Live Lightly

I came across an article about living lightly and wondered what it was about.  Turns out it was about living green and leaving the smallest possible carbon print  on the planet.  That's nice but it got me thinking....

How else can we live lightly?

By my definition of living lightly, I mean living an effortless life.  That would involve a lot of things.  Not carrying around excess baggage, being happpy and loving etc.   Here are a few quick thoughts about how I try to live lightly:

Be Opimistic  

I expect things to work out for me.   I easily envision that my life will improve.  I'm never sure how, other than I anticipate that the universe is on my side.

I decide how to interpret what happens.  

Because I've decided that the universe is on my side, when something goes wrong, I assume it is for a good reason.  Somehow, I will find a benefit.  Sometimes I don't find the answer until years later but it always seems to show up. 

Let go  

And when things go wrong and misfortune strikes, I try to let go of it, as soon as I can.  This is when I say to myself...it is what is!  Some things you just can't do much about, it has happened and the only course is to let it go or if possible take some positive action.  

Good for you 

There was a time (not so long ago) when I would read or hear about some good fortune that came to someone, who I maybe didn't like or admire.  This would bring feelings of jealousy.  Now, I've trained myself to just say quietly in my head...

good for you!  

I decided that if good things can happen to those who I think don't deserve it, then even better can come my way.Be kind to everyone and everything  I try to smile and act friendly to everyone I come into contact with.  This means the homeless guy begging for change and the ill tempered waitress who is run off her feet.  Being kind to people is easy but try being kind to things.   I was real kind to my car this morning when I took it to the car wash.  The damn thing didn't even say thank you!  It did look much better though.  

Laugh at everything and as often as I can 

Some of my best stories that amuse friends were tales of my misfortunes.  It takes the sting out of problems when you can laugh about them.  And for some dang reason it pleases the heck out of my amigos when they get a laugh at my expense.

I have a purpose here on this planet.  

Even before I figured out what the purpose of my life was, I assumed that I had one.  It was only a matter of time before I figured it out.  I just never knew it would take so long.  Having a purpose gives me meaning beyond just surviving until I die.

Life was meant to be fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance

  Sure I made that up myself!  Who cares, it's served me better than any other personal thought or philosophy I've ever had.  Ever since I adopted that mantra, quess what....my life has become fun, easy and abundant.  So who's the fool?

I wrote a poem as a reminder to myself 

I usually keep them to myself (for obvious reasons), however I've shared this one before so here goes, it's called

'Go Gently'...

go gently
like the cool summer breeze
that refreshes

be open to inspiration
as the flower is
to the morning sun

make no more effort
than the river
on it's journey to the sea

be not fixated
on the destination
for that is the end

it is the journey
to be enjoyed
and cherished

your destiny
is free will
just say thank you

live without effort
carry no burden
for none is necessary

know that life
is meant to be fun, easy
and over-flowing with abundance

Hey, I'm just getting warmed up, but before I start rambling, I'll give it a rest and ask you....how do you live lightly?

Smile; for if you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid!(I got that from a Greek philospher named Epictetus and not from one of my so-called amigos)

Eduardo