OPINIONS

Before I start my article on opinions, I want to acknowledge the unexpected death of my younger brother on January 5th, 2021.  Death is never a pleasurable experience to begin with.  His death came as an extreme shock to me and the rest of the family.  Although, I truly believe that death is just a transition into a person's next phase of life, it is still painful to lose a loved one in the physical plane.  The way I see it, the body will deteriorate and eventually die but the sole or spirit, the true essence of who we really are will live on infinitely.  My younger brother, died much too young.  He slipped at work and suffered severe brain hemorrhaging and 12 hours later he died.  In addition to the grieving that individuals go through with the death of a loved one, I had a difficult time dealing with the fact that for the majority of my life I had a younger brother.  Someone I could mess with and tease, in a loving and endearing way.  But this article is not about me.  It is about how other's opinions can interfere in the quality of our life and how it relates to my younger brother.  Those who know me, know that I am not a religious person.  However, I am a spiritual person.  You see, religion needs spirituality but spirituality does not need religion.  My brother, was an amazing person who lived freely.  Through the years, we have had many deep conversations regarding living freely as it related to opinions that others may have of us.
 An opinion is a view or judgement formed about something or someone, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  In essence it is just what someone may think about you.  My brother lived by one simple rule.  I would like to think that I had a significant influence in the way he lived his life because he knew that part of my philosophy in life was not to care about other's opinions about me.  I live with the fundamental principal that someone's opinion of me is none of my business.  Living a life of true freedom is not putting too much stock in other individuals opinions about you.  To truly turn the page and love and respect yourself, you need to understand this concept. As the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, " It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care about their opinion more than our own.  If a god appeared to us-or a wise human being, even-and prohibited us from concealing our thoughts or imagining anything without immediately shouting it out, we wouldn't make it through a single day.  That's how much we value other people's opinions-instead of our own."  What's ironic is that human nature tends to show us that our number one priority is survival.  It's natural to look out for ourselves first.  But, most individuals, with matters of opinions tend to look to others or, place more emphasis on other's opinions of themselves.  If we are told by others that we can not do a certain thing then we start believing we can't.  It is a self fulfilling prophesy.  
 "Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks." Simone Elkeles.  My brother was a person who really did not care about the opinions others had of him.  He lived life on his own terms.  He worked to support his children.  He loved his children unconditionally.  And he lived as a completely free man, independent of other's opinions about him.  He will truly be missed.  He was an inspiration to many.  He personified, what being and living free is all about.  I leave you with a poem on point; "The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others.  And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer the sheep, you become a lion.  A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom."  Author unknown.  After reading this article, take a few minutes to evaluate yourself.  Enjoy life and how precious it is.  And start living independent of other people's opinions.  You will then discover the true meaning of life.
     Just a thought.
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