The Everyday Human

March: On Death

March 2

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. 

Adventures great and small—like them or not—are a part of us. Life itself is one great adventure. And yet we are most afraid of the one we all have in common—death.

Countless humans have gone before you, countless more will go after you, and we have no idea what awaits us on the other side. 

But maybe it doesn't matter. 

And maybe instead of worrying about it and fearing it, we can approach it with the curiosity of a mischievous and arrogant boy, because when we stop fearing death, that leaves us with more room to live.

• Reflection title: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
• Creative inspiration: J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
• Reflection Question: What is my perception of the ultimate adventure? Can I shift my view of it? Should I?

March: On Death

March 1

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from The Muppet Christmas Carol.

You will meet countless people in your life. Anyone from your parents, partner, and children to the waiter in a restaurant, the stranger on the street, or even someone online. 

But all of these meetings will eventually become partings. That is the way of it.

If you find yourself saddened to know you will one day leave your loved ones and friends, or that they will leave you, count yourself fortunate that you have them to lose in the first place. 

Recognize it now while they're here with you and before your meeting inevitably becomes a parting.

• Reflection title: Alpha and Omega
• Creative inspiration: The Muppet Christmas Carol
• Reflection Question: What meeting has impacted me most? What parting has had an equal impact on shaping me?
  
  

February: On Life

February 28

Today's reflection was inspired by the poem "A Question" by Robert Frost.

Count the scars on your body—if you have few to none, count yourself lucky. Now count the scars on your soul, if you have few to none, count yourself even luckier. But chances are, you are riddled with a mess of them, physical and of the soul and mind, great and small.

You can't predict what life will throw at you. But it’s important to remember that life is not supposed to be all wonderful moments, nor is it supposed to be all terrible and difficult ones—it is supposed to be whatever it will be. 

If you’re lucky, it will be a mix of both, outbalanced on the good side. It all depends on the cards you’re dealt, and then the choices you make with those cards. But even if the bad side is winning out, look for those good moments and hold onto them. Even just a few can make the price of admission worth it.

• Reflection title: Worth the Price of Admission?
• Creative inspiration: Robert Frost, "A Question"
• Reflection Question: Look in the stars and tell them of a moment of joy, however small it may be.

February: On Life

February 27

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Mark Twain's book Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World.

As wonderful as science is (and it is!), there is something sad about it in that the more we know through science, the less magic there seems to be in the world. 

The mystery of the stars becomes burning balls of gas, rainbows become light refracting through water in the air, mystical herbs and chanted spells to heal the sick become essential vitamins and proper rest.

But there are still those things that cannot be seen by the human eye and cannot be fully explained—things of an intangible nature that you cannot see or touch, but can feel: love, trust, loyalty, faith, hope, empathy, compassion, integrity. 

These are the things that change our existence into life.

• Reflection title: All the Things We Cannot See
• Creative inspiration: Mark Twain, Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World.
• Reflection Question: Have I lost any of my illusions essential to life? Which should I prioritize more?

February: On Life

February 26

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from the 1982 film The Dark Crystal.

You can’t be sure you’ll wake up in the morning, but you can be sure that if you do, things will change. Sometimes small—you’re just a day older, your hair’s a little grayer. Sometimes big—a child is born, a loved one dies. 

Sometimes good—progress is made in the fight for equality and climate restoration. Sometimes bad—evil people come to power and wars break out. 

But remember, when the change leads to good, it will end. When the change leads to bad, it too will end. 

Until it all begins again.

• Reflection title: The End of a Beginning, the Beginning of an End
• Creative inspiration: The Dark Crystal
• Reflection Question: What beginnings and endings have led to change in my life recently? Good or bad, how can I remind myself that these endings and beginnings are all the same?
  
  

February: On Life

February 25

Today's reflection was inspired by the poem "Opportunity" by Berton Brayley.

There's something about doubt and dismay. They'll creep in on you, making you think less of yourself and your abilities. 

But if you are aware of what's happening in your mind--the what and the why of it--and if you keep pushing, you'll eventually break past them.

You'll see your dreams and goals still lie ahead of you, despite your past. You'll see there are still books to be written, songs to be sung, races to run.

It's all still there waiting for you to leave your doubt and dismay behind.

• Reflection title: It’s Waiting for You. Are You Coming?
• Creative inspiration: Berton Brayley, "Opportunity"
• Reflection Question: Can I see the chances in front of me? What book will I write? What song will I sing?

February: On Life

February 24

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from John Lewis' book Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change.

Humans are a mess, no way around it. We do things that are against our own best interest on a daily basis. We do terrible, terrible things. When you look at individual instances of the horrors committed by humans—destruction on a mass scale of the planet that gives us life, genocide, fathomless greed and lust for power, slavery (the list goes on)—the word divine might be up there among the last you would use to describe us.

But we are also capable of great and wonderful things that bring us closer to the divine--whatever definition of the word you might subscribe to (god, the universe, nature, inner peace and tranquility).

And if you look closely, you'll see that despite all of our shortcomings, if you commit and summon your determination, and join with others, you can make a difference.

• Reflection title: To Err Is Human, To Be Human Is Divine 
• Creative inspiration: John Lewis, Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change
• Reflection Question: In what ways or instances have I felt closest to the divine? In what ways or instances have I felt farthest from it?

February: On Life

February 23

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

If I could wish anything for all humans on Earth, it would be that each one would have the opportunity to garden at some point in their life. 

Learning to love the caterpillars in your garden is learning to love the caterpillars in your life. And in life, there will be many. They will come in the form of heartache, sickness, death, job loss, financial woes, political and social turmoil, and on and on. 

But it’s in these times that we undergo a metamorphosis of our own. We adapt. We grow stronger. We grow wings. We become beautiful. 

The garden teaches you to love these things that will destroy your plant one day and then pollinate it the next, allowing it to bear fruit. 

It’s all connected, even when you can’t see it. So love your caterpillars.

• Reflection title: Love Your Caterpillars
• Creative inspiration: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
• Reflection Question: What caterpillars in my life should I learn to love?

February: On Life

February 22

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. 

You wear a different mask in every situation you are in.

This is not a bad thing. It would be impossible to be the same person at work as you are with your partner, friends, or children. Nor would you want to be. 

Though, you must be careful of letting these personas stray too far from your true self, or at least, your ideals and values.

And if you are not happy with any of them, remember, you can always change the mask.

• Reflection title: Personas Are People Too
• Creative inspiration: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
• Reflection Question: Am I content with my different versions of self? Do I find any to be lacking and in need of improvement?

February: On Life

February 21

Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Strength to Love.

If you are not under threat of a whirlwind of despair, count yourself currently lucky, because the winds can change at any moment, and to live and be human means you cannot escape the storm at certain points in your life. 

You can face down whatever storm comes your way on your own, but this can only last so long.

Eventually, you will need support--faith in something bigger than yourself.

And this doesn't have to be faith in a god of any sort, though it can be. 

It can also be your desire for a brighter, safer future for the next generation, your love for the planet and for nature and your desire to protect it, your want for justice and equality for all, your dream that one day, despite the odds and circumstances, love and laughter will overcome hate and despair. Whatever you put your faith in, it doesn’t matter, but use it to answer the door when fear eventually knocks.

• Reflection title: Who's There?
• Creative inspiration: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love
• Reflection Question: Where or in whom do I place my faith to draw upon in times of despair or fear?