Something that comes back in almost any philosophical treaties, religious books and esoteric texts is guilt and letting go of it.

I was reading a newsletter I get from a fellow who translates the original Aramaic texts the bible used. The original texts are very interesting in the sense that words in Aramaic has a multitude of definitions. I won’t go into details here but I thought it was appropriate.

When I work with women in the 50 to 70 year bracket, one common denominator they mostly have is guilt and not feeling worthy. It’s astonishing when you consider what that generation has achieved, raising us and still striking a balance between how a woman was supposed to be and how one can now be.

Most of us have not reached our potential for accepting, forgiving and loving ourselves and each other. The concept of “loving oneself” is enough to send people into either pure ignoring it, ridiculing it or making one squirm. How self service, loving yourself! Yet, not having reached this state causes us pain and suffering which gives guilt. And guilt is a feeling that is neither good, nor does it bring any positive progressive value. It might be good to be aware of it but as soon as we feel it, we need to move away. It’s gangrene. People who feel guilt are prone to judge others.

Soon or later, you exhaust yourself. It’s hard to keep a facade that doesn’t reflect who you truly are. It’s hard to live by rules pounded into you that are not your nature. Eventually, you let go.

I was struck one day as an elder family member asked me what I thought about this wedding we were walking into. He was an upstanding citizen, highly war decorated, church going active member. He was the perfect one. Yet, his comment marked me when he told me this whole marriage ceremony was “Pfooewy!” I was shocked. How can this pillar of traditionalism who had found with all of his strength to maintain this rigid way of life be saying this at the dawn of his earthly life? He became aware of life and it was all relative now to him. He saw beyond the facade, beyond the ritual most people go through with little after thought. He saw the essence.

It was beautiful seeing this older man coming into realization. It made me think, sooner or later, I will also need to abandon my preconceived notions of good and wrong, bad and evil. Soon or later, I will have to embrace myself as who I am, a struggling human trying to make his way through life, making mistakes and achieving great results. It is neither good or bad. Once I can see myself like that, I have given up on trying to look right or be good. I just become myself with no pretense. This is a most rewarding and relaxing feeling. I don’t feel guilt and certainly cannot judge others as I realize, after all, they are just like me, trying to make sense of it all.

I bet if I was the creator, I would be happy to see that.