one starfish at a time

As you may recall I was recently at my niece's bat mitzvah. She had her little sister come up to read a poem that was about the difference we can all make in the world, just one step, person, or in this case starfish at a time. It was very touching and oh so true. But even I sometimes forget this.

And today I was reminded, when one of my blog readers (who I do not know) sent me the below note -- to say I'm touched, humbled, and honored is still not enough. Aside from the incredibly nice note written to me, there is a sentiment below that I encourage you all to read. And if you don't already feel this way, I hope someday you can believe it inside your own heart.

"I just read your latest blog on The Ostrich that Flew West…and wanted to simply recognize your mindfulness…. In our lifetime, we are all playing out roles that are the fulfillment of an exquisite and all-encompassing plan… So it is that every person you meet, each soul who crosses your path and affects you – wonderfully & terribly – briefly or for a lifetime – is here for that reason… And every relationship you engage in is but a small scene endlessly enacted for the purpose of your soul’s development…

A good friend sent these words to me, called Warrior Declaration… It’s meant for you…"

Today I stand as a warrior and I choose to be all I can be. I stand for excellence in all areas of my life. I am dedicated to an extraordinary degree to loving my life and living my life’s calling. I choose perseverance, courage, integrity and impeccability. I look for confidence and approval in my own heart and mind, and what you think of me makes no difference.

I know that it is ultimately how I feel about myself that gives me the experience of my life, and shame, guilt, regret and resentment are the most deadly of all opponents. The only way they can be defeated is by absolute integrity, or the absence of contradiction between what I know, what I profess, and what I do. I know that when I lie to myself I am severed from the truth, which is my power, and an inharmonious relationship to my truth is deadly.

No one is born a warrior, just like no one is born an average man (person). We make ourselves that way by the accumulation of steps we take towards one or the other. I know the power of my mind and I begin every journey confident of victory. I am only defeated when I have accepted defeat, and the moment I turn my back on myself and my vision, may be the moment I halt just short of my goal, and I will make useless all of my previous efforts. My work is to discover my work and with all my heart give myself to it…and by honoring this path, I will achieve the greatest victory of all – a life of love, a life I love and a life well lived.

Today I choose the path of the warrior.