attempts to overpower who we're truly meant to be. It's overwhelming to a ridiculous degree and the more we struggle the deeper we sink. When quicksand becomes our platform it's never voluntary, but letting it all end there certainly is. No matter the number of layers applied to our form our soul is our salvation. No matter how the landscape shifts... no matter how many hats we're forced to wear... no matter what our feet rest upon, our soul can keep us headed in the right direction. But we've got to give it a voice in the selection process.

Roles change as we travel along. Coming of age broadens our choices, while becoming aged shrinks the playing field. It's the in-between years that define our roles, but often so little planning is done that we find ourselves in costumes that never fit who we are inside. Just drifting with the flow and playing a part thrust upon us makes us little more than puppets. If we're not the one pulling the strings and we do nothing to alter our role as puppet we really have no reason for complaint. But we have every reason for revolt, even if we never lift a hand to free ourselves.

Too many decisions are made using shallow facts. Roles come in conflict with one another so there's often an internal war between heart and mind. Our labels overlap to such a degree that we're forced to fight for our very breath. We grow weary and give up... accepting crumbs when we deserve the banquet. Try deep breathing... try deep digging... try letting the deepest part of our being lead the way. Our souls are eternal while a heart will cease beating and a brain will fail us as well. If all choices were made with our souls at the bargaining table then all our roles would be tailor made and fit like a glove. Our layers would reinforce one another and the complete package would be a masterpiece of priceless worth and magnificent beauty. All quicksand would disappear and we'd find ourselves safely standing upon solid rock. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!