If my studies of buddhist philosophy, have taught me anything, it is to let things go. After all, their over, right?

So often we just can’t let go and let “what is over” ruin “what’s happening right now.” Holding on to resentments or thoughts of unpleasant events that happened yesterday or yesteryear only hurts us and pretty much ruins our day.

We all go through times in life when other people say things or behave in a way that is hurtful towards us. We have a choice. We can choose to ruminate over these past actions or events or not. If we choose to ruminate, it will ultimately weigh us down and zap our strength.

Through choosing to let go of what doesn’t serve us anymore and concentrating on what is happening today, we can find a level of peace and happiness in the present circumstances of our lives. Now is all we will ever have.

I’ll be the first to admit that it is really difficult to begin this way of thinking. It took me a couple of years to get to the point of living in the present and letting that past undesirable stuff go. After all, it was over. Nothing I could do to change it. Why waste my new day?

For example, yesterday I was checking out at one of those self service checkouts at a local store. I entered cash back for $40.00. Got to talking to a stranger and forgot to take my cash. Of course when I went back later, it was gone. They have the person on video who took it. My thoughts….. either they really needed it and I helped them out or their karma will take care of it. And that was it. No worries. It was over.

I want to share with you my favorite simple Zen story which has a beautiful message about living in the present moment:

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.

Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his 
journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.

Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted to touch a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

Hope you live, love and laugh today…

DeeDee

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