An old and wise friend told me, "happiness is simply the ability to not wish for things to be different... to not long for situations or people that aren't here with you... "
It was 2001 and I was visiting him in Belgium. We had a wonderful couple of days, and he could feel my angst of not being near my wife and boys.
So often, the desire, the wish for things to be a little different than they are steals our happiness, or seriously dampens it.
I miss my old friend. 2001 was the last time I saw him.
How many special moments have we missed or dampened with disharmony... wishing they were different?
How many times in one day, do I let my mind wander and wish for things or people that aren't there...?
I am better now than I was years ago, but still so many moments...
Even little, tactical things...
Every moment that I wish...
I waste...
The magic of harmony is to fit both embracing the "IS" and accepting the "WANT" in the moment, without slipping into the "WISH"...
Let me BE here, fully here now, and later, in this example, I will write my old friend a note... Telling him what a great impact he had on my life... I will be able to feel harmony in this moment and in the next. As opposed to wishing I had seen him recently and not reaching out to him later.
Be fully in every moment for exactly what the moment brings,
and deliberately act on the things you want...
In that moment or in a future moment...
It's wishing that kills our harmony...
wishing it was sunnier
wishing it was cooler
wishing the soccer game was later
wishing I hadn't eaten that s'mores bar at 10 last night
wishing I didn't have to do work today
wishing my body didn't ache
wishing our son was running faster
wishing I was a better example for my boys...
wishing it wasn't already Monday...
Harmony is a discipline - to understand and accept the IS - to act deliberately in the direction of the want....
to understand the difference...
to fight disharmony with gratitude...
to disarm disharmony by staying away from wishing ...
By staying away from inaction...
today...
be fully in every moment...
be grateful for those who serve.
And while you are at it,
serve yourself up some harmony...
Nestor