Having said that I wanted to tell you what I learned from these two
lessons, just in case it's not obvious that the two are related. We live in
a society where much is demanded of us in terms of time, commitment, etc. We
also live in a time where we have so many choices to make, and options to
choose from. It's so easy to get caught up in all of that and to lose sight
of what are the really important things we ought to be concerned with.
Things like family and spiritual growth. Sometimes we need to make a
concerted effort to focus on these more important issues. They certainly
give value and richness to our lives.

First, we need to pay attention. In our hurry to get somewhere or
something, what are we missing? What are we giving up in exchange for those
things that we desire? Are we missing something important or enjoyable along
the way? As I said, I believe that we are being guided along our way. We
need to look and listen for those sometimes subtle clues that may help us
avoid some of the pitfalls along the way. The lessons we are presented with
are a result of the choices that we make.

Secondly we can't rue all of the mistakes we may have made, nor exalt in
any of the successes we may have had. We truly need to enjoy this moment,
for it's the only one that we have. We are here to have life and to have it
abundantly with joy and happiness! I think that the best way to do that is
learn from our lessons and to have a healthy feeling of gratitude for what
we do have and what we learn. It's the lessons that we are presented with
that give us the opportunity to attain any and all of the goals that we may
have.