Life is all a matter of choice

If we have nothing else in life we always have
a choice of how we live, what direction we take in life
and how we react to what life presents us with

Beside the gift of having a capacity to love one another, one of the other most precious things we have is the gift of 'choice' - of choosing how we live and how we react to what life presents us with. 'Life is the sum of all your choices,' said French writer, Albert Camus and how true that is.

I have come to realise that one of the most important thing in life for me in making the choices I do, is to follow my instincts and my heart.It is all about knowing when to stand up for my rights, values or principles and when to let-go or when to walk away from a situation. 


The Desiderata (by lawyer Max Ehrmann) says - 'As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. This is certainly a philosophy I try to follow now that I am enjoying the autumn years of my life. Life is now all about a more gentle, peaceful journey; of lessening the stress and enjoying the moment. Life is about crossing those bridges we are constantly presented with on our journey however, as David Russell the Scottish classical Guitarist (b.1942) said 'The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.'  


I certainly haven't always made the right choices but whenever I reached an important crossroad in my life I have followed my instincts, my heart and the choices I made have all shaped me to become the person I now am. I am content with those choices and so glad I had the courage to make them.


Being true to myself was something I was constantly encouraged to be in my formative years and it is as important to me now as it was then.


Life is a precious gift. Choice is a special gift. Both are to be celebrated every moment and these words by Mother Teresa say it all for this is not a rehearsal - Life is to be lived now and the choices we make shape our lives and who we are.