Having missed a few days of posting, I am thankful for the opportunity to make up for those misses. It's not often in life we get second chances, those 2nd chances should be treated like the rarest of finds.

Is life hard? I think our view of life decides, more than the reality of life. Losing people seems hard, but is it just the view of it? For example, if we grew up in a tribe where dying of natural causes was considered a great honor, an that deathw as considered to be going to a place of great joy. The entire tribe would celebrate when someone passed. Then would it be hard? I think those closest to deceased would still feel the loss, still even cry. But their period of mourning would be brief and purposeful, never debilitating.

And what about a break up or divorce. Hard right. But try a different view of it. What if you grew up in a village where you were expected to build a new relationship with a new person every 2 years. You would have a great goodbye week, before transitioning to your new partner. And the focus of the relationship is learning to connect with different people. So your time is spent sharpening your skills of listening and learning and having an intimate connection with a variety of individuals. Imagine what would be learned as you spend 2 years with someone who has spent 2 years each with 8 other people. Your knowledge base would diversify. Your exposure to new things would multiply, and what about the kids? The kids are raised by the community. Those with the gift for children would spend their lives serving in that way. So there would be no (2) parents but every adult is a parent, and those with the special aptitude and talent for raising children would be the primary teachers.

We have the structure we have now because it is convenient, not because it is the most efficient.

Life isn't hard, it's just full of challenges and opportunities. I'm sure the ore that is smelted, heated, hammered would be well withing its rights to say, life is hard, but when all that is complete, a fine instrument will have been created.

Deepak writes about Dharma or purpose, that we are created with very special and unique skills that are in response to very specific and unique needs. When we identify both sides of the equation, we complete our Dharma, or purpose.

it's the same message whether you are in church, self help seminars, or sweat lodges. use your gifts to serve the world. When you do, you will have found your place, and your purpose. And life will not seem so hard, it will occur to you-as rewarding.