Losing Everything

Expanding on the lessons of Ron and the lesson of losing what we already have…

As humans we attach ourselves to the things around us, such as people and material things. It is acceptable to attach to these things, but only for a moment. Eventually we will all have to let go of what we have.

Yesterday, when finishing up with a Cancer Patient, I sat with her and discussed the possibilities of her losing her hair. She was very distraught over this topic and was hopeful that she would not lose her hair, as so many people go through. Being treated for Brain Cancer, she is very likely to lose most or all of her hair. To her this meant losing everything.

Thinking back to Ron’s lesson of letting go of what we have or enjoying it while it is there, then eventually letting it go. For me losing hair is not an issue as I am follicularly challenged, allowing me to see the beauty of those around me with or without hair. I often tell people, “The ideal world where everyone finds happiness, is where everyone is bald and ungroomed armpits.” We live in a society dictating how we should be perceived and if we do not fit the painted picture, we are not accepted or are isolated out of fear of saying the wrong thing. We are all individuals who want to be Loved…nothing more, nothing less.

When I told this patient about her options, I highly recommended her shaving her head as soon as she noticed hair coming out. Speaking from experience, it is a psychological transformation when we have the control of our destiny. Why not take control of your hair loss?

She replied, “You mean I should shave all my hair off?” I smiled, “No, only your head.” We both laughed as we both pictured each other with a body filled with hair.

Letting Go

The other day I witnessed the most peculiar event. I saw a man run across the street, whom appeared to be blind, with his stick stretched out in front of him as to be preparing to joust with someone on the other-side. When I realized it was my friend Ron, I ran to him and asked what he was doing. He just smiled, knowing that it was me and said, “Sometimes you just have to go by faith.”

I met Ron about a year ago, as he often walks the streets only to aboard public transportation and travel to one of his many destinations.  Whenever I meet with him he is always standing on the other-side of the street awaiting for the bus to arrive. When I witnessed him run across the street, it was the first time he was able to run across at the middle of the street. For a year he attempted the timing of such a feat…only on this day he succeeded. I didn’t understand what he had been doing all those times until that moment when he ran aimlessly across the street. My perception was aimless, but to Ron it was in purpose.

As we drove to his destination, which happened to be a cell phone store because he dropped his. He was pretty sure it was totaled as an automobile drove over it; he decided it was time for a new one. During our conversation, Ron asked why all ‘you people’ are so angry in this world. When he said ‘you people’ he meant those with sight. It was at that moment my Teacher appeared to demonstrate how society has become so detached from what truly matters in this world.

My response: I guess we are angry because many are losing their jobs, their homes, their ‘belongings’ and even those they love. Ron agreed with my analogy and then added, “I guess that is what is so different from you and I. You can see everything, but cannot see what matters most. I cannot see, but see the only thing that matters. I do not have much, but I am grateful for the things I have. I cannot do much, but I make the best of every situation. I do not have anyone to love or call my own, but I can love those who come into my life for that moment.”

I guess human nature instinctively creates animal behavior whenever someone tries to take something away from us, when in reality none of it really belongs to us and we cannot take it to our final destination. Ron is not attached to anything, but lives vicariously simple and Loves Life to the fullest. If we could only see what Ron sees…

Once again Ron has taught me who can see and who is blind…which do you think has true vision? Thank you Ron…I look forward to seeing you again.