I attended a spiritual recollection a few days ago and the priest was one of those”out of the box” speakers. He made you laugh, got serious in some of his anecdotes, and of course there were some tears shed in the end. Engaging. Entertaining. Relevant.

The topic centered on sacrifice. And yeah, like I told myself quietly, “seriously sacrifice?” The 1 1/2 hrs went by quickly with so much “aha!” moments. The priest was right. We ask questions about our “why me” moments. And while they remain unanswered to this day, we will never know the sacrifices or crosses we bear.

One slide struck me deep in the core and I’d like to share this slide with my readers. It’s called Gandhi’s 7 dangers to human virtues.

1. Wealth without work

2. Pleasure without conscience

3. Knowledge without character

4. Business without ethics

5. Science without humanity

6. Religion without sacrifice

7. Politics without principles

It was an enlightening experience. And I’m writing this for you so that you will remember that there are just crosses we bear at the crossroads of life that we don’t question because the sacrifice we experience are meant for a greater purpose.

We need to look beyond the darkness to appreciate the sunshine of our lives.

My friends, remember that we don’t live other people’s dreams. We live our own. Take the path less traveled. And fight for your dreams. Happiness is your own choice.

Seriously, the truth will always be painful. And pain will always change the way we look at things. But think of it this way. Truth will always be a revelation of many sorts.

The most important is dealing with what to do when things aren’t meant to be.

I’m borrowing someone’s thoughts and sharing this with my readers because I think it’s thought provoking. I’ve added a couple of thoughts in the sequence as well.

1. Because living your life as a prisoner is painful.

If you wake up every day trying to figure out how great it would be if you could be free from a particular situation then you’re keeping yourself in prison. And being strapped in chains isn’t the best place to be because it’s not a productive or happy place anymore.

2. There is always another thing to try. Another person to date. Another job. Another home. Another way.

Something new or better is always on the horizon. Loneliness and depression are not good places to be. Every question has an answer. Every problem a solution. Keep your chin up. After a storm, the sun still shines. There will be better days.

3. We exist in physical form for a finite amount of time.

We all think we have time. Procrastinating the inevitable seems to be a good choice at the moment. Stop playing Russian roulette with your life. You babble like a bitch in heat but aren’t willing to get out of the fire. Make the decisions you needed to make now. Not when it’s too late.

4. Because playing by the rules can be boring.

There are no rules that apply 110% of the time. Duh! It’s time to do things your way. It’s your time. Your moment to shine. If they don’t work out, who cares? Adjust! That’s life!

5. Because change is exciting.

There are uncertainties when we leave. Or change. You think it may be bad to explore a whole new world. Or perhaps you’ve also weighed in the good in departing from being a masochist. You think you’ve put it off for so long because you’re trying to avoid experiencing something. Honestly, you’re not a seer. You can’t predict what life has in store for you if you took a chance.

Every story has a star.

While our stories shift each moment of our lives, everyone in these stories are supporting cast.

Think of your life as a TV series. Each of us has a central or mixed theme ranging from drama, comedy, horror (yes horror), political, romance, documentary, fantasy, or action.

While there are several writers and directors in the movie, there is only star in our life story. You!

We react to the other casts in the film of life. Oh yeah, there’s the hate and anger, romantic moments, death scenes, funny days – but they revolve around one central character – YOU!

And like you, the various characters have their own movies in life. And we are the supporting cast in the film of their lives.

Accountability, responsibility, maturity. These are simple words but they are tall orders for every one of us. Only true people will swallow their pride and remain to stay humble regardless of the position they achieve in life. Pathetic ones will always remain manipulative, coercive, and deceptive. In literature, or in the movies, they are the protagonist and the antagonist.

I’m sure you’re getting the parallelism I’m driving at now. Just like a movie, some things in life are simply misdirected. As to how the film pans out will also depend on your co-stars. Are they just mere props on the set or are they real actors and actresses in your life? After all, in their own films, they too are their own stars.

C.S. Lewis once said, “you can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Oftentimes we get into a glut and pray for a rewind in life. You know what I mean. These are the “what if” and “if only” moments we’re in.

Every action or choice has its consequence. And we end up where we are because of the choice we make. A business that was unsustainable, a love story that did not end happily ever after, a career that went south, an affair that didn’t last – whatever it is, where we are are because of the choices we make.

All of us, yep, and there’s no exception to that rule, end up making that momentous choice. Even the trivial things like choosing which clothes to wear, or food to eat, or going for a swim, or having your armpits waxed – they’re choices we end up making. Whether you end up looking like an upholstery, or end up with a cholesterol laden dish, or decide to swim in a beach, or get a disastrous skin reaction from the armpit peel – they’re consequences we end up with. You see, there is no crystal ball after our choices. We live with it.

Get a grip! Life’s like that. Wherever we end up with our choices, it should not stifle our growth. Decisions are free. Making mistakes is human nature. If we keep revisiting our past and keep staying stuck in the “what if” and “if only” moments of our lives, we will remain prisoners of our past. Remember the rule – time has no rewind. Let go. The universe will always catch you even when you fall.

Not everything is meant to be understood. Sometimes people send mixed signals. Other times you’re not part of the equation in their lives so you’re caught unaware. In a relationship, you get confused when your boyfriend is hot one day and emotionless the next. It’s like, is he or isn’t he into you? Even among friends, if you’re not in the “inner circle”, or part of the clique, you’re probably the last to know that there was a grand get together last night but you weren’t invited.

Confusion is a state of uncertainty. Baffled. Bewildered. Puzzled. Perplexed. They’re all nouns to describe that mystified state where you try to understand the discombobulation in front of you.

“You can either focus on what’s tearing you apart, or what’s holding you together.”

I get it when people tell me that when things get “confusing”, they can’t think straight and make decisions based on the situation at hand. Sometimes they may be right, other times, wrong.

There’s really no answer on how to handle a confusing situation. Discernment is a key consideration. And oftentimes we get too engrossed in that state of bewilderment that we lose track of the road we travel.

Never give up on faith and hope in the midst of confusion. God will always be on our side and will never let you down when you need Him most. Trust me. I’ve been there.