I really love that quote the more I write it, the more I read it or as many times as I say it to someone for the first time.

I am led to presume that it resonates with others as much as it it did and still does with me - simply because 99.9% of the time that I mention the saying, those hearing it and understanding it from their life's perspective, truly have a profound moment.  Those 8 words create almost a calming effect over us all as we repeat it under our breath while feeling a sense of awareness and purpose - if even for just that moment.

Like many great quotes do, it has become a part of my everyday ...

Except for the fact, that somehow - oddly and uniquely enough, that quote (as does another favorite of mine by Hemmingway, which I will most certainly share in furture posts) stays appropriately compartmentalized, UNTIL the Universe puts me in an exact situation, with what appears to be a very specific individual or individuals - that are (I suppose) meant to hear it.  

Then - there is the small matter of faith, that presents itself to me.  Having Faith - with regard to whether or not that person who heard it for the first time - allows themselves to become a vehicle of those 8 words...  Transmitting - or rather - Paying it Forward, the individual takes on some unspoken responsiblity in storing the quote in the Data Storage Center otherwise known as their subconscious, until - yet again - the universe presents - yet another - calculated time of exactness, with 1 or 10 people that are specifically placed within that designated space...

Ok - enough Neil Degrass Tyson impersonating on my part.  I know, I know, ok moving on...

I am a 43 year old male - who is a recovering addict of multiple "disciplines" if you will. Today - August 8th 2017 - I am 25 days sober of drugs and alcohol as well as 5 days sober from lying.  I have been using Rx and Alcohol for almost 30 years now and I am not happy to admit this but my addiction to lying has surpassed that by at least 10+ years, if not more.  

Allow me to explain and maybe you will also identify with where you began sharpening your "Verbal Judo" skill sets of deceit and manipulation. 

                                 http://blog.ted.com/5-talks-that-are-all-about-lying/

The above link is to a page consisting of 5 TED Talks. All 5 cover the topic of lying and the social - psychological and physiological elements that are driving forces of each. The TED Talks are pretty good, however even though I didn't find any of them great - I did learn a little something new or different when viewing each of them.  If you get the chance to view them, I hope you do as well. 

An example that I would like to share is around the time that we were all born. One TED Talk Presenter illustrates how when we all begin preparation at a very very young age, we begin to practice our lying or our methods and ways of pursuation. Think about it - if you have children or are around young babies, then you all know of that baby or that young child that begins crying and crying and fussing and...

And they are doing this while every once in a while they stop, they assess their surroundings, capturing if Mom or Nana is around or are they stuck with Uncle Bobby - who is literally a grown, ego maniac, insecure little child himself at the rip old age of 31.

If Mom or Nana is around, then it can be argued that that baby is crying because it has developed a little skill called "Acting" or "Puppetering the emotional strings of Mom in order to get another bottle, or to be held or just to be the center of attention."

                               This is arguably where WE also - all began to tell lies...

With that all said - I am interested in doing a complete 180' and coming back full circle to the Service Portion of this post. Doing sevice work, helping others, paying it forward.

The other night - I read this gentlemans post.  He wrote about some things in his life - relationships mostly - that he had lost due to his lying. I read every word - twice ! Then without thinking - just acting, I began to reply to his post with a few words of encouragment, commendment, similarity and finally best wishes.  

I went to bed and when I checked my account the next day, I had received a message in my InBox. 

I read the note that my new friend left for me and literally within 14 seconds, not only did the unexpected message make my day but it also made me feel connected and grateful. The message wasn't thanking me for replying with these great words of wisdom nor was it asking me to review his other posts and to let him know my thoughts!!  

Instead, the message I received was written after this new friend of mine took HIS time, to read MY profile and to offer ME words of encouragment, a compassionate prayer offering me more strength to maintain my sobriety and finally a few words that would have resembled the extension of an Olive Branch - saying simply, "Let's support one another and rely on each other while we are rediscovering oursleves in this online forum."

                                                                   WOW ! 

Of course - I immediatley replied back to my new friend and then as I signed off the forum, I rememeber feeling a smile come across my face. My cheeks spread further apart as if I was the Cheshire Cat himself. Then it happened..  Those 8 words came rushing to the front of my brain like the Class IV Rapids of the Middle Ocoee River ...  

                                            "SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY FOR LIVING"

Then I laughed aloud to myself and literally thought - "That guy really made my F*%KIN' DAY !  Someone give his ass some change!

                                                                 A JEDI LIE AM I