Being Alive in Planet Earth

Considering the vast amount of galaxies out there, I am sure there's life outside Planet Earth. But what happens when I begin to wonder, especially with every birthday, what does living on earth really mean?

Here are some thoughts that emerged about why I am here:
-To find "Joy" in living --in everything that surrounds us, even when we have to share with those less fortunate ones (sounds religious but I think it's true)
-To become life affirming no matter how bad things are --accepting the challenges as positive experiences (I used to hate this one!)
-To eat chocolate cake and ice cold milk when things look gloomy (I love this one!)
-To be patient when nothing works your way --even if you've been unemployed for more than a year (this one makes me anxious!)
-To learn to learn with the kind of elegance that accepts defeats and mistakes (now that's humbling!)

-To love yourself the way you love your favorite pet



-To believe not to believe and have faith in miracles --FAITH in the impossible
-To tame your ego and keep it "right-sized" --it's never about me but about being present and feeling the presence within me
-To accept that Pizza and Cookies are bad for your health but can bring so much joy that you are willing to forfeit healthiness
-To give up on seeing duality in the definition of things

-To find meaningful relationships with your lovers


-To forgive everyone since we are all so fallible anyway
-To learn things that we already know but have forgotten --because things just are
-To be honest so that your word has strength and your reputation is trustworthy
-To stop shopping at Neiman Marcus when you are depressed and the economy is the red
-To forget yourself so that you can find your true self --That's very Eastern but I hate to admit it, it happens all the time to me

-To wrestle with guilt JUST like Jacob did with an Angel


-To go to the movies and relive life while watching a film projected on a gigantic flat screen inside a dark room (with other people whom you never met) while eating pop corn and M&Ms
-To love Apple computers for being so efficient and to forgive them for being so expensive
-To admire all your brothers and sisters because they are living life too --no one really taught us how to be joyful and positive 24/7

-To buy all the shoes in the world, even the most beautiful crocodiles loafers but know deep inside that you would rather wear flip flaps


-To be grateful that you get up every morning and have someone to call and wish them a good one
-To read beautiful books made up by an incredible selection of words that ultimately affirm life
-And to be SO PRESENT, ALERT IN THE NOW, to the point that you forget the past, ignore the future and live everyday like it's your birthday
-To respect your elders even when they annoy you

-To know that your loved ones, dead or alive, will always be with you in some kind of form because you've shared AMAZING experiences on this wonderful blue planet earth...