Why do we only appreciate places, people, and pets when they are near their end?
Or worst off when they are already gone..
We know logically that all things must come to an end.
A sunrise will turn to sunset, leading to a new day.
Everything & everyone has a shelf life.
Could we feel Impermanence emotionally instead of purely logically?
Most run around ungrateful for life.
That life SHOULD be a certain way.
Instead of embracing the uncertainty.
And being grateful for what they have.
Many live as if they will never die.
Only to never truly live.
What if we could live each day knowing that our life and everything/everyone will end?
Would we cherish even the worst of pain?
Knowing that life itself is precious.
Gratitude is the antidote to anger & resentment.
Being mindful of the impermanence of life is key to enjoying what we have today.
Starting today we can build a better life for ourselves & the world around us.
With Aloha,
Johnny
Tag: writing
Practicing Peace.
I recently went to a Vegfest in my local community. The food was great and overall the message was a positive one. A message that we can help stop climate change, transform our health, and vote with our wallets to stop cruelty against animals through eating a plant based diet. A few of the vegans were so angry at meat eaters though. One of the presenters went on an angry tangent about decapitated pigs heads at the grocery store. She yelled at the crowd that she couldn’t understand meat eaters(even though she ate these products most of her life). It was a friendly reminder to me that true compassion encompasses all beings, not just those who live the same way as you. The way of peace doesn’t condone violence but seeks to understand others instead of judge. True compassion encompasses Hitler, Stalin, and Charles Manson.
If we want others to be more peaceful we must be peaceful, it’s as simple as that. Maybe we could just focus on ourself, making our own life our message to others? Our message of peace will be watered down if we communicate in a violent way. Practicing non-violence is something MLK, Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha, and mother Theresa all agreed on. It’s something they wanted us to practice on a daily basis. The next time we complain about the world affairs we could ask ourself “how can we expect the world to be at peace if we aren’t?”
Focus within. One lit candle can light a thousand candles.
With Aloha,
Johnny Hoffman
Paving My Own Path.
Culture wants me a certain way
Break under the pressure
Bend my values
Ignore my instinct of compassion
Indulge my ego
Feed my darker side
How do I pave my own path with such pressure?
Constant flashing lights
Tell me to eat foods against my values of health & compassion
The talking heads on the screen tell me to fear the world
They have enticed me my entire life to choose greed, hatred, fear & apathy
Dividing me into a million labels
For me to fear the other
Not today
I will choose another path
Paved with compassion, understanding, & love
This is the path of the peaceful warrior
A path that doesn’t fight greed, anger, & hatred
It just focuses on growing peace by showing compassion, love, & understanding to all
True Compassion.
If you can show compassion to Hitler, Stalin, & Genghis Khan
You know true compassion
For compassion & love isn’t just for the innocent
But for those who harm other beings
Violence, judgment, & hatred will not bring peace
Only compassion will
Bring awareness that hatred lives within all human beings
Including ourself
If we truly want peace we must seek to understand
For love is the absence of judgment
Lost in the World.
Lost in the world
Lost in distraction
Lost in the hustle of the American dream
Lost in the meaninglessness
Lost in social media
Lost in the dollar bill
Anchored.
Large waves damage my ship as I navigate the path unknown.
But my anchor stays steady.
It has been with me since my first moment of life.
And will last until my final moment.
My breath is my anchor.
It will help me navigate any hard times.
Breathing in I find my balance.
Breathing out I know that all will be okay.
Breathe in peace.
Breathe out gratitude.
Breathe in I know that my anchor will hold strong.
Thank you.
Oneness.
We are nature.
A gentle breeze grazes me.
As I gaze into the deep blue sea.
Nature reminding me once more,
How beautiful she truly is.
May we see the oneness of nature.
Oneness of everything.
The illusion of separation blind us from the ultimate truth.
We are nature.
As long as this illusion lasts.
We will not wake up to save ourselves.
I Don’t Know.
Today I will release my need to know.
To control everything & everyone.
I will surrender to the path unknown.
I don’t know what lies ahead on my path.
I don’t know if I will ever get married or have kids.
I don’t know what happens after death.
I don’t know what is best for another.
I don’t know what is truly good or bad.
The Sins of Pascal.
This post is part of an ongoing series I created about a young French Captain named Pascal. To learn more check out these posts.
https://zenhoff.blog/2018/05/22/the-awakening-of-pascal/
https://zenhoff.blog/2018/05/07/the-life-of-pascal/
Sins of the past now present.
Pascal’s mind like a school of fish pacing in the deep blue sea.
Many mistakes.
Many lessons learned.
Pascal can not change his past.
Only his perception of it.
Pascal is only human.
Folly as the rest.
There will be mistakes on this voyage.
Hearts broken.
Ships sunk.
Forgiveness will let Pascal enjoy this moment.
Compassion will set him free.
The Narrow Path 