When You Just Quit Living Will There Be A Soul's Graduation?

HOPI PRAYER of  The Soul’s Graduation

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight
On the ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.
My Spirit is still alive…

This was on the back on the funeral program of a man who lived a well-lived life.  He made a difference in the lives of others.  He left love and wonderful memories over the course of his life.

Before we get to the end of our life we still have time to ask ourselves what is one thing that we need to Just Quit so we can live a well-lived life.  The more I think about his  life the more I know the one thing that he Just Quit doing was being selfish.  He gave of his time, his resources, his wisdom and his love.  He did it seemingly effortlessly but I know that it wasn’t because it’s not easy to care about other people.

His spirit is still alive in those who had the honor of knowing him – Mr. William Kennedy Lane, Jr.  –  what a privilege.

How can you live the type of life where people will drive miles, cry at your funeral and remember you fondly?

Will people be able to say that you lived a well-lived life?

Just Quit Staying in Unhealthy Relationships

 “There’s no need to miss someone from your past.

There’s a reason they didn’t make it to your future” – Unknown

Some people hold on to relationships that are unhealthy because they believe that  it’s better than nothing or they are afraid of letting go.

Have you ever met the type of person who stayed in a relationship (for years) and you thought the reason was because they were afraid of being alone, making it on their own, or just waiting for the kids to grow up?

It is so hard to break molds and behavioral patterns.  It takes recognizing the need to change, then having the courage to Just Quit the relationship.

All you have to do is keep remembering that this is “your life”. Do you want to waste any more time with this person, or do you need to move on?

Just be honest with yourself.  No matter how difficult this may be, just be honest with yourself.

Not that you will end the relationship tomorrow, but you need to make the decision today.

The Family and Friends Saga

Sometimes those relationships that we need to Just Quit are with family members or “best friends”.

There comes a point and time in your life when you wake up one morning and realize that you can choose how you want to relate even to family and dear friends.  Yes, you need to fulfill all of your obligations, but just be aware of the people in your life.

• Maybe they are draining you of all of your energy.
• Maybe they are just plain jealous of you
• Maybe they  use you for everything that they can.
• Maybe they are too dang needy, and you’re the one they call on to fulfill their needs.
• Maybe they live their lives through you.
• Maybe you support them in their endeavors, but they never support you.
• Maybe you just listen to their problems, but don’t feel comfortable sharing your problems with them.

If you have family and  “friends” who exhibit these behaviors then it might be time to ~ Break Free. 

Let them go.

Don’t call them back.

Don’t continue to be used.

…and don’t wait until you think it’s the perfect time to leave.

The perfect time is NOW.

DO IT NOW

 Just Quit.

It’s a liberating thing to do.

Is there a relationship currently in your life that you know is unhealthy and that you need to  at least make the decision to Just Quit? 

Are you willing to make a commitment

to yourself just to make the decision? 

Do you find even making the decision hard? 

Why? (Now, Just Keep Asking Yourself Why?)

 

Just Quit Not Accepting That You Could Be Part of The Problem In Your Relationships

 

“We need in love to practice only this: letting each other go.

For holding on comes easily–we do not need to learn it.”

– Rainer Maria Rilke

Relationships connect us to each other.   Most of the time they are great and make life worth living. Sometimes they are not so good and then HARD to get out of because they are so familiar, so comfortable, and so everyday.

Relationships are complicated and involve many emotions, memories and ties. Even when a relationship is bad, at least it is the known versus the unknown. Even when a relationship is bad, at least it is some human contact that is familiar.

There are some relationships that we have that are not in balance.  They are not healthy.  Many relationships we want and need to improve, set some boundaries, or eliminate all together.

Your Relationships always include YOU

You’ll have to deal with the harder questions about yourself.  You’ll have to figure out what attracted this type of person into your life. People are mere reflections of others.  There is something in that person that is a reflection of you.

WHO WANTS TO HEAR THAT? 

Unless you are ready and willing to deal with yourself, this person in your life does not matter. Even though they are making you miserable and bringing you down, and they don’t have your best interest in mind, it doesn’t matter.

It is not this person’s fault BECAUSE the person who is doing these things to you (to “your life”) may…just…really…be…you.

Even if you got rid of that person, you’ll probably attract another person just like them into your life.  Then you’ll have the same type of situations to deal with, just with a new face.

If you’re honest with yourself, haven’t you found that to be the truth?

Learn to love yourself first, find yourself, be good to yourself…you have to start there first.

Just Quit Talking on the Telephone (for hours!)

You have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.
~James Matthew Barrie~

When you are talking on the telephone what are you talking about?  

You can talk for hours on and off about what’s happening, what’s gonna happen, what you hope would happen, your children, your house, your hobbies, your business ideas, church folk, work folk, shopping, losing weight, your hair, your aches and pains, men or women.  The list can just go on and on.

When you look back, was it all helpful, or was it a complete waste of precious time? 

 Stop escaping and just talking about life and “live” your life.

How much time do you spend talking or texting everyday? 

Is it a worthwhile use of your time?

Just Quit Surfing Online --- Endlessly

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.

And guess what they have planned for you?

Not much.  ~Jim Rohn~

How many hours can you blow going on-line? 

You can spend two to three hours going online to get your news, read your e-mail, work on your blog, read the Facebook News, write your opinion, and just google stuff.

Actually, we all know that watching television and surfing online can be all-night activities. Somehow you feel like you have more control because you can determine what you will read or hear online. Going on-line might be alright if you are creating something of your own and not  just reading something others have created.

Here’s a Question:

What benefits do you derive from going on-line AND more importantly are you addicted and neglecting other things you need to be doing?

Just Quit Watching This Sport AND That Sport

We watch others play a game that they get millions of dollars to play.

We want to see who wins because we love the competition, or we need to escape from the reality of our lives.

We love being able to have a common bond with those at work, who are doing the same thing we are doing – watching other people do what they get paid to do.

We can talk about the television shows and the sporting events as though they were a matter of life or death.

Some people watch sports in moderation, but to some people keeping up with sports is a VERY big part of their lives and conversations.

Have you ever heard someone talk about what they watched on television the night before as though it really made a difference in their lives?  

What difference will that show or game that someone watched last night really make?

What value does it really yield?

Do you need to Just Quit knowing every score, every team, every sport?  

Just Quit Shopping

“I don’t care nothing about a sale.  If you spend all your money just because something is on sale you won’t have the money when you really need it. “

~James Harvey Richardson

 

How do you Just Quit Shopping?

It’s hard if you’ve been doing it for years because it has become a part of your lifestyle.

How many people do you see “just looking” at the mall and stores? 

They go around the entire store “just looking”.

What are they looking for? 

They are looking for a bargain, of course.

How could it possibly be a bargain if you really don’t need it?

How many conversations can be overheard about how cheap that item was and how it was found for 50% off and another 20% off of that?  Who cares?  That’s 100% of your money that you could have used in a more productive way.

How many people go through the buy it, try it, and take it back to the store routine? 

The next time you go through this cycle, ask yourself why you’re living like this.  Now you have wasted your time “just looking” and your money buying something you knew you didn’t need.  You now have to make another trip to the store to take back whatever it was that you didn’t need in the first place.

Yes, you’ll get your money back, but doesn’t this seem like a waste of time and energy?

If you MUST go to the stores, then go to the stores.  Keep on “just looking.”  Get a basket, and fill it with the items you want to buy.  Try on the clothes and shoes and enjoy the “process” of shopping.

Then, one by one, look at everything in your basket, and ask yourself four questions:

1. Do I need this?
2. Do I have something else like this?
3. Can I afford this?

Then, one by one, put the items back that are in your cart, and walk out of the store.

Make a habit of telling yourself that, no matter what, you will not buy anything the first time you see it.

If there was something in that basket that you just must have, then go back and get it the next day.  That will be your pact with yourself.  Don’t ask them to hold it for you, either.  Just put it back, and don’t hide it so you are the only one to find it later.    If you even remember you wanted it, and it’s there the next day, then buy it.  You probably won’t even remember the next day.

Think about all the  time you spend–wasted time–“just looking” at stuff you don’t need and can’t afford.

What Else Could You Be Doing With Your Time?

  Do you want a degree? 

Do you want to have a hobby?

Have you always wanted to know more about antiques? 

Do you want to rebuild that car?

Do you want to own your own business? 

If you add up your time “just looking,” you would have time to do things that might really matter to your life.

Do You Need to Just Quit Shopping?