Compass

Everything you would like to know about my character, would be revealed on the worst day of my life. And having been through several of them, I can honestly say that I am pleased. Even minutes after my daughter passed, I was comforting a coworker before I got in my car to make my way home. Every response to a cruel world, I have answered with love. I cannot remember a time in my adult life, when I didn’t show kindness in a response to tragedy or aggression. But why?

I am not a religious man. In fact, I don’t subscribe to religion at all. But what I do subscribe to is life. And life is happening, and we decide how we want to view it. I want to view it with eyes of compassion. No doubt, life can be a mother fucker. It can beat down even the strongest of us. But I will love you and be here in the morning. And if that is not the meaning to life, I really don’t know what is.

I was teaching a class the other day on Narcan and addictions. I explained to the room, that I really don’t care. I do, but this boy is tired. One year shy of working in mental health for 4 decades, I have seen and been through it. I have sat with murderers and rapist. Held the addicted and forgotten. And every single time {at least I like to think so}, I opened my heart without judgement. Don’t get me wrong. I have very strong feelings on this. But I don’t know the back story. Trauma will cause people to do the most ungodly things. And this is when we most should do the godly thing. Whatever the fuck that is…

What am I talking about today? Get a vision of who you want to be in your head. And then don’t let other people, life or circumstances rock you. Be stronger than the pain. Elevate, don’t annihilate. Too many mother fuckers out here casting darkness and inflicting pain. Respond with kindness. And if you can’t, respond with silence. We have got to reverse the rolls. The name calling and spiteful response, only add to future self destruction.

I forgive all, because that is my gift to myself. It frees me from the chains of anger. It also opens the door to a response that they were not expecting. There is a reason why I am the most laid back person you would ever meet. Because I know pain. And when the last bit of dirt is thrown on this body after I die, there will still be love in my heart. And peace will be my compass.