I copied this from my Oldies of WLS board. It is long, but good.

[Guest guest]

THE AWAKENING

> A time comes in your life when you finally get it ... when, in the midst of

> all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the

> voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!!!

>

> Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.  And, like a child

> quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you

> shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the

> world through new eyes.

>

> This is your awakening.

>

> You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to

> change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the

> next horizon.

>

> You come to terms with the fact that you are neither Prince Charming or

> Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale

> endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of " happily

> ever after " must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is

> born of acceptance.

>

> You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will

> always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are...and that's OK.

> They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

>

> And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in

> the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval.

>

> You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to

> you(or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really

> count on is the unexpected.

>

> You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say

> and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always

> about you.

>

> So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and in

> the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

>

> You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as

> they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties...and in

> the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

>

> You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around

> you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been

> ingrained into your psyche.

>

> And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you

> should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you

> should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should

> make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should

> marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your

> parents, family, and friends.

>

> You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.  And you

> begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

>

>

> You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to

> discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have

> bought into to begin with...and in the process you learn to go with your

> instincts.

>

> You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive.  And that there is

> power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering

> through life merely as a " consumer " looking for your next fix.

>

> You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the

> outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together

> thefoundation upon which you must build a life.

>

> You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the

> world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

>

> You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the

> importance of learning to say NO.

>

> You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and

> that martyrs get burned at the stake.

>

> Then you learn about love.  How to love, how much to give in love, when to

> walk away.

>

> You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would

> have them be.

>

> You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

>

> And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

>

> You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing

> things over and ignoring your needs.

>

> You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK...and that it is

> you're right to want things and to ask for the things you want...and that

> sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

>

> You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love,

> kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

>

> And you learn that your body really is your temple.  And you begin to care

> for it and treat it with respect.  You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink

> more water, and take more time to exercise.

>

> You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you

> take more time to rest.

>

> And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.  So you take

> more time to laugh and to play.

>

> You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you

> deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

>

> You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that

> wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it

> happen.

>

> More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need

> direction, discipline and perseverance.

>

> You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk

> asking for help.

>

> You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron

> of all: FEAR itself.

>

> You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that

> whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away

> the right to live life on your own terms. 

>

> And you learn to live your life and not to squander it living under a cloud

> of impending doom.

>

> You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think

> you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good

> people.  On these occasions you learn not to personalize things.

>

> You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers.

> It's just life happening.

>

> And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

>

> You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be

> understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and

> poison the universe that surrounds you.

>

> You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of

> walls.

>

> You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things

> we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only

> dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a

> long hot shower.

>

> Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you

> make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle

> for less than your heart's desire.

>

> And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the

> wind.  And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to

> stay open to every wonderful possibility.

>

> Finally, with courage in your heart and God directing your path you take a

> stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to

> live as best you can.

>

> Hope you all enjoy!

>

>