Mind Story

I was on a call with Suri when she asked me to tell her a story.
I don't do well with telling stories verbally off the top of my head, but when I type out words, they come a lot easier than speaking them. I imagined the story as if I was talking to someone. The story came out of nowhere, and I just ran with what my mind thought.

Embrace the moment
Consider the fact that everything around you is there for a reason. Not by accident. Sure, you could claim that this Universe was created by pure chance by some unseen mystical force, but really? Like, come on. There's more to life than just thinking about that stuff.

For example, think about the food you ate today. It's incredible! The fact that your body is able to turn random complex molecules into energy is AWESOME!

Or, the fact that you are so incredibly smart due to millions, if not billions of years of evolution. We are the pinnacle apex predators of the planet.

Sure, you can still say that it's all for nothing, that this life is just meaningless, a big hunk of rock floating down the river that is space and endless void.

But where's the fun in that?
Wouldn't you rather plan for a life after this one? A life where you can create whatever you want? Build anything? Have children of your own? Create UNIVERSES?

I don't know about you, but that seems pretty darn cool. So I'm going to work at it to get there.

Hm? What's that, fellow stranger?

You still don't care?

Okay.

Huh. You didn't expect me to just say that, now did you?

The reason I did is because I'm not going to waste my life trying to argue the existence of God and an afterlife. If you decide to believe it, then great! If you don't, then great! Huh? You didn't think I would say that is great, now did you?
It IS great. Because you get to make your own choices!

Hm? What's that?

Yes.

I really don't care what choices you make.

Well, with the caveat that they don't hurt anyone (including yourself, pal).

You can go on living a life believing that there is nothing after this. Okay. But consider this:

Some famous old guy once said (sorry fact checkers, can't remember who):
The reason you should believe in God is because you have EVERYTHING to gain if you're right, and NOTHING to lose if you're wrong.

Think about it. Believe in God, and if it's true, then you did great and earned the top goal!

If it isn't, then so be it. You still helped people and did good things. Your life wasn't wasted. It helps the people of the future. Any good deeds you do will cascade down an infinite number of times,

So many times,

that in fact, it's entirely possible you could change the world.

Hm? For better or for worse?

Well, I can't really be the judge of that. Why, you ask?

Well, because I'm not you!

Anyone can change the world, for better or for worse.

Just depends on what you work for.

Me? I change the world by starting small. Changing my world. Changing the worlds of others. By small and simple things are great things come to pass!

Ha ha, no that isn't Shakespeare, that's a scripture.

yea yea, I dont care. you can rant that it is scripture, yadda yadda yadda, it still is applicable to everyone. Think about it.

Little by little gets the job done.

When you work a little bit at a time, but CONSISTENTLY, big things happen. It takes time. So,

yes, my fellow human friend.

I am going to change the world.

oh ho, I don't care how cheesy that sounds!

People say essentially all good things nowadays are cheesy. That might be one of the reasons that people don't do good things!

Because they are worried about looking cringy or weird!

Yeah? I don't care about that. I just be myself.

I choose to think and believe in a God, because I think that He is pretty cool and His plan is also pretty cool. That's why I like sharing it with people. It just makes sense!

Hm? Yeah, I know, you still aren't convinced, fellow human friend.

That's not my point.

The point is, you've made the decision over the past time that I have been speaking to you. You, for some reason, have decided to keep listening. or reading. Or absorbing.

You know there's something different about what I'm talking about.

Everything DOES have a purpose. That's why I like being alive!

Hm? Oh of course I get sad. Everyone does. In fact, I've been so sad a few times that I've even considered ending it all right then!
Isn't that horrible?

Glad you agree with that one.
The reason that happened is because I forgot to remember how cool this life was. How cool God is (yes, shush I believe in Him, okay).

When I started to remember that I can do cool things, I did those cool things.

And little by little, I've been changing the world by changing my world.

Hm? You never heard of me before?

Well of course you haven't! Changing the world isn't about being famous or well known.

Well, yes it does often come in a package deal, fame and change. But for my purposes, I am okay with being in the background, but influencing the foreground.

That's what every human desires, really. To make a difference.

To me, making a difference is affecting those around me for the better. Making someone's day better.

yes, it's because I believe that's what God wants me to do, but that's really not the only reason. In fact, if I were atheist, I would probably still be nice to people!

There's a lot of atheists out there who are really nice and good people.

I just decide to have another reason added to my 'Why I Should Be Good' list.

Just another thing.

Hm? Oh, so now you're convinced.

Oh, no no. I'm not saying that I'm proud of myself or glad I convinced you to think about the things I've been saying. No, I'm just glad you took the time to think of a different perspective.

That's one of the ways that helps me go about life.

Ooh, yes, this is one of my favorite things to talk about.

Have you heard of the word 'Sonder'? No? I assumed so, not many do.

Well, sonder is the (where was I, ah, yes!)
realization that EVERY HUMAN AROUND YOU has an INCREDIBLY COMPLEX LIFE, just as complex as YOURS. Which is CRAZY.

But it actually is just basic basic stuff.

Everyone has their own struggles, thoughts, ideas, personality. And the story of everyone's lives?

That would be one heck of a big book.

Probably like six hundred septillion books, just to record every day of everyone's lives.

Oh please. I just made up a big number. It could be more or less, but it doesn't matter!

Stop worrying about the small annoying things. It doesn't matter.

Hold up, no no. I'm not saying ignore all small things. Only ignore the small BAD things.

Why? Let me ask you that.

Yeah. Because there's no point to it.

But there IS a point to thinking about, respecting and enjoying the small GOOD things.

Why, you ask? Well.

Think about it.

No, really. Like take a minute or so. I will wait, I'm not going anywhere.

<1 minute of waiting. Go on. Think about it.>

Now, whether or not you did doesn't really matter.

But it is important to take time to be silent. That way you can look at things and appreciate them, those small but happy things.

What are they?

Come on, I literally waited a minute for you to think about it.

Sorry, I shouldn't have overreacted. That's a little annoying thing that I shouldn't care about. (Yes, I make mistakes too!)

Apologies. What I meant to say was to think about anything. yes, ANYTHING! Find a reason to make it happy.

A TV remote.

Huh? That's weird, why should I be happy about a TV remote, you ask?

Well, for one thing, it's an incredible piece of technology that can control a large display that can give us incredible information and entertainment. It's AMAZING!

Or, how about...

hmm...

your turn!

Think about something.

Anything. Make it happy.

I'll do another one while I wait for you.

Yes, yes.

Here's one!

Pillows.

Yes, pillows!

They are so soft, so warm and so nice. What's not to love about pillows? They are so great, even though they can be little, they are truly really cool.

Ooh, a floor!

ha ha. Lost my mind you say?

I think not.

In fact, I believe that those who do not take the time to process and be still and appreciate those things are the ones who have no mind.

Truly.

If you can't be happy for the little things, how can I (or you, or anyone) guarantee that you will be happy about the big things?

But the big things are big you say.

Well, not really. Size is ALL about perspective Literally. Ask different people about different things and you will get different answers and perspectives. Big people see things as small while small people see those same things as big.

So in order to be truly happy, you just have to go out of your way (yes, literally stop what you are doing) and find something. Anything. Everything! All the things, all the thinks, all the leaves, the grass, the atoms, the birds, the clouds, the universe!

Appreciate it!

Yes, yes. I partly appreciate it because I believe that God made it, and God is good.

Put that aside for right now, (no not God, just that thought), and just look around you.
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS PLACE AND WHY IS IT SO COOL?

Well I know the answers to that, but it took me time to find it.

Yes, you can find it too!

Well, hate to break it to you, but it takes time. Tiiiiime. yes lots of time and dedication.

Yes, you're right, that's life.

To truly be happy in life, you must consider everything around you.

All of it. Leave no part out.

Find something interesting.

You know what?

Find something NOT interesting.

Find something boring. And MAKE it happy! MAKE it cool!

MAKE it spectacular!

It's your world. No, not the Earth, that's everyone's. I mean that your life is your world. So choose how you want to see it.

You want to leave? Okay. I never prevented you from leaving.

Ohhhhh. My apologies.

yes, yes take your time.

(Ha ha, sometimes even I forget people are human. It's part of being a human, after all.)

....

.....

.......

Ah! welcome back.

Honestly, I'm surprised that you've decided to listen to me go on and on for so long. I could say "oh maybe you're just bored", but if you HAVE been listening, then you've learned that boredom is an emotion.

yeah. An emotion. And we have control over those, our emotions.

Hm? I'm all over the place?

Why yes, yes I am and I'm not ashamed of it. It's who I am.

ADHD? Ha ha, yes. Could you not tell?

Ah I see. You, too have something going on inside that head of yours.

Your face really is pretty.

No, I'm not joking. I am serious. I mean that. Whoever you are. Whatever you look like.

beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yes.

So is ugliness.

But ugliness is really just a social construct designed to make people feel bad about themselves or something. Anything can be pretty. Even stuff people think is ugly.

I don't care WHAT you look like, WHAT you are or WHAT you identify as.

if you're listening to me,
Heck, even if you aren't!

I still will respect you.

Ah, glad we are on the same boat.

Did I mention that I'm grateful that you've decided to listen for this long?

You'd be surprised... wait, no maybe you wouldn't.

A lot of people don't like listening .

And that's okay.

People are people

Humans are humans.

God is God.

Oh, I just put that there because it felt right.

...

Yes, yes, I know, it seems a little out of pocket. But in my opinion, God is never 'out of pocket'.

To me, He always does stuff Perfectly. Yes, capital P. Why? because I feel like it. Thanks for being happy about that little good thing!

you're learning!

Glad I'm teaching you something.

Hm?

Of course, yes yes.

Remember, I'm not preventing you from doing anything.

Hm?

Yes. that's fine.

Thank you for listening to me!

Farewell on your respective journey through this universe, may your efforts never fail.

May you always remember to find the happy things, find the reasons to change your world.

To change THE world.

ha ha, yes that seems a bit cheesy, but yes, I don't care.

Speaking of care...

Take care, fellow human!

If our paths cross again, may we both have learned something in the space between the crossing of our paths.

Goodbye!