Lucy Loves (truth)



My mother always said, "The truth shall set you free."  I'm sure she was not the first person to say this but she was the first person to say it to me.  Then she drilled it into my head for the rest of my life.  It worked.  I live a truthful life, for the most part.  Lying to others is a no-no; I don't have to poker face to do it or mental capacity to remember lies.  However, lying to myself, easy as pie.

Lying to one’s self can often be labeled as denial.  To quote Wiki, “Someone who is in denial of fact is typically using lies to avoid facts they think may be painful to themselves or others."  No good comes from the practice of lie and deny.

Taking an honest look at myself (yes, the whole ponder where I am, now that I'm a 30 something persists but I am using it for good instead of evil today) the truth was apparent. I have a great life.  Whaaaat? Where was I when all this wonderfulness happened?  Family, friends, travel, 3 jobs I love, and a sister crazy enough to start a business with me.  I may be minus a man friend and some mini mes but hey, I got disposable income and a pretty face.  

This b-e-a-utiful aha moment was brought to me by a children’s book. 

Illustration from Zen Shorts written by John J Muth



This literary gem changed me.  I'm not saying that it will change anyone else but it came to me at the perfect time.  There are three mini tales within, each with a fabled lesson.  The one the grabbed me was about a farmer who had both good and bad things happen to him. His neighbors ever aware of his ups and downs cheer when something "good" happens and empathize when something "bad" happens.  The farmer ever level headed responds, "We shall see..." 

What we see is; that one never knows what's next, how what’s next will change the path, and whether what's in front of us is a "blessing" or a "curse."   

Moral of this moment, "The truth shall set you Zen."  Next.