TRIVIALITY -- SORTING THROUGH THE JUNK MAIL OF LIFE
Published in the New Mat Top Hat December 2008
One of my favorite board games used to be Trivial Pursuit, where you match wits with your opponents based on your knowledge of trivial facts. I used to score okay in Arts & Literature and Science & Nature questions, but really sucked at Sports & Leisure and Entertainment.
I once came across a quote in Neale Donald Walsch's book, Home With God. The quote, from God, reads: "Most human beings are focused most of the time on things that do not really matter." I found that intriguing.
And when you really think about it, it's true. We do spend the majority of our time on trivialities. So often we bypass the important, meaningful part of life by focusing on what we're going to wear, what we're going to eat, what people are going to think of us, and we nitpick about every little thing... and when it comes right down to it, none of it matters.
It's sort of like sifting through junk mail. You end up throwing out most of it because it doesn t serve you.
Speaking of junk mail, I used to work at a job where people called in and asked to be taken off the company's exchange mailing list. We gave them that option when they became subscribers of the newspaper. Some people got really irate because we had the gall to trade their name in the first place, and they blamed us for all the junk mail that came to them.
"How dare you trade my name?" Talk about triviality... I wonder what really ticked them off that day that they had to call in and take it out on us!
Have you ever had days when every little thing seems to go wrong, or annoy you? If you stop and think about it, how important was it, anyway? What really matters in your life? Is getting angry about your husband putting the toilet roll on backwards worth raising your blood pressure?
Is your bad mood ruining the day because the cat hacked up a hairball on your favorite chair? Are you peeved because that annoying solicitor made you get up and answer the telephone in the middle of supper?
My point is we worry too much about little things that don't matter. When you're having an "off" day, just sit outside on the porch awhile, chill out, and count your blessings. My favorite escape is a short walk in the woods with the dog. Soon I am surrounded by loving trees, a caressing breeze, crunching leaves beneath my feet, and - if it's a clear day -- the kiss of sunshine on my skin. All those trivialities in life just melt away, and the importance of my being becomes clear.
Mingling with nature is wonderful therapy when life gets you down. Sometimes just getting away by yourself for a few minutes can do wonders. And what better time than the holidays?
This time of year everyone gets stressed out with all the activity, the decorating, the shopping, the baking, the parties, programs and festivities. It's easy to forget that there's a reason for the season -- caring and sharing. Once you realize you are dwelling too much on the trivialities of life, you can focus on what really matters... love, joy and peace.
It's there. It's been there all along. You only need to recognize it and allow it back into your life. And when life's "junk mail" gets in your face, simply recognize it for what it is and file it all in the "circular file" of your imagination.
What we focus on is what comes into our lives. Try this exercise: The next time you feel fear, anger or frustration, immediately concentrate on something you'd like to happen in your life... focus on something you are wanting... and it will push away the negative thoughts and bring the desired situation or object closer to you. It's called the Law of Attraction.
I wish all of you a blessed season however you celebrate it. And may 2009 bring prosperity, security and peace to our beloved country and to all.
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