26 Oct 2020

 Family

Friends

Love

Your calling

Your health

from "The 5 Most Important 'Things' in Your Life"

internet article by Matt Valentine, 3 April 2018

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Love is an interesting umbrella; for it encompasses both our relationships and our preferred activities. Perhaps Family and Friends begin to blend together, too... many talk about marrying their best friend. Of course, there are the distinctions between family of origin, and family by marriage - the former often instills many of our core beliefs and quirks, while the latter can help us move more safely into our calling. As we follow our calling, as we pursue the interests that give us a joy, we create a community about us, and we have motivation to carry on one more day... friendships spring up, usually through work, education, and organizations which we partake in.

Yet, our health is intertwined through it all. If we are in poor health, we are easily distracted by our internal pains, blocking us from being part of the other 4 'things'. If we stay in good health, it sometimes can strengthen our calling, our relationships, and our appreciations/love. If you can love yourself enough to keep good health, then you can more easily learn how to love others and "do no harm"

....this is me, spinning a monologue on the idea of the 5 things above. Yet, there are competing world views out there. I am also reminded of the Japanese concept of Ikigai - here relationships are not as stressed. (although what the world needs certainly points to the world) - it's not as community-based as the above 5 'things' ... and possibly talks more to a sort of self-actualization.

I digress... "What is it life that gives you hope, meaning, and a reason for being? What can we invest our time and energy into, in order to create a better world for ourselves and for everyone else?"