11:19 AM - Sunday, Aug. 15, 2004
Reflection
Come here unborn child and sit upon my knee.
Let me tell you all about the things that are to be.
But first let me ask you, do you believe in destiny?
From the moment of your conception, you will begin to learn the most important lessons in life. There are five significant lessons that will be taught to you over the course of your life again and again. They go in order like this:
First, you will learn that you will be dependent upon people for your survival.
Second, you will learn that life is about growth as you develop the physical and mental capabilities needed in order to move forward.
Third, you will learn about separation. From the moment you take your first breath on your own and the doctors cut the umbilical cord that connects you to your mother, you will experience your first step towards independence - which always comes with leaving something behind.
The fourth lesson is the one I find most important. This is the lesson of communication. Not only will you learn that you need to make sound in order to be heard, but that the way you express yourself through body language is just as important.
And the fifth lesson is that of instinct. You will learn to use your instinct to guide you through life. In most cases, it will help keep you alive. It will be your basis for trust in others.
Don't worry, unborn child. These lessons will be taught to you over and over again. The world will not let you forget them. Even if you get caught up in the fascination or dramatics of the less important lessons, these five will find a way back into your line of sight.
Listen to me, unborn child. Do you want to know what the future has in store for you? It doesn't matter where you are born, what ethnicity or race you are born into, or what culture and religion raises you. You will spend your entire life searching for something. Mainly, you will find that you're searching for yourself by way of happiness.
You don't believe me? Then let me tell you this: you will look to the one who gave birth to you as a queen; and if by some chance you have lost that queen, you will look to the one who has raised you as the source of happiness. You will expect this person to make things easier for you, to kiss away your pain even if it's not visible, and guide you to the happiness you seek even if you don't know that's what you're ultimately looking for.
You will look in various places for this happiness. Maybe you will search for it in the delicious taste of different foods. A juicy grape? A piece of chocolate? A mug of beer? Did they make you happy, even if only for a moment?
How about when you go shopping? Maybe you'll spend your money on clothes that will only be worn once and then hung up in the closet for years. Maybe you will go overboard in buying a dozen books, a dozen CDs, a dozen video games, or other material goods. Did they bring you happiness, even if only for a moment?
One thing you'll find is that you want your life to have meaning. Even though there are over 6 billion people in the world, you want to be significant. You are only one person in a world of six billion, but maybe to one person you are the world. When you look for the meaning to your existence, what are you actually searching for? A sense of purpose. What will that sense of purpose do for you? It will bring you happiness. When you spend the days working in order to earn money just to pay the bills, or you find yourself on a career path that challenges you so you strive for advancement, deep down all you want is to be happy. What you do for a living, does it make you happy, even if only for a moment?
There will come a time in your life when you will feel restless, out of sorts, and struggling during this search. You'll look for that happiness in the form of love. You will develop attachments and dependencies upon others in the name of love hoping deep down it will grant you the happiness you desire. Question is, was it really love on your part or a desire to be loved in order to be happy? Did the relationship bring you happiness, even if only for a moment?
Whatever experiences come your way, whatever life has in store for you, remember this, unborn child. Happiness cannot be found. It's a way of life, a state of being. Find yourself and you will find happiness. And when you spend your whole life searching for yourself, all you have to do is look into a mirror and there you are.
