Okay, welcome to class. You may call me Maestro D. I will be your guru. To excel in this class, there are certain core competencies you must have acquired, or you may need to get extra lessons and credits.
First, you must have developed thick skin. Second, a very intrinsic quality of minding your business, you almost seem selfish, third, mastered the art of not comparing whatever that means to you. This course is suitable for learners at an intermediate level.
Let’s get into it.
The first rule of appreciating your life is to acknowledge its value. The value of your life cannot be comparative; it must be intrinsic, it need not be validated, there need not be any presupposition of functionality and usefulness, it must just be. No need for objectivity, or even relatability. It is solely to be determined by a deep sense of contentment in mere existence.
The second rule, acceptance. You must accept that you are exactly where you need to be at the time, irrespective of other paths, possible. In fact, your mantra must chart in this direction: ‘I am exactly where I need to be’.
Third, it doesn’t matter what you may be going through, positive or otherwise; you must validate that you are living your best life. This doesn’t mean that that’s all the life you will live, especially when things do not seem to be going your way; it just means that, as the phase where you are, with all the things you know and the methods you have tried, that is your best life. It could get better or worse, but it is the best you have because in the words of Jay Cole ‘there is no such thing as a life that’s better than yours’.
This conveniently ties to the fourth rule; others may have it easier, but you are not others. You are you, and it is what it is. In this dimension where you are the gravity, no other existing reality counts. Imaginations are allowed, though.
Fifth, there is no room for regret, just lessons, growth, and graduation. Whatever you cannot change, you must either avoid, accept, or adapt. In the end, this choice is part of the process.
Integral to all these rules is the appreciation for the other lives that affects yours. This includes deliberate or accidental interaction. Friendship and relationships, intimate and casual, that add gloss to your existence. Being a part of memories that inspire you because it was shared.
Lastly, you must always layer with gratitude. Some days you will wake up and hate your life, you will feel misalignment, you will resent the things you struggle with, it could be your finances, health, or love story, it doesn’t matter what.
Other days, you will find yourself perfectly content just because you ordered sushi and are binge-watching a series on Netflix. Your house will feel warm, a glass of wine at hand will make you feel exotic, you will remember your favourite ice cream is in the fridge, you will feel a slight headache, but it won’t matter because you are just basking in the idea that you are alive and have so many things to enjoy.
Do you know what makes the difference these days? It’s your gratitude lens. So, any day you wake up and nothing feels good, remember to change your lens. Gratitude pairs with every outlook.
The most important aspect of this course is continuity. This is how ‘A’ students are made. They do their assignment, they do extensive reading beyond class, they take notes, they correct their mistakes, they ask questions, they set goals, and they put in the work.
I have good news, though, you don’t have to be the best student. Just make sure you are always in class to listen, jot, and interact.
That’s the bell. We’ll end here today.
Xoxo,
Maestro D😉
Connoisseur of Memories 