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 A Path with a Heart
 
			I 
			know of nothing more dreadful than living a life at the mercy of 
			powerful forces beyond my control.
 As a whole, we are a 
			species futilely trying to insure ourselves against the unfortunate 
			events that inevitably befall our innocent selves.  We live as 
			victims trying to fend off poverty, illness, unhappiness, and 
			discontent.  We try to find causes for everything as to enable 
			us to create a system to defeat the
			boogeyman.
 
 
  We follow 
			the system and still wind up saying "Why me,
			
			how could this be happening?" How does one become a victim of 
			this cruel, harsh world?  It's simple, one chooses it. 
 When one accepts responsibility for everything, they cannot, by 
			definition, be a victim anymore.  Do not acknowledge any 
			outside forces and you become in control of your entire life.
 
 Now in control, you can sit back and say "Who and where I am was 
			my choice."
 
 Now, it becomes interesting. One can now reflect 
			on one's life in terms of choices made, and motivation for making 
			them.
 
				Why did I do what I did?Was it fear?Was it ignorance?Did I need the experience to 
				get here?
				Was it just fun? Behind every choice 
			there is a reason.  Choice implies options. Options imply 
			control. "I control my life!"  One can change one's mind 
			because one is in control.
 In this one simple step, we can 
			remove blame for everything.  Everything now has a reason.  
			"I chose it!"
 When I wonder how I 
			wound up in a ridiculous circumstance, I now know.  I chose it 
			and if I don't like it, I can make like a tree and leave. In closing, I would 
			like to include an excerpt from "The Teachings of Don Juan". Anything is one of a 
			million paths.  Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a 
			path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must 
			not stay with it under any conditions.   Does this path have a 
			heart?  If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of 
			no use.   One makes for a joyful 
			journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it.  The 
			other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other 
			weakens you.
 ©05/26/08  
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