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MY SUNDAY JOURNAL
By Dalton Roberts
IPS Features
5-26-02
FINDING FRIENDSHIPS
In my journal of this date in 1988 I wrote, "When we pursue
friendship, it often eludes us. When we pursue our interests,
friendships follow."
It's the old story about chasing the butterfly of happiness and never
catching it, then sitting quietly and being surprised when it comes to
rest on your shoulder.
But it's much more. Until we pursue our interests, we seldom find
persons compatible with us. Lots of people hunt a friend or lover in a
bar. You're not likely to find anything there except a drinker, or
someone who likes to shoot pool. Shooting pool may be a good activity
but it's not usually something you build a good long-term relationship
around.
It takes years for some of us to find the courage to pursue our
interests. We are either afraid of failure or feel unworthy of success.
But when we finally do, we are always going to meet some people we will
resonate with quickly. Soul brothers and sisters.
PLAYFULNESS AS A HEALER
In 1990, I wrote about the healing power of playfulness. That may sound
strange but how can you have faith (another word for confidence) when
you are uptight?
One thing that has drawn me to the study of Zen is the playfulness that
weaves itself through their practices. One of my favorite books is
"Crazy Wisdom." I cannot read it without many hearty laughs.
And don't your recall something from the Old Testament about a merry
heart being like a medicine?
Being playful squirts endorphins and dopamines into your bloodstream.
Those substances are powerful healers. Not to mention unwinding knots
throughout your body.
Most of our ills have their origin in the attitude. Some go so far as to
say illness is just the outworking of attitudes. Such facts can be
over-applied but there is much truth in this on
So when you need healing, don't just pray. Play.
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