Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. I am happy to have you around my table. Last night I watched part of a movie that I have never seen. The movie, “Flatliners” with Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin and Oliver Platt among other notable actors and actresses. The plot of the movie centered around medical students bringing themselves near death to see the beyond. As the movie continues they seek to extend the time of being dead before being resuscitated.
Toward the end of the movie the lesson is presented. Kevin Bacon’s, Julia Roberts’ and then Kiefer Sutherland’s character each had a catharsis by making amends to the people that their “death” experience revealed. Until they made an effort to make amends to the individuals in their “death” experience (s), they were haunted by guilt. Those individuals who were unable to or minimized the impact of their actions continued to be haunted by their guilt. The impact of their making amends impacted their quality of life.
In my experience, recently while visiting family I was able to make an amends to my brother. By doing so, I found that our relationship took on a new dimension. By doing so there is more peace in our relationship.
I read some thing today that I would like to share with you:
“It is this: Look to yourself. What am I doing that creates difficulties for me, or aggravates the ones I have? Could it be that I’m trying to fix everything by finding fault with somebody else?…I am encouraged to examine my impulses, motives, actions and words. This helps me to correct the causes of my own unease and not blame it on others…
Once I overcome the habit of justifying everything I do, and make courtesy, tenderness and a warm interest in others, miracles will happen.” One Day at a Time.., page.234.
The good news is that we do not have to have a “death” or near “death” experience to make things right with people. We can own responsibility now for our part in the relationship and we can make an amends. We can take responsibility for our lives and in the process we can live in peace.
By practicing this behavior, taking responsibility and making amends for the harm that I have done – to the person or relationship – I find that I am able to live in peace in my relationships and in my life.
As you read this article and questions come to mind, please send those questions to me. All questions are good question. In the event that you would like to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you. You may send a question or leave a comment by clicking on this link: Contact Page.
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