Hi Georgia!
I am a dedicated fan and have been since I came to this country! Something that I inflicted on myself (financial and emotional) stops me from being happy and fully enjoy my retirement. How do I get rid of this burden?
I am an xxxxx and was born in 1953.
Thanks a lot,
B.
Your question is a very good one because I see you're prepared to take responsibility for your state of mind. (This is very mature and rare, might I add.) My first thought was that how lucky for you - born in 1953 and you are already retired!
I remember back in the 80s, a very wise teacher came to Vancouver, and she spoke at the Orpheum - her name was Deyanhi Wahoo (I have cannibalized the spelling of her name) and as I recall she was a revered Native American teacher who had a strong Buddhist following as well. At any rate, I couldn't go to see her for some reason, and later I asked a friend who did go - "What did she say?" My friend answered, "She said the most important meditation we could do daily - is appreciation."
And I think this is so very very true.
To begin with - it's a miracle that we wake up each morning because life is as fragile as a bubble on the wind.
Furthermore, life is precious and rare. When you think of the number of insects on the planet (mind-boggling) and the even greater number of creatures in the ocean (because the ocean covers 4/5 of the planet) - and then you realize that there are so few human beings we actually count ourselves and we name ourselves.
Life is precious!
And because of this, you can be grateful each day that you are simply alive.
More than that, here in Canada you are in one of the better countries of the world to live in, and you are retired! There are people who are quite literally dying to try to get into Canada. I mean literally.
So you can appreciate who you are and what you have, can't you?
And to bring it more immediate into your daily surroundings, the quickest way to feel happier about yourself is to do a kindness for someone else. If you live alone, you have to go out from where you're living to find an object for your kindness. Just a smile and a sympathetic ear to anyone you talk to is a kindness. Or you might even volunteer to read to someone who is blind or volunteer professionally in a hospital or some situation and you will find this rewarding.
You are failing to appreciate who you are and the opportunities available to you right now and how special your life is.
Quite possibly, your identity was tied up with your job and now that you are retired you feel "empty" or "worth" less. If this is the case, then you must do something.
It's interesting to know that in astrology, the second House is all about one's earnings. The eighth House is about shared property, debt, taxes and how one shares money with others. The sixth House is about our job - employment. But astrology makes a distinguishing difference between the sixth House and the 10th House, which is the House of Career. So notice that the house of Career has nothing to do with any of the money Houses, or the employment House.
Why?
That is because one's career might not be something one is paid for. Van Gogh never made any money selling paintings. In fact, he never sold one. (Well, he did sell one to his brother but that doesn't count.) A person could be a mother and that could be their career.
The word career is based on the ancient French word carriere, meaning "highway" - so your career is your path in life. It has nothing to do with your job.
You have a career - because you have a path of life - what is it?
All good things,
love Georgia
