Yesterday, out on the patio of the rehab, a little bird pecked for food and then flew away. He took what he found and moved on. He didn't stay longer than he had to, or throw away what he'd gathered and demand something else. That little bird knew what he'd come for, wasn't distracted by anything else.

Much of our sorrow arises when we cannot take what is offered, but demand something better. Some sitting out on the patio were at ease. Other demanded a better body, no more pain, life as it had been, visitors who meant a great deal to them.

A great deal of what life offers is wonderful, and much may not be to our liking. Then, we fight it off, complain, throw it away. If it stays for too long, we fall into sorrow. There is little sense of gratitude. We forget what we've come for and are constantly distracted by the endless people, events and displays all around us. Tossed back and forth in this manner, sorrow and depression naturally arises. So many complain of deep dissatisfaction with their lives and relationships, when it's not providing what want. 

Rather than struggle to have everything be exactly to our liking, why not stop wanting everything our way? Better to just take what is offered completely. Say thank you for it, whether or not it's what we expected or enjoy. When we take that kind of attitude our experiences fall into harmony. We do not waste our energy fighting life off and complaining. Most importantly, we open the cage of sorrow we've locked ourselves in. Sorrow is exhausting, it leaves little room to breathe deeply, enjoy the moment, or see the sunlight just overhead about to break through.

Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D.psychologist, long term Zen practitioner, author and workshop leader, has offered over five hundred talks and workshops on all aspects of the simple laws of love. She presently offers Zen talks and a workshop entitled: Freeing Ourselves and One Another. This workshop introduces the practice of releasing, based upon Zen practice and principles and the Sedona Releasing method. Brenda is also an original student of Lester Levenson, founder of the Sedona Method. She can be reached at topspeaker@yahoo.com. www.brendashoshanna.com