SAVING FACE vs.TELLING the TRUTH

The CAB RIDE

--- I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. ‘’Just a minutes,’’ answered a frail elderly voice. I could hear something dragged across the floor.

---After a long pause the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like someone out of a 1940’s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked like no one lived there for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

---There were no clocks on the walls or knicknacks and utensils on the counter. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘’Would you carry my bag out to the car,’’ she asked. I took the suitcase to the car and returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly to the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘’It’s nothing,’’ I told her. ‘’I try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’’

---’’Oh, you’re such a good boy,’’ she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then she asked, ‘’could we drive through downtown.’’

---’’It’s not the shortest way…’’ I answered quickly…but she said, ‘’I don’t mind. I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.

---I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes wwere glistening. ‘’I have no family left. The doctor said I don’t have very long.’’ I reached over and shut off the meter. ‘’What route would you like me to take?’’

---For the next two hours we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she once worked as an elevator operator.

---We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

---Sometimes she would have me slow in front of a particular building or corner would sit staring into the darkness saying nothing. At the first sign of sun creasing the darkness, she suddenly said, ‘’let’s go now. I’m getting tired.’’

---We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

---Two orderlies came out as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

---I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. She was already seated in a wheelchair. ‘’How much do I owe you,’’ she asked reaching into her purse.

---’’Nothing,’’ I said.

---’’You have to make a living,’’ she said.

---’’There are other passengers,’’ I responded. Almost without thinking I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

---’’You gave a little old woman a moment of joy,’’ she said. ‘’Thank you.’’

---I squeezed her hand and walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, I heard a door shut. It was the sound of a closing of a life.

---I didn’t pick up anymore passengers that shift…I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of the day I could hardly talk. What if the woman got an angry driver or one impatient to end his shift. What I refused to take the trip or honked once and drove away?

---On a quick review…I don’t think I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But, great moments catch us unaware beautifully wrapped in what people would call a small moment.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

''The DOORS ARE INSIDE'' - The ''STROKE'' GUY

OCCUPY The SELF

 Occupying the SELF

---A natural offshoot of the Occupy movement seems to eventually be that we learn to occupy the self. Through the occupy movement as it now stands, we see a movement toward the occupiers themselves becoming more aware of their own needs and preferences. Each citizen is discovering who he is…and THAT is very valuable.

---Though there will be some who only scratch the surface of who they really are…and STOP! There will be others who will glimpse what is contained within. They will find the greatness that is in there…and be changed by it all. They will realize that they have stumbled upon their true home and as quick as you know…they will move in.

---They will recognize that all is contained within and it is preferable to stay there. You are able to negotiate a way to bring your home with you wherever you go. You can live your life from an optimal spot and real living has transformed itself as being your life. CONGRATULATIONS!

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

CONSIDER THIS...
EGO Edging God Out

---What is Unconditional Love? It is Love with no conditions. You are Loved as you are. There is Nothing one has to do to ''earn'' this Love. One is simply Loved as he or she is. One can even say, one is Accepted and Acceptable, because one is. This is a true statement and doesn't take anything into account, as that would be a condition. Everything I have written is A FACT. One doesn't need an accompanying FEELING for this to be TRUE.
---This kind of Love is attributed to God or something that does not judge you. It is the kind of Love that Loves you and who you are and sees what you may have done as something you are working on [the details if you will].
---We ALL fall into this category, and are Loved Unconditonally. We are always Loved Unconditionally. Everyone else is Loved Unconditionally. There is no one that falls outside of this. That is the way it is. Here is the ''rub.'' We can ''feel'' we are outside of this Love.
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---LOVE SHINES---
---As an analogy, to make this clear, we will think of the Sun shining. It is a sunny day. Now we can choose to be in the sunshine or not. We can go behind a tree, go inside, etc. Somewhere the sun is not shining. We can get out of the sunshine.
---It is the same with Love. We can be where the Love is or go to places where we can not see the Love shine. It must be noted here that the Love, like the sun, may be shining, but we have ''CHOSEN'' not to be in it. We also CANNOT ''BLAME'' the sun for not giving us a tan if we are not in it. If we spend our time in the shade, we cut down on the amount of the sun we experience. We must also understand that the Love shines everywhere, it is us who can or cannot see ''IT'' in All situations and circumstances. Learning the ways of Love reaps benefits.
---Many of us seem to have given this Unconditional Love some kind of personality that we have projected on ''IT'' and then we think ''IT'' doesn't Love us or even Like us very much. This is not True. It is ALL About LOVE. I think we have to learn to de-personalitize this Unconditional Love for us to see It in All its Glory. I read somewhere,''get to Know Yourself and you will get to know what God is All about.'' God Is LOVE. I find that the more I understand myself, the easier it is to see the difference between the Ego and God. E-dging G-od O-ut. Be Well.

STAND BY ME - A Great Video

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---A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO

BE LOVING

---My Personal Philosophy.