How many times have I heard or said before? I can’t even count.
But do I/we really live that truth? Happiness is in our journey. A conscious choice we make each day?
Heard it reinforced again today, it’s a choice we make. Do we choose stress? Or do we choose to be happy and have peace?
(will revisit….)
Just finished a fantastic read “Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.” http://www.irenasendler.org
It’s the events of Irena Sendler. She was a Polish-Catholic-Social Worker, during the occupation of Poland from the Germans in WWII. She is credited in saving over 2,500 Jewish babies/children from execution. I know…..sometimes I wish I was interested in reading lighter topics too…..maybe I’d have more followers on my blog if I wrote about the latest romance novel? Sigh….
I found her entire life story enthralling. I didn’t want to stop reading. Ever find a book where you almost didn’t want it to end? So much so I have convinced my husband to extend our trip to Germany (to run the Berlin Marathon) and go to Poland first to visit the Warsaw ghetto, or what’s left of it after the Nazi’s left it destroying everything they could as they vacated.
Irena was amazing. Not just because she, like me, is Polish. And Catholic. And a Social worker. (((Smiling)))) Rather, her essence goes far beyond her heritage, or her religion, or her occupation….her character is what made her truly amazing (and the worthy recipient of the Noble Peace Prize when she was nominated but snubbed by Al Gore, but that’s the story for another day)…..She was brave beyond what I can even imagine.
Night after night I sat reading on my Ipad, in my comfy bed, with Layla my wonder dog warming my feet, glued to the pages of this book….thinking “how did she have the courage?”, “wasn’t she afraid?”, “how did she have the strength?”, “how did she do the ‘right’ thing, when it was so much easier to do the ‘easy’ thing and look the other way?” And if it were me…”what would I do?”
I don’t know the answer.
Irena was not the only one with an amazing story. There were countless stories of courage and bravery and strength. Take Ewa, Irena’s beloved friend. A young woman much like Irena. Courageous. Determined. Fearless. But unlike Irena, Ewa was Jewish. Unlike Irena, Ewa was persecuted based solely on her religion.
Tears filled my eyes as I read what I knew was to happen to Ewa. One could see her story unfolding, and yet, with each passing day, as the vice from the Gestapo closed tighter and tighter around the Warsaw Ghetto and the people who lived there, Ewa would say “God willing, things will get better.” An eternal optimist in the face of, well let’s face it Hell on Earth. incomprehensible actions on humans. In my thoughts, I kept thinking…how did she choose to be happy with all the stress and heartache that surrounded her?
It is her voice I hear in my thoughts when I am quiet. Her story that replayed in my head as I meditated this morning in yoga.
“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.” Helen Keller.
Just like Helen, Ewa could’ve chosen to be angry and bitter….but she chose happiness and peace. And really, who would blame her? In the midst of starvation, of filth, of murder around her, of persecution, of humiliation, of heartache and terror of knowing what could happen in her life…..Ewa chose happiness and peace…..
Damn. If she can do that, what is my (or any of our) excuses?
I have a roof over my head. I have clothes on my back. I have food in my belly (albeit mostly juice right now but that’s “my choice”….). I have a healthy and happy family. I have a job that brings me meaning and joy each day. I have faith. I have so much….sure…I don’t have the latest and greatest of whatever society thinks I should have, but really, I know deep down I didn’t care before I read Irena’s (and even more so Ewa’s) story…and I am certain now that I don’t need any of that to be happy.
Ok, I’d really, really like a villa in Jamaica someday….but by the off-chance that I don’t get to buy one or have one come floating down on my lap…..I think I can be pretty happy with my journey anyway…..
One last quote I love to ponder for the night…..“It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.” Thomas Jefferson.
Absolutely Mr. Jefferson. Absolutely.
Peace……..
peaceinthejourney 