If I had but one wish to be fulfilled, it would be that I could be happy always. Do you ever ask yourself, “Why am I here?” “Who am I?” “What is my purpose?” Be assured you are not alone.
While some people are happy to settle for the comfortable, routine path through life, others of us find that path simply unacceptable. True happiness is as varied as there are those to experience it; the challenge lies in allowing ourselves the chance to seek it out. In Lessons in Life: Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow, author and world traveller Deborah J Weston leads us on a journey of self-discovery—a search for our own sense of purpose and for the answers to our questions about love, life, happiness, fate and consequence.
If I had but one wish to be fulfilled, it would be that I could be happy always. Do you ever ask yourself, “Why am I here?” “Who am I?” “What is my purpose?” Be assured you are not alone.
While some people are happy to settle for the comfortable, routine path through life, others of us find that path simply unacceptable. True happiness is as varied as there are those to experience it; the challenge lies in allowing ourselves the chance to seek it out. In Lessons in Life: Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow, author and world traveller Deborah J Weston leads us on a journey of self-discovery—a search for our own sense of purpose and for the answers to our questions about love, life, happiness, fate and consequence.
Lessons in Life: Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow
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Lessons in Life: Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow
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Overview
If I had but one wish to be fulfilled, it would be that I could be happy always. Do you ever ask yourself, “Why am I here?” “Who am I?” “What is my purpose?” Be assured you are not alone.
While some people are happy to settle for the comfortable, routine path through life, others of us find that path simply unacceptable. True happiness is as varied as there are those to experience it; the challenge lies in allowing ourselves the chance to seek it out. In Lessons in Life: Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow, author and world traveller Deborah J Weston leads us on a journey of self-discovery—a search for our own sense of purpose and for the answers to our questions about love, life, happiness, fate and consequence.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781452502427 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Balboa Press AU |
| Publication date: | 07/30/2013 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 132 |
| File size: | 667 KB |
Read an Excerpt
LESSON IN LIFE
Travelling through the Colours of the Rainbow
By Deborah J Weston
Balboa Press
Copyright © 2013 Deborah J WestonAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-0243-4
CHAPTER 1
LESSONS REPEATED
If I had but one wish to be fulfilled, it would be that I could be happy always. Why people are not makes no apparent sense to me! Sure, we all have expectations to live up to, but does it really take such courage to take one look at your life and upon realising it is not living up to your own expectations, actually do something about it?
I no longer live like "other people"! That does not mean that I am a hermit or an outcast, simply that I choose to do whatever it is I want to – and basically that boils down to what makes me happy. Before you put this down in disgust or condemn me as being selfish in my beliefs, let me tell you that I am the least selfish person in the universe – as all who know me will attest! I would do everything and anything to please those who I hold dear (and believe me when I say I have!) Let me ask you just one thing; Are you really happy? If you truly are 100% of the time then it would be a pleasure to meet you!
So what is TRUE happiness, and why is it so complicated that everyone experiences it in different ways? Before you even think about beginning to answer that, first of all spend some time thinking about Quality, what it is and how it can be defined. The great American writer and philosopher, Robert Pirsig (along with many others no doubt), explored many possibilities in his endearing philosophical novels Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (1974) and Lila: An Inquiry into Morals (1991), and ended up precisely where? Precisely nowhere – that's where! And shall I tell you why? Maybe it's because so many people spend so much time analysing, delving into, and exploring ideas and possibilities that they end up going around in a circle! Or is it merely a fact that there is no single answer? Could it be that quality of life creates or causes happiness?
There are so many questions I ask, and no one seems to have any answers! Why does the thought of alien life excite me? Why when someone of great importance dies, do I feel an urgent desire to go and fill her place and continue all the good causes she created in the world, because that would make me feel good? Is it really all about Love, or Money? I only ask because I really don't think I know!
Most people have this massive faith in a force or being, in the way of a religion or a belief and all I've ever believed in is myself, infinite love and my family who brought me up to think that way. They have so much love for me and I am sure even they occasionally lose faith, thinking that maybe I am not the wonderful human being they created, raised and live for! I'm not religious as such, although I live my life with spiritualist values. Like many other children, I always believed that my Mum and Dad could do anything – and they did! They made me believe in myself, and taught me to have the strength to achieve all my hopes and make all my dreams come true. And they do ... and they are ...
* * *
I'm up above the streets and houses – wish there were a rainbow ... there always was a rainbow in my garden! It was always there, brightening my life and my world. The healing colours; Red – Passion, Orange and Yellow – Fire and Sun, Green for Nature, Blue for the skies and oceans, and my most favourite shades of purple; Indigo and Violet – deeply spiritual, sensual as velvet, smooth as silk, connecting us with those other realms!
Mum and Dad are able to recall fragments of a poem that as a child I read over and over.
"There's a Rainbow in my garden, for you and for me, In the garden of my cottage, beside the shining sea ...
Yellow are the daffodils, such a lovely hue, Indigo the pansy face, a kind of shiny blue ..."
I have always enjoyed poetry, and of course rainbows and all the bright rainbow colours! Now I often create poetry, and magic colours in my Yoga sessions! Perhaps that is why I love teaching Yoga so much! It's not simply the soothing music, the deep controlled relaxing breaths, or the stimulating positions – nor even the calming effect on my ever-hyperactive soul! It is all of these things, combined with the fact that I can share my knowledge of this wonderful experience with others and help them to understand the beauty and importance of colours in their world.
* * *
It is my desire to bring Love and Happiness to as many people as possible. I have never seen so much unconditional love as that of the children in Lesotho where I spent a very rewarding fifteen months of my life. Although in their eyes they believed themselves to have nothing, they were always so incredibly happy and cheerful, and it made my heart so sad when they thought that western children are happier than they are because they have Coca Cola, televisions, cars and computers. Materially they may always have more, but spiritually and mentally no one could be happier than the lively round-faced Basotho children, who never had a care in the world, and spent many hours laughing and singing joyously. Although they may struggle to find enough food to go around their entire rather large families, there are always ways and means, and survival was not about begging and stealing from each other, although it was perfectly usual from us "white's" who they perceived as having so much more than them. The poor innocent souls believed we were better off than they were, but we never could be – no matter how hard we tried!
I remember a song from the early 1980's by Charlene called "Never Been to Me". No one ever knew what it was about when I was at school, but I always loved it nonetheless. Now, I understand! You can spend your whole life being caught up in the high speed, high society Western lifestyle, just watching life pass steadily by, but never really achieve that pure and total feeling of inner and personal contentment. I suppose most people live with the thought that you can't miss what you haven't had, but what happens if you do have it for a brief period? Upon returning to the world as we know it, values change, life becomes less fulfilling somehow, and you begin to wonder what you need to do to recreate those feelings ... to extend those memories of life more precious than many others could ever conceive.
I guess in my "search" for happiness, I have found it; in another time, another place, but how to find it here and now – for always? If I knew that, I would be a very rich lady – regardless of how much or how little money I have.
People always associate being rich with having lots of money (unless talking about a fruit cake), but that really is not the case.
No matter how much money you have, if you don't have anyone to share it with it is worthless. I'm sure many of you are thinking that you would be extremely happy if you just won a few million. Sadly, by the amount of people who tune into the lottery all around the world, most of the population live with the delusion that money will solve every problem and bring about happiness. I suppose there must be some truth in that somewhere, but once the novelty of being able to do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted wore off, what then?
Back then to my initial question – What constitutes TRUE happiness???
Being happy is a lot like travelling. You move along quite steadily at first, then you reach a really good part, then continue on a little further, maybe even experiencing a rough stage for a little while, then you continue along the same road awhile. Life is all about reaching out for your goals and achieving them. My best advice to you is "follow your heart"! So far, I have found it to be the most rewarding method, although unless you're very tough you will end up with a very broken heart on occasions – and that hurts!
* * *
There was a great Bristish historian – Arnold Toynbee, (1889-1975) who presented history and philosophy of history, and formulated definite laws of development such as "challenge and response". His simple formula for all of history was:
Challenge Vs Response
We all live our life like this, some of us have harder challenges to respond to than others, and those of you who are like me, will not be happy unless you are constantly faced with new exciting challenges! The general population seems quite happy chugging along within their own securities, and learns to overcome the everyday challenges they have in their life. Their "routine" lifestyle will still throw out challenges from time to time, but in general, these people are comfortable in their routine and will only deal with new challenges when they have to.
Similarly there are people who live their life on the edge constantly, having to face new challenges regularly, and having to respond in whichever way they deem appropriate at that particular time. But what about the people who are constantly seeking new challenges? I definitely fall into this category, and I love my life to be filled with new exciting challenges for me to deal with!
... And to what extent does our upbringing and culture influence the way we form values and opinions of ourselves, others and different circumstances? Does this have a direct influence on how we handle the challenges we are faced with? I can assure you that it does! From birth, where we are, how we are loved, who we live with, the society we grow up in, and our interaction – or not – with others around us, has a direct influence on our entire attitude towards life as we blossom into our own individual characters. Does this mean that our "search" for happiness is relative to this early priming? Why is it that some people are happy to settle for that comfortable routine path, but to others, that is simply not acceptable? More to the point – what can we do about it?
* * *
As I pensively pass through the majestically beautiful lakes and glowing trees, the sun bright and blinding begins to redden the sky – in competition with the leaves, and capturing every shade of the spectrum from red through to yellow. The backdrop of mountains appearing hazy, as if dreamlike, and I wonder how long it will be before they become invisible – blending into the landscape just as the lakes and skies mingle. The last bright rays of the day gradually disappear. It has been a very rewarding day. I have left the life I had behind and now surge forwards eagerly, awaiting my next challenges, growing, learning and eagerly challenging each new minute to come forth and create new opportunities for me. I know there is something out there waiting for me to find it! The world is not such a big place that I will never find it, although if I had but the slightest indication of what it was or where it may be, I could save an awful lot of time!
* * *
Choice and Response; - the two main principles in our life. When faced with a challenge, the way we respond to it will determine the outcome. The choices we make have a lot to do with fate. I believe in touching as many people's lives as I can, and attempt to keep my personality open and ever radiating positive energies and love in my quest to achieve this.
* * *
Beautiful houses reflecting the now orange sun, still bright, and yet fading slowly – not long now! The deep reds, yellows, and oranges of the passing trees have now taken on a more auburn colour. Almost mahogany! It is the colour my hair first went when I attempted to dye it from blond to burgundy. A mucky shade of red with shiny pink bits! Another hair colour later and it was the deep burgundy plum I had intended! But like the glorious sun of this afternoon, it faded, and is presently at a kind of reddish brown stage ... oh to be blond again! I enjoyed the deep plum but it has faded drastically – although certainly not in twenty washes, as it stated!
The intensity of the sun's glow seems to have multiplied intensely, almost as if uttering one final protest before slowly sinking out of sight. As we turn a corner, she dips down beneath the darkened mountain tops and the outline of the trees, which border the yellow tinted sky. The lakes are still - a restful blue, no longer allowing the dancing beams of the sunshine to dazzle and delight all who care to look. Gone away, but unlike many things in life, we can guarantee her return tomorrow. Even if she cannot be seen, she will still be there, waiting to present herself and fill our life with the warmth and love we desire and need. The beautiful rays seem to radiate deep in my soul, until I too dance with the energy it has created deep within me. This is the energy I pass on. I store it up and distribute it as I deem fit to those in need – or merely as a symbol of my happiness and love. It is very rare my energy is depleted, and I have no explanation other than I know what to give to my body and keep it happy by refuelling it regularly with good nourishment and lots of love. In return it has boundless supplies of positive energies, which have many a time been mistaken for the effects of pills or artificial drugs. At first I found this amusing, but now it irritates me that people cannot conceive the fact that there can be such a thing as abundant energy. I am living proof – as my family and all those ever to cross my path will more than readily confirm!
* * *
As we prepare for our final destination stop, I must leave the beautiful images behind me of the now greying frame of mountains against the magenta sky, and the dull blue-grey of the exhausted lake. The fourteen inches of snow are long gone, having passed through some four hundred and fifty miles today. The memories of these images captured in my heart forever, and created in your mind only as I have described!
* * *
Back amidst the hustle and bustle of American city life, can it only be thirty minutes ago that these images were real visions? Now the multitude of announcements over the loud speakers, and general chatter fill my ears and I am thankful for the beautiful events I have captured in my memory. The comforting classical melodies break through the hustle and bustle of mutters and mumbles around me, and the voices merge and mingle transporting me to a place of my own; a place I have learnt to escape to at any given time!
* * *
The colours return: the red plains, the orange sun, the yellow skies, the green grass under the sparkling snow, blue lakes, and still the shades of purple are hardest to see ... but they are there! Without purple all sense of spirituality spirals away and is gone. Every day different images fill my heart and deepen my soul by printing their bright colourful shades on the very depths of my inner being; and with these colours I am healed!
As the bright new day dawns, I see we are passing through glorious forests, the leaves revealing the trees are alive and awake as this beautiful day begins. It is only as we pass through a clearing that I realise there is a stream or river running beneath the trees, and as the trees clear, the bright sun's rays are temporarily blocked by the low lying thick swirling mists rising up from the depths of the waters. Each colour is here, hiding in the woods and yet somehow reaching out to me as I slowly awaken.
It was a very odd night. I attempted sleep from about 10pm and slept through until 7am waking at every hour, just on the hour or five minutes past! I wonder what caused that – and to be so precisely accurate that I should wake at sixty or sixty-five minute intervals! I guess some things just aren't meant to be explained! Like why did Russ get put next to me out of all the other seats on the train? I must explain about Russ! He is "escaping" a girlfriend for his own reasons, and cannot wait to get as far away from New York as possible. He is a lager loving, cigarette smoking, friendly kind of chap, and last night he ended up crashing out on the floor at my feet due to the large amount of Budweiser consumed! I wasn't bothered so much, except for the fact that he may have thrown up on my shoes, or worse still, squashed my banana and muffin breakfast. With another eighteen or so hours to go, neither would have been a very pleasant experience!
Thankfully there appears to be no snow here, so hopefully I have seen the last of that for a week or so. The ground frost states that there is still a chill outside.
A brief wander outside whilst passengers disembark and new travellers arrive, inform me of the warmth of the sun. The air still feels a little nippy, although it is still only mid-morning, and there are about another three hundred miles to travel before reaching Orlando. The sun is high up in the sky though, and creates a strobe effect as we pass through these glorious trees. I wonder if everyone else is as awed by their magnificence as I?
* * *
My mind recalls the time I visited the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe – Southern Africa. Just prior to going, we visited nineteen different waterfalls in the space of three days. We hiked, climbed and photographed each one, standing in it, on it, behind it, with a rainbow, one of us, both of us or just the waterfall. Stopping off in Swaziland, we met some tourists who swore that the Victoria Falls are the greatest miracle, and professed to how their lives had changed since viewing the tremendous sight. Upon arriving at the Falls, I was disappointed that I did not experience the same intensity of emotions, although they were truly amazing! Fabulous rainbows emerged from all directions as the spray was caught in the rays of sunlight.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from LESSON IN LIFE by Deborah J Weston. Copyright © 2013 Deborah J Weston. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
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