By Monique Rhodes
Here is your weekly dose of three things that have impressed me during the week or that I am contemplating.
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What I have been contemplating this week -
This week I only have one thought because it has been a big week with one overarching theme. So today I just want to write about that.
A couple of days ago was a significant birthday of my mother. It left me pondering the huge journey her and I have shared together and how much of my strongest traits have developed due to my relationship with her. I felt a mixture of sadness and gratitude.
That same day one of my friends here in Los Angeles had a baby. I found myself contemplating what was in store for this brand new life coming into the world - imagining all of the wonders, the struggles, the achievements, the joys. I wondered what she would be like and how her life would evolve - who would be the people that had the most significance on her life like my mother has had on mine? Would she have a happy life?
That same day the young 25 year old nephew of one of my closest friends was taken off life support following a car accident a week earlier - a beautiful young man with so much life ahead of him. I thought of his family, his friends, the future everyone imagined he would have that would never eventuate. I thought about his last few months and wondered what he might have done differently if he knew this lifetime was coming to a close for him. I thought about the patterns of life - this young man being taken, this young baby girl arriving...on the same day.
And then that very same day one of my friends from New Zealand passed away. I knew he was sick but his passing was a shock. I was struck by the thought that I am getting older. Was this now the time when my friends start to leave? How much longer do I have?
There is so much beauty in life. It is also extremely difficult and confusing at times. But I felt so acutely clear yesterday, as I grieved my friend, that we truly are the masters of our lives. We get to choose who we are, how we are, and the legacy that we leave. We get to choose whether people remember as kind and loving, positive, generous, forgiving, thoughtful and open. Or whether they remember us as not so kind, not so loving, not so positive, not so generous, not so forgiving, not so thoughtful and not so open.
We have such an impact upon each other, much more than most of us realise. How we are affects not only others but also ourselves. If we go through our days negative and miserable, negativity and misery will surely be how we experience the world. If we go through our days optimistic and loving then the world will reflect this back to us. It's truly that simple. If you don't believe me then a simple experiment will convince you. Spend one day being focused on everything negative and miserable in your life. See how you feel and how lonely you feel when no one wants to be around you. Then the following day spend the day being focused on the wonderful things you do have in your life, keep your mind positive and be thoughtful and kind to others. Just notice at the end of the day how you feel and how people are drawn to you.
This week you might want to think about how you would like to be remembered. What would you hope people say about you? What impact can your life make? What will your legacy be? Will you leave this world having made a positive impact on those people you meet or not?
You are the master of your life. It's up to you!
Tell me what you think here
This week I am contemplating the stages of life.
Don't forget, if you have something that has touched or impressed you, send it on to me. I'm always looking to be blown away by the wonders of this world.
Enjoy!
Monique Rhodes
Happiness Specialist
Founder, The 10 Minute Mind