A Life Changing List

Wealth_SymbolLast January, I began to change my life. I pulled out a piece of paper and wrote the number one. First on the list was how much longer I might live. To estimate the time I might have on the planet Earth, I recorded all the ages of most of my relatives who have died natural deaths. It read something like this. Mama Sheppard 73, Papa Sheppard 97, who were my mother’s parents, followed by my father’s mother and father, Daddy John 67, Mimi 74. Next I entered my father’s age, barely 75 and mother’s death at 83. Now I added aunts and uncles, 57, 56, 98, 96 a couple of cousins here and there to fill in the spaces. It was not a sad picture, but a family tree of sorts.

There was cancer, heart trouble, strokes, emphysema, Alzheimer’s and other serious conditions associated with these diseases. Other ancestors of mine lived long lives. I decided the ones who lived the longest were the happiest or laziest. Next I wrote the names out again and “visited” each person’s life one by one. It seemed the ones who suffered the most either gave too much or too little of themselves and did not fulfill dreams and wishes. I came to the conclusion they were too busy trying to make everyone else happy, being good or trying to control others. While they were alive I heard their stories of woe and felt compassion, but being a child you just observe and listen. By the way, if you want a quick summery of what’s wrong in a household, ask a child from the ages of four to ten. They will give you an honest answer in a second. I have done this on occasion with a puzzling case of how best to help a family with Feng Shui.

All in all, if I don’t get hit with a trolley car, I have 20 more years. It could be quality years, or it could get iffy in 10 years. When you are 21, you think you will live forever; so I trotted along and forgot to take a tally of years lived, how many happy and how many not so happy. Most of the unhappy ones, I realized, I was half to blame. If this were a business report, I would certainly be in trouble and change my business strategy. Yes, I was certain, my Good Deeds total was lacking. I must make a quick change! Who am I and what did I come to this planet for? I was born an Earth sign, with an Earth rising as an astrologist would say, I have a Water moon and am on the cusp of Fire. That means I love to boss, cook for everyone, have a home and family, care for people, take chances, talk too much, listen, have opinions, drive fast, be impatient and wear lipstick…so what is wrong with that?

Now on the other hand, my Chinese Chart says I’m private, can be cold (Metal), a thinker, love to gain knowledge, secretive, sensual, wise, need to teach; I also have Water, Wood, Earth and Fire. So I can be rigid, loving, flowing, patient and emotional. “It’s time to accept and embrace these aspects,” I decided, “cause if I goof up now, I won’t have time to correct the mistakes. I must make a really great list and follow through with grace and good times,” I surmised. (Next week, The List)

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