“I must learn to love the fool in me – the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries.
—Theodore Isaac Rubin
Today, as we honor the fool in all of us, I considered an Onion News style report on some topic in fitness, but, frankly, that is a lot of work. Instead, I thought I would just embrace the fool in me—in all of us—and consider that (having been born in April) I am an “April fool”.
I came across the above quote, this morning. Theodore Isaac Rubin speaks to all of us—the fool in us that we must learn to love. Life—and the foolishness that goes along with it—has brought us to where we are in this moment. We can love it or hate it. It is a choice we are free to make. To hate ourselves is wasted energy. To love ourselves, however, is freedom. It is freedom to learn from our past—our experiences and relationships—and grow in to someone better than we were yesterday.
Until we are happy with who we are, we cannot fully become who we are becoming. A weight can serve one of two purposes. It can hold us down or from moving forward. On the other hand, it can serve as a tool to make us stronger. Again, we have a choice. Thus, choose to grow stronger.
I was reminded on two occasions, the other day, of my post, “Accept who you are” (February 11, 2019), when I joked with my daughter about her having chosen me as her father and later in that day watching the repeat of Supernatural in which Dean Winchester make the insightful statement: “And I am good with who I am. I’m good with who you are. ‘Cause our lives? They’re ours, and maybe I’m just too damn old to want to change that.” When I have moments like these (I call them “Celestine Prophecy moments”), I take pause and consider what they are telling me. I consider these to be moments of personal enlightenment or thoughts that need to be shared for someone’s benefit. Carpe momento, right? Personally, I need to remind myself from time to time that I am where I am supposed to be in this moment. I am on a path that is moving forward from where I have been. My past foolishness was just baby steps along an essential path to where I am going. ‘Cause my life? It’s mine, and I am just too damn old to want to change that.
Happy April Fool’s Day. May you celebrate with gratitude the fool in yourself—in all of us.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!