“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson
So what does today’s quote mean? It speaks to me about starting something you do not expect to see accomplished or be able to benefit from in your lifetime. Thinking ahead and beyond your own current needs or wants for the greater good and the benefit of future generations.
What trees are you planting not expecting to enjoy the shade? They may or may not be actual trees. Maybe you are planting ideas, or acts of service, or seeds of kindness. Perhaps you are thinking about the values you are instilling in your children and how future generations might go on to change the world. Something to ponder. Feel free to share below if you feel led.
The Espirational theme for this month is A LIfe Well Lived. Please join me this month as we explore what it means to live well.
When many people think of a life well lived they think of a destination, where they will have acquired possessions, fame, accomplishments, power and money. I like to think of it more in terms of the journey and how we travel through this life.
What is most important to you, what you do or who you are? We live in a world where we are all about doing, accomplishing and acquiring. Life becomes so much about jobs, money, degrees, awards and possessions that we can forget who we are. When we forget who we are it is easy to get lost.
This world needs you. Your job needs you. Your family needs you. You were created in all your unique splendor for a purpose only you can fulfill.
When we focus on being the expression of the Divine that we are the doing will fall into place. As we walk in light, love, peace and joy we will discover what is ours to do in this world. We will begin to live a life of service to others.
Next time you find yourself overwhelmed by a frenzy of doing ask yourself these three things:
Is this necessary?
Does this serve my higher good and that of the world?
Is this mine to do?
A life well lived isn’t about achieving or earning. A life well lived is being who you are and then doing what is yours to do to serve others.
We live in perilous times. We all need to show up. Not to run around doing a bunch of senseless things till we are exhausted. We all need to show up as the light that we are, and radiate that light of God out into the world.
“And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in all the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.” – John Steinbeck (1902 – 1968), American Writer receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962
espirational.com 