by Maria Sirois
No one knows when the bus is coming to take us to another realm. And we have no idea how long we have once the bus shows up. When we face this directly and honestly, we can become anxious about the capriciousness of life. The antidote to this, however, is quite simple: stop looking with worry toward the death that will eventually come and instead attend the life bus that is already here. We are already on this ride. Why not fully invest in life now? There is no other ride. This is another notion we must face with brutal honesty. Even those of us who believe in a change of form or energy after we pass understand that in this lifetime we have one opportunity to live the life only we can live. No one else can bring our gifts alive and no one else can write the one story we can write. We can either grab hold of this ride or stand on the sidelines waiting for a “better” ride or an “easier” ride. We can while away hours wishing for someone else’s experience to be ours—with that finer home, or higher income, or slimmer body—or we can take each day of our life as a gift. This ride, this life, this gift—we have but one chance.
Dr. Maria Sirois, PsyD, is the Vice President of Curriculum at Wholebeing Institute and an inspirational speaker, seminar leader, and author who has worked at the intersections of wellness, psychology, and spirituality for nearly 20 years. As a wellness guide, Maria has been invited to keynote throughout the country at conferences for wellness centers, hospitals, hospices, philanthropy, business, academic and corporate institutions, as well as for the general public. She has been called both a “true teacher” and “an orator of great power and beauty.” Her book, “Every Day Counts: Lessons in Love, Faith, and Resilience from Children Facing Illness, was published in 2006.”