“

Pleasures, when they go beyond a certain limit, are but punishments.

~ Seneca ~

Perhaps one of the most overlooked pleasures in life is the ability to rise above the incessant “need” for pleasure. Look, I’m not saying that a little bit of pleasure from time to time isn’t epic. I’m a human, not a robot, and yes, I very much like having fun! I don’t go looking for it, though. Rather, I just let it all come to me organically as a reward for at least attempting to live with virtue and integrity. Why is that, you ask? Because a life without virtue that seeks excessive and not worldly pleasure is nothing but a trap that keeps you tethered to the constant pursuit of “the next best thing” and unable to live in the present and not always exciting moments.

I mean, HELLO? Do you know the story of my husband? He kept trying to plug all those holes in his heart with the “stuff” and accompanying pleasure he only thought would close the gap between all of the broken and missing pieces inside of him and the medication it would temporarily bring.

Could I find enough love for myself to make these jagged pieces worth putting together? I have looked to find strength in so many ”things” because I feel it is not within me, but deep down inside I know it is there. One day soon I will gather up these pieces again. Fit them together the way they are supposed to go. These shards will become my strength. My protection. My weapons against further abuses of my worth and love.

(“Shards“)

No amount of money or “things” could buy him the peace and happiness he needed to survive. “The frog turned prince” who started with nothing, then found a way to have everything, still went to his grave with “all of it” yet NOTHING. “Everything in moderation”, folks. Unless you’re a five year old who literally can’t help but to chase after every balloon that blows past his face, sometimes you just gotta grow up and learn to empty your cup, sit with yourself, and just revel in all the boring stuff.

Oh, and by the way …

A very Happy Birthday to this song I’ve always loved so much. Go figure that you’d have been born on the same day as my Mona Lisa!