As I sit here, a bit sick and finally relaxed and digesting the last 72 hours of my life, I begin to recognize the beautiful things I have learned: the importance of traveling lightly, the idea of taking care of something if you love it and remembering your focus, your mission and what's really important in life (this of course will vary from person to person).
Day 1 - Travel Lightly
After a tiring weekend of helping people move and relocate several parts of their life (including myself) throughout the chaos which we know as Hollywood, I began to think so much about the things we possess in life.
Friday night, I had plans for dinner and clubbing, but from the hours of 6 to 10, I found myself in the situation of working overtime for a job I did not even ask for. As I kept questioning myself, "what the hell did I get myself into" and "why aren't people totally honest with each other,' everything begin to be overshadowed by the amount of useless crap I saw before me as I helped transport stuff from a U-Haul into an apartment, and then the reverse for someone else.
Why do some of us feel the need to possess so much stuff? Why can't we be content with solely the necessities of life? And why does it take 'aches and strains' to realize that maybe, we do have too much of the things we really do not need.
Yogi Bhajan once said, 'a principle in life to remember is to travel light. You are traveling all the time. Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light." By being light not only on our toes, but also on our backs and arms, we are able to get further, much faster. By traveling light, we gain a peace of mind like no other. We become free.
Day 2 - Take Care of the Things You Love
Saturday night as I strolled down the stairs with my hands in my pockets, I noticed they were not very deep. But keeping up with the Hollywood lifestyle, I thought I looked good and kept walking towards my destination anyway. A few hours later and a few drinks down, I began to loosen up as the alcohol allowed Hollyweird to become more comfortable. Couch hopping and mingling from hour to hour turned out to be a blast, until I reached in my pocket for a phone that was not there. Finally, the needed reality started to set in. 'Why aren't you being more careful,' my conscience began to ask me as emotions began to flow.
Have you ever lost something, inanimate or not , that you truly loved? Why did you lose it? Could it be that you truly did not care 100% for it, or maybe that you took it for granted solely because you began to get comfortable? Why is it in our nature to become so comfortable with things in our lives? And why does it take losing them, to realize how much we loved them?
I can not do anything about the past, but the future is definitely mine to create as long as I am alive. With all my future technologies, toys, relationships and etc., I will focus on loving and appreciating them more, if I truly care. With this one life that we are all blessed with, it is simply to be or not to be - to do or not to do.
Day 3 - Remembering What's Important
Finally it was Sunday, a day in which I could focus on transporting my own stuff into my first apartment ever. I thought it would be a day to remember and it definitely was, but not for the reason I hoped for.
Point blank - I was exhausted in mind, body and soul. I had just spent the entire weekend, which is mostly meant for rest, to work just as hard as I did during the previous week. I had no phone, my emotions were high and my energy was rather low. Again, my conscience began to talk: "what's really important to you in life?" "Why did you really move to Los Angeles?" "Why, why, why," as I walked down the street conversing with myself, blending in with all the crazies in Hollywood that once had a dream - once.
Throughout the last two weeks, I worked my ass off and during those weekends, I partied even harder.
But that is not who I am.
When Shrek tells Donkey, 'ogres are like onions,' I realize he is talking about people like me. I can not live a life of simply working and partying, I need much more. Creativity is who I am and I need to revert back to more of it. Some weekends need to have a focus of mind, body and soul and some weeknights should be accompanied by great wine and even greater friends. These last few months in Los Angeles have been absolutely amazing to me, but remembering what is important sometimes get lost in between those beautiful cracks.
To be or not to be: I am here to create, to grow and to love. Parties will always be around, but if I do not focus on what's important, the things I love will not. Although it took the last 72 hours for me to digest the shit I have been through, it is the 23 years of existence that allows me to realize how truly blessed I am.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has ever added to who I am and the ogre within.
I truly realize it is all about this:
One Life, You Decide™
1) How are you going to begin freeing your mind, body and soul?
2) How will you show more love for the things you care about?
3) What is your mission in life?
4) What are your goals?
5) What is your purpose/what are your purposes?
