Finding-Ourselves - inspirational writings, thoughts, poems, and quotes by Greg Campisi

Seeing the Love / The Meaning of Life / Forgive Me / When I Grow Up
newest writing / Writing '09 / Writing '08 / Writing '07 and before

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11/09
Seeing the Love

Love is one of the most powerful energies in the universe. With it, we build worlds, create life, and heal wounds. Yet in the next breath, it can be replaced with negativity, hate and anger leading to societies crumbling, people fighting, and lives being lost. How can something so powerful, just disappear? Where does Love go when anger, hate, and fear arise?

It remains exactly where it always is - inside everyone one of us. We are Love manifested. So why are there so many people running around with hate and anger inside of them, and why do we get so angry at them? Does their Love just disappear? Does ours? No. It's not gone, it's just not seen in those moments.

Love is like a light. Darkness isn't tangible; it doesn't actually exist. It is simply what is there, or really not there, when we don't see the light. The sun doesn't burn out every night, and re-ignite every morning. It is always shining, even if we don't see it. The sun's light doesn't go out, the world simply turns away from it, leaving us in the darkness of night. Love doesn't disappear either. People don't cease being Loving beings, they simply turn their back on Love. And when we encounter people who have turned, in return, we seem to turn our backs on them as well, and in essence, turn our backs on the very love inside our self.

Think about the people you don't like, the ones that really drive you crazy, for whatever reasons. Even everyday people in your life who you work with, your neighbors, friends, or even family that really make you angry. People who are backstabbers, liars, hypocrites, judgmental, or just angry people. We can't stand them, right? How do we respond to their negativity? With more negativity aimed right at them. We get angry because there's something about them we don't like. Something we think they should change. Suddenly, we start judging them, hating them, talking behind their backs, or maybe giving them a piece of our minds right to their face. And what does that make us? Like them. When we're listening to them or thinking about them and feeling charged up, are we loving and accepting them? No. Are we not loving them just because they don't love us, or because they're angry at some else, or about the world?

Do these negative people somehow stop being God's creations? Does it somehow make them less than what God created them to be? The Love, just like the light, is still in there, even when they turn their backs on it. Just because someone else gave up on the love inside themselves, doesn't mean we have to. It is still our choice find our own peace. It is still our choice to love them, even when they see no love in themselves or the world around them. It is our choice to look deeper and see the love still there. In seeing the love they really are, we allow for them to find it again for themselves.

It doesn't stop with seeing the love in others. We have to see the love inside ourselves. How often do we berate ourselves for forgetting something, or for not being quick enough, or smart enough, or for not deserving more? When we do this, any of it, we are turning away from our own Love. We turn our backs on our self, and our own light, and begin sinking into darkness. Does this mean we lose Love? Is it possible to not be what God created us to be? Or is it possible we just stop seeing ourselves for who we really are? Is it possible we shut our eyes to our own Love? Of course it is, and it's also possible to simply look again, to look deeper, and find the Love inside still there waiting for us, where it has always been, and where it always will be.

Love cannot be turned off. We cannot stop being Love. No one can. We can only choose to turn away from it, putting ourselves in darkness. No one wants to be there. Turn back to the light of day and find a new morning for yourself and others. See the love that is always there inside yourself, and inside everyone, even the ones that drive you crazy.

10/09
The Meaning of Life?

A question that has been asked since the beginning of time... What is the meaning of Life? What is our purpose here? I'm still searching for my own answers, but if you asked, you're one step closer to finding it for yourself.

Over the past few years, it seems like it has been a long, difficult road for me, with few answers. So why do I still travel it? Because one day, everyday will have clarity, miracles, and joy. So each step I take today, no matter how small, is a step closer to that life. We are all helping each other discover and see ourselves. Despite the name of this column, I'm not going to tell you how to find yourself, or your purpose, I'm here to share my journey, thoughts, and feelings, and hopefully inspire you to look for more in your own life, and in others.

Ask yourself, "What brings me happiness?" Take a look at your life and a look at the world outside. I think we can all admit there's something more to life than what we see out there. There's a bigger purpose. It seems to me a lot of people just accept life as what it is, accept there are ups and downs, good times and bad, and leave it at that. True for now, but that's no reason to stop believing in a better life for each of us and peace between all of us. I think we are here to continually grow and evolve, become closer to God, and each other.

There's no big secret to life. God made it very simple for us. Certain actions, words, and feelings fill us with joy, peace, and harmony, and some work in the other direction. Every human being knows how to be happy, we just have trouble doing it because we are all tangled up in our wounds. We're running around in the dark stepping on each other's toes because we don't know where the light switch is. Maybe it's time to stop being mad about all the people in our way, and ask if anyone can help us get to where we want to be. Someone else may be standing right next to the light switch, and if we quiet ourselves long enough, we can follow each other into the light of a new dawn.

Even if you don't know what your life is meant for, you know what it's not meant for. I think all of us know that. Find your happiness, find your balance, find yourself... and express it fully, joyfully, and peacefully. Choose joy. Choose peace. Choose Love.

4/09
Forgive Me

Forgiveness walks hand in hand with concepts about peace and love. In receiving forgiveness there a release of guilt, and a feeling of love that enters our being. Forgiveness truly is a blessed gift to give and receive...

Today is a bit different, however. I'm not here to forgive you, nor am I here to ask you to forgive me. Even if someone forgives me, even if God forgives me, I can still choose to hold onto the guilt and suffering. What I realized today is that the greatest forgiveness is given by me, for myself. Today I learned to forgive me.

Today's work day started with me losing a good, steady client when he replaced me with another company. I was upset by this, thinking who does he think he is… after all the time, energy, and great work I've done for him! Now it just so happens, I had forgiveness on my mind this morning, and so naturally rather than be angry all day about it, I realized I should forgive him for replacing me. So I did. But then I realized something else... he's just doing what he feels is best for his company. He made it very clear he was grateful for what I had already done. I realized I was the one taking things personally, and holding the grudge. I was the one being critical of him. I needed to forgive myself for having these thoughts, and aiming my anger at him.

And that started the chain of events. I began to forgive myself for all the thoughts I feel are anything less than caring and loving of others. I forgave myself for being critical and judgmental of other people. I forgave myself for not seeing all the things the people in my life do for me.

I forgave myself for how I see my mom. She's a mother, and I am her son, and no matter how old I am, she is always going to mother me, want to care for me, feed me, make sure I have an umbrella, make sure I wear a coat when its cold, on and on. I would see these words as pestering, worrying thoughts. I would see them as ways my mom does not allow me to be my own person or to grow up. And so I forgave myself for not seeing her as anything less than a loving mother, always caring and protecting me.

I forgave myself for being so hard on my father. He's been through a lot of pain the past few years because of his heart condition. I get on his case about eating right, about eating healthier, about exercising and taking care of himself. But so does everyone else. He doesn't need to hear it from me as well. It's my job to care and love him, but I have turned it into criticizing all his habits, and telling him what he does wrong. I've been much too critical of him in his trying times. Do I need to tell him this? YES. I want to be clear that it is still important for me to ask him for forgiveness as well, but I realized today, that even if I ask, and even if he forgives me, I still have to forgive myself. And if I don't ask myself for forgiveness, how can it truly be granted?

Sometimes I feel like I've let all of you down by not sending this out more often. Sometimes I feel I don't work hard enough, and sometimes I feel lazy. Yet other times I feel I work too much, and give up too many of my nights and weekends. Sometimes I don't get to the gym enough, or I don't eat right. Sometimes I feel like I don't spend enough time with my friends or have enough fun these days. Sometimes I feel like I don't appreciate my brother enough. Sometimes I feel like I don't do enough to stay in touch with God. And sometimes I feel like I don't love myself enough.

Today I forgave myself for ALL of these things and more. We all feel these kinds of feelings and think these kinds of thoughts about ourselves. I don't think any of us realize how hard we are on ourselves, how unworthy we make ourselves, or how many unloving and critical thoughts we aim inward. It's OK to question our thoughts and decisions, but it’s not OK to hold it against ourselves and to judge ourselves. Being hard on ourselves is even more poisonous than being hard on someone else. I don't believe God judges me. Today, I realized how often I judge me. I forgave myself for that as well, and it brought immense peace and joy into my being for releasing all the chains and weights I have placed on my very own shoulders.

Much of my writing is about understanding each other, and learning not to hold on to grudges and anger against others. Today is different. Today, I ask you to think about all the things you hold against yourself, and all the criticism and judgment you have for yourself. Today, ask yourself for forgiveness... and grant it. If God can forgive you, you can too.

1/09
When I Grow Up...

As a kid, my parents asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'm sure I gave the typical kid responses, and I’m sure it constantly changed… an actor, a doctor, an artist or whatever my fancy was at the moment. As high school approached, the question was asked again, and yet again a few years later as I prepared for college and for a career. One day, not too long after I was hired at my last job, my boss asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and where I saw myself going with my career. I didn't really have an answer. I wasn’t really sure design would be my whole life. I always felt like I was meant to do more, I just didn't know what.

With the onset of a new year, I was thinking of some resolutions and goals for 2009, and I asked myself the question - what do I want to do with my life? This time, I have an answer… I am going to change the world. I am going to make the world a better place and help as many people as I can to have better lives. That is what I want to do with my life. I also know I’m not doing it alone. I have a special woman back in my life, and I have my family and friends to encourage me and help me achieve this goal, but it’s not just about my inner circle. It’s bigger than that. All of you are going to help change the world, too.

Every one of us already makes a difference and changes the world everyday. It is constantly happening, but few of us really see it and know it. I've become more and more aware of how much things I do and say affect people's lives and the world around me. Something I say may cause someone to go home with either a good or bad feeling. That will in turn affect everyone else they see and talk to that day. It’s a ripple effect, and every one of us is at the center of a ripple in every moment. From now on, I only want to cause waves of goodness. To someone having a bad day, or feeling down, the simplest thing can make a world of difference. If you really start to look, you'll see just how many lives you touch and change every day. Even a simple smile may change someone's day. Try it.

So where am I headed in 2009? Where am I headed in 10 years, in 20 years, in 50 years? I don't know for sure, but I do know that I will continue to be a better person, to make the lives of the people around me better, and to make this world a better place. That's my goal. I’m changing the world – for the better. We all are.