“Smile!” pleads the photographer. And if you’re feeling alright, it’s easy. But if you aren’t, well, it’s probably still easy because that’s what we do. How is it possible to live an authentic life on this crazy rotating mixed up planet?

It’s the way stress is handled that gives each of us a glimpse into our individual personal health or the meditative level we’re at. For example, a trying situation could be handled quite admirably and other times handled in a way where a large rock is needed to crawl under afterwards. A meditation practice is an effective way to navigate the stressors of life so less boulders are needed. Basically, if you’re calm in choppy waters, either you’re clueless or something’s definitely going right.

Children have a way of reminding us the current moment matters most. A child lives in the here and now with no concerns for paying rent or where the next meal is coming from. They trust when hungry will be fed. They trust to be protected and their needs met. And that’s why when children are harmed it takes the breath out of each of us in ways deeper than words can express.

It ripples like the song you can’t get out of your head. It follows you around throughout the day. You’ll find yourself humming it here and there. Is it the lyrics? The melody? The drum beat? All about the bass? The marketing genius? Whatever it is, there it is again.  Where did it come from?

Have you ever experienced the brunt of unfair gossip? Perhaps it’s happened at work or in school, between neighbors, at a party, a sporting event, online, or in any of the many ways and places we communicate. Gossip can insidiously take a grip and distort reality further than it already is.

There comes a time when you read something so powerful you want to share with it is many people as you can.  Well, here it is.  I found this excerpt in a post by Tim Ferriss. It’s a passage from the book “Island” by Aldous Huxley​.