So this is a recurring theme in the last couple of decades in my life, isn't it for everyone? The first decade I didn't even realize life brought you lemons. The second I was around a lot of lemons, some were mine but most were other people's. I hardly ever saw them making lemonade with them. So when I heard the famous saying here and there, it didn't really stick. I'm a hands on learner, what can I say? The third decade of my life has seen quite a number of lemons, but this time, I've been around people who have made lemonade before, so that helps. And so I started to make my own lemonade, and I guess what? I've learned to love the whole process from the lemons showing up at my door step, all the way to enjoying the lemonade. Isn't that what life is about?
Digging deeper into the concept of lemons and making lemonade with them, It turns out the lesson here is choice. And girlfriends, the choice is none other than yours! For the last couple of months I've been so focused on a specific desire, that I've been completely growing my own lemon tree. So when the lemons started to get ripe, I would do as most do and complain that life had brought me lemons. It took a little miracle or two for me to stop gazing at the grass on the other side of the fence and notice that it was time to make a lot of lemonade and enjoy it all. Yesterday I started reading The Way of The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, and right off the get-go I was reminded of making lemonades.
A quote by the Ninja Warrior in the book, another by conficius and a PB&J sandwich got me thinking....Here goes the quotes in sequence:
"When you start to take full responsibility for your life, you become fully human, and when you become human you may discover what it means to be a warrior".
"Only the supremely wise and the ignorant, do not alter"
"A construction worker in the midwest complained every day because always he had a PB&J sandwich for lunch, he complained so much his friends started to be bothered by it. They said: "Why don't you tell your old lady to make you something else, if you don't like the PB&J? He said "I'm not married, I live by myself and I make my own sandwiches."
Moral of the stories: You have your own choice to do what you want. If you don't like something change. When you take responsibility for your life you'll empower yourself to achieve great things. I've been on a warrior kick as advertised by my blog's title. LOL! Actually this kick has been in me, I think for eons of years, but I've only really realized it in the last couple of years. So because of it, I've been also semi-obssessed with how can I become a better person in all aspects of my life. Whereas a few years back, I would get offended if someone judged me and said something bad about me, now I love it! I know it sounds weird, but it's really hard to discover your own faults and flaws on your own. You really need the help of others. It kind of works something like this: someone accuses you of doing ___________, or believes you are ____________ or other. I take those statements and go play hide and seek inside myself. If I find that those statements are true, I consider the impact of changing because once I take responsibility, it becomes my duty to see change happen. I make goals and try to be alert so those things don't happen again. If I find that they are false, I try very hard and most of the time succeed at not holding against the person. This is the hardest part really, but I try to think of where I was before I discovered that I could empower myself and learn from my mistakes. I was just there too! This gives me empathy for that person, because hopefully and eventually they'll grow in their own way too and become a better person.
So going back to the morals of the stories. I've been dealing with my lemons and looking at the green grass on the other side of the fence, without noticing how it was making my life not so fun. Eventually a change of heart happened, and I decided to make lots of lemonade. The lemonade lately has been delicious! And as a result I feel amazing for trying and conquering my own 'grass is greener somewhere else' issue. A little note that I don't really want to make, but I think it's worth considering. Like I mention before, when life gives us lemons we tend to complain. I know it's hard not to, heck I do it all the time. The key is to realize we are complaining and look for the positive. You never know who is hearing and how that is making them feel. As it has been happening with me, there have been a couple of people complaining about their lemons, and unfortunately it has affected my ability to make my lemonade with my lemons. I think that part of the process of taking responsibility for your choices is understanding that there's a universal law called Consequence. You will not EVER be able to make a choice without consequence coming, sometimes it comes right behind your decision and at times it lags some. Consequence eventually shows up though! Sometimes it stays longer than you want, sometimes it's super quick and goes away fast. You gotta think of consequences, and if you don't like them you know what to do: Alter, as Confucius said. And realize the choice is ALWAYS yours...
