You don’t have to be as an ascetic. Enjoy your life. Think moderation. Having two drinks can be relaxing. Swilling ten drinks is getting drunk. Driving 65 is getting somewhere quickly. Driving 85 is reckless. Watching an hour of television is not watching all night every night. Giving a few dollars every once in a while to charity is not giving back what you really can. Gambling ten dollars is not risking half your paycheck. Control yourself or admit that you need help and get it.
Right now, in this defining moment you can choose to change. You are instantly a new person. Your journey is only over when God calls you and until then you can pick yourself up and keep moving forward.
If you have done wrong to others, you can try to make amends. Realize that others may be under no moral obligation to forgive you. In most cases, your sincerity will win you another chance. In rare instances, man will not or cannot forgive and only God can forgive.
Fully understanding the imperfections of man, you accept that at times you will be disappointed, let down, gossiped about and plotted against by others, some close to you. Be sure your response is worth the effort and consequences. As appropriate, control your feelings. As appropriate, remain non-judgmental. Weigh the personal cost, since vengeance may only serve to perpetuate the matter. Walking away or cutting off may the decisive action necessary. Hard as it may be at the moment, to lighten your own journey, forgiveness may be the expedient path to moving on to the better.
Time does not serve the evil person well. They usually do reap what they sow and get what they deserve.
The declarations of the phony are obviously hollow. Actions speak louder than words.
