(IJCH) It's YOUR Choice and no one else's! (or How Obligation can obscure YOUR Inner Vision)
IJCH - Inside JaiChai's Head (Meaning: My Warped, Personal Opinions and Musings)
From the Author:
Salutations.
I am JaiChai.
And if I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you before, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance now.
I invite you to interact with everyone, learn, and have as much fun as possible!
For my returning online friends, "It's always great to see you again!"
A Very Moving Post - Major Props to 
I just read this excellent, heartfelt post by
Baby Steps...
Article link:
It prompted me to submit this comment/reply:
It's YOUR Choice, no one else's! (or How Obligation can obscure YOUR Inner Vision)
Salutations! JaiChai here.
Your post moved me to share this with you...
I learned two important lessons early in life that have gotten me through some pretty rough patches over the years.
(1) Sometimes, if we allow it, passion activities coupled with obligation can become dreaded chores.
(2) Never forget that, fundamentally, we don't HAVE TO do anything if we don't want to, but have to be fully aware that there are consequences.
For example we don't HAVE TO get out of bed and go to work, but then we must accept that we won't get paid.
Imagine this:
"Before grumbling about work, you might want to think about all the people around the world who would do anything to get a job!" - Jaichai
(Which leads me to this story...)
I once gave a legless beggar on the street a little money for a little conversation.
He was so glad that someone acknowledged his existence that he forgot about the money!
And I was glad to talk with him and learn about his life. In fact, I think I got the better end of the deal because of the insights he had given me.
You see, he wasn't always an indigent street beggar. He had been a successful businessman.
(The rest of the circumstances resulting in his current station in life is much too long to explain in this post.)
(After listening to his story, suffice it to say that I admired him for simply surviving!)
Upon establishing a modicum of rapport, I felt comfortable enough to say, "Sir, it sounds like you were dealt a pretty shitty hand. But why are you, a man who is obviously educated and experienced in global finance, still here - legless on the street, sitting on your XXL skate board with your hand out for coins?"
With a huge smile that revealed the gaps between his brown teeth, he said, "I'm waiting for Halle Berry. She's into legless men, you know. They can't run away!"
We both laughed until we could hardly breathe!
A few minutes later, I thanked him for his time, handed him some money, and went on my way.
Glancing back, I saw him smiling his trademark shit-eating grin and waving goodbye - with a lone tear of joy tracing its way down his cheek.
I guess the point I'm trying to make (in my round about way) is this:
The fact that we have a choice to do or not do anything is insanely liberating.
It reminds us what is really important in our lives and re-identifies our passions for what they really are: "A personal choice that only we can make."
Parting Shots
A Favorite Quote
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot
And so it goes...
Namaste, JaiChai
P.S.
If I can get my lazy ass motivated, I'll turn this into a proper post with major props to you and your article.
(End of comment/reply)
By JaiChai
Mighty Kind of You for stopping by.
Truly hope to see you again!
About the Author
Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an AA, BS and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic.
In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he performed high altitude, free-fall parachute jumps and hazardous diving ops in deep, open ocean water.
After 24 years of active duty, he retired in Asia.
Since then, he's been a full-time, single papa and actively pursuing his varied passions (Writing, Disruptive Technology, Computer Science and Cryptocurrency - plus more hobbies too boring or bizarre for most folk).
He lives on an island paradise with his teenage daughter, longtime girlfriend and three dogs.
"My mind was a terrible thing to waste..." - JaiChai