[Oe List ...] Christmas Greeting & witness

[Nancy Trask]

Wow!  This came to my inbox from "zen habits" yesterday, and it is a perfect 
Christmas greeting & witness all wrapped up together.  So I forward it on to 
you with best wishes for a wonderful Christmas & happy New Year.
Nancy Trask

How to find opportunity
Posted: 21 Dec 2010 07:46 AM PST on “zen habits”
 
Post written by Leo Babauta
 
When we are faced with a crisis or struggle we often despair.
 
But it’s in this struggle that the best opportunities emerge. If we’re keeping 
our eyes open.
 
A crisis is an opportunity to change grow learn reflect and become better. It’s 
where we discover who we are and how we can find a new way we couldn’t have 
imagined before the crisis presented itself. It allows us to practice patience 
and acceptance and find renewed hope — which is the most beautiful thing.
 
When I’ve lost my job it was an opportunity for reinvention and to strike out on 
my own.
 
When I’ve lost a family member to the unrelenting grip of death it was an 
opportunity to reflect on that loved one’s wonderful life and for our family to 
come together in a way never possible before.
 
When I failed at work I learned to improve and grow better.
 
When I injured myself I learned patience and new ways to be healthy.
 
When my children throw tantrums they are teaching me more patience and the power 
of raw emotions and the wonder of childhood and what happens when you lose 
perspective.
 
When my wife and I had arguments it was an opportunity to learn more about each 
other and grow closer and become better at finding common ground.
 
When I moved and missed my family on Guam terribly it was an opportunity to 
learn introspection and self-sufficiency and grow closer to family here in the 
States.
 
When I daily face the terror of the void staring at me face to face it is my 
chance to push back and assert my will and imprint my soul upon this malleable 
world.
 
And that my friends is beauty. It is the finding of renewed hope and growth when 
all else seems bleak and lost.
 In the struggle is the possible if we dare to look.


      
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