Judgment Day

"I shall tell you a great secret, my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment, it takes place every day." == Albert Camus

It is easy to hope that at some time in the future we may redeem ourselves by some great act of heroism or undergo a dramatic conversion of sorts. But in the meantime, all too often, it's business as usual. Too easily we can become used to our unhealthy behaviors, denying that our acting-out has harmed anyone... except ourselves and those we love and who love and trust us. Deep down we knew we were judging ourselves and being judged. Now, each day, we can assess our actions and evaluate our behavior. In this way, we learn how our behavior has affected every part of our lives and our relationships.

It is time to change. The longer we wait, the more ingrained are our habits and ways of perceiving and deceiving. If we live a lie, we will be judged accordingly, by ourselves and those close to us. We can change and grow and move ahead into the openness and fullness of each new day.

Don’t Judge Me by the Way I Look

"Many brave men lived before Agamemnon, but all unwept and unknown, they sleep in endless night, for they had no poets to sound their praises." - Horace

A person in one of my group therapy sessions once told this story. "I was living in a city with a large population of homeless and poor. Each day it was painful to notice the contrast between the beautifully dressed, seemingly self-confident people, and the poor who shared the streets with them."

"One day I realized I could empathize with how those homeless people felt. I'd lived my whole life feeling I didn't belong, with no family I could turn to, and not knowing if I would survive another day in my misery. The compassion I felt was a reminder to me not to form my opinions about people by how they look. It doesn't matter what people think they see in me, or anyone else. Each one of us is wounded. It's just that some wounds are on the inside instead of the outside." Remember that we are all in this world together and for a purpose, no matter what the circumstances of our lives.