Lesson Ten: Realization.... We Are One!

So, over the last couple of days, I've been thinking about what to write when, last night, an old childhood friend posted a video on FaceBook and tagged me to see it.  I cannot say what it was that I was expecting from the short video, but I wasn't really expecting what I saw and heard.

Granted, music and imagery have a lot to do with the 'feel' of the video.  I'm sure the lecture wasn't AS moving in person, UNLESS Mr. Alan Watts lowered the lights and played similar imagery and music when he lectured, which, given the time that he was with us in this form, I doubt happened.  Regardless, I couldn't NOT share this video here and leave you with a bit of my thoughts on the matter.

What can I say?  I LOVE THIS!!  I cried!  But not for reasons that one would think. You see, for me, this video is an affirmation.

All my life, I've always felt and known things to be different than what we're all raised to believe and think and feel. The first time I watched the movie "What Dreams May Come" I cried for the same reason. All I could think was "OMG! I'm not alone! There are other's out there who think and feel as I do." It was an affirmation... a validation... that everything I'd always known and felt to be true and real IS.  I think that was when I woke up and embraced the fact that we are all something so much more than we think we are.

Hmm... in retrospect, I guess it's taken me this long to get to the point where I am because I felt a sense of obligation to change the way everyone thinks and feels to match my own awareness... or perhaps because I simply didn't know how to let go and cope with my own awareness.  You see, for most of my life, other's opinion of me ...mattered!  A LOT more than it should have!

Within the last decade or so, I am often reminded of someone that I'd met when in high school.  For the life of me, I cannot remember his name as I've always been terrible with names, but I remember that this guy didn't like me very much.  I tried everything I could think of to change his opinion of me... to no avail... which quite perplexed me.  I got rather disheartened and frustrated, and finally went to talk to him; the conversation went something to like this:

Me: Why don't you like me? I haven't done anything to make you dislike me, but have tried everything to get you to like me.  I don't understand?

He actually looked at me with what I took as compassion in his eyes, as I'm sure he could see the tears forming in mine despite myself, and he said something that I have never forgotten:

Him: You know how, sometimes, you can just look at someone and they instantly get under your skin? You just don't like them?   

Me: Yeah..?  I guess so...  

Him: Well...  not to be mean or anything, but you're kinda that way for me.  

I tried to be brave, but a rouge tear ran down my cheek as my ego (which was already pretty damaged) took yet another blow.

Me: Oh... I see.  

He gave a sympathetic pat on my shoulder and went on to explain:

Him: But, it's ok to not like everyone you meet.  It's ok if everyone you meet doesn't like you.  It's nothing personal; no one's opinion matters but your own.  Just be you.

He again patted my shoulder and gave me an encouraging smile before walking away.  

His words were so wise they astounded me coming from one as young as he was (about 17-18 years old).  I walked around numb and distracted the rest of the day, thinking about... processing...  what it was he'd said to me. I thought I got it, but didn't really put it into practice until much later in my life.  After that day anytime we passed each other in the hallways we would simply smile and nod, but we never spoke again.  It wouldn't be until sometime between the age of 35 and 38 that what he said would finally sink all the way in and I would finally start living me life accordingly.

I found myself in a very similar situation with a co-worker that perplexed me in the same manner.  I remember going home and being upset that this person simply did not like me when I'd done nothing to warrant that kind of reception from this person. I found myself wracking my brain trying to think of ways to win them over when suddenly, those wise words spoken to me so long ago came back to me, hauntingly so.  It was a startling realization that hit me hard, and I found myself initially feeling the same way I'd felt when he'd first spoke those words to me.  Then I smiled, and even began to laugh at myself for having been upset when I shouldn't have been. "I get it now! I FULLY get it now," I declared aloud.

I think that is when my inner healing really began... when the opinions of others stopped mattering to me... well, at least their opinion of me.  Over the years, I've simply adopted the mindset that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If they like me, that's great! If they don't like me... well, they're entitled that opinion.  I just wish I could remember this guy's name so that I could thank him for his wise words all those years ago.

The important thing to remember here, is that the burden of enlightenment is not my burden to bear, nor is it yours... it is the burden of the unenlightened.  We can do everything in our power to try and turn the light on, but some are determined to stay in the dark, no matter what we do. The trick is to find like-minded people and surround yourself with them and to especially remember that you become like the people you surround yourself with.


Please remember to be kind to others, most especially to yourself.  Namaste'.


Peace, Love, Light, & Blessings.

~Jenna