I stared at the door, daunting, larger than life and I wondered if I should go through it. I could hear the voices in my head telling me that this was crazy, that this was 'not responsible'...but when had sanity and responsibility become the only truth I would follow? I had forgotten how to feel the current, how to enjoy the rush of the wind and the flowing waters of the river never knowing what the next bend or curve would reveal..mystery in life is a wonderful thing yet so easily given up...the note, written in calligraphic script had only said,
"Travel to the "hidden river road" where the ancestors sing, hear their voices lead you to Mount Kenya, follow the call and find the greatest door, hidden at the base of the mountain...open the door, walk through it...if courage never fails you..."
So here I was, after all the sacrifices, all the months of pain and agony. Many people thought I had gone mad, and now here I was, I had found it. The door...and at this point the last part of the note made sense - was I truly brave enough to open it? I took a deep breath and pushed the door open closing my eyes for a brief second,ready for the worst...
...The door opened and suddenly the world was transformed...so much beauty, so much peace, all of life's happiness right there in front of me..I walked through slowly, I couldn't believe it, did this really exist? Right here in my homeland? The famine, the poverty, the misery, the struggle and yet right here in our homeland...Nirvana...
I walked through the door, felt like I was floating... I could hear singing, I felt so...free. A child gazed at me and pointed and I followed the direction I was shown. I walked and saw a place of magic, a place of wonder and right there was a big sign that said, "Welcome Joyce, Happy Birthday". I realized in amazement that yes indeed it was my birthday, my 29th Birthday, and I stood, shocked and amazed at the coincidence...I had found the hidden door on my birthday. Maybe it was meant to be.
Then, I saw three boxes, birthday gifts wonderfully wrapped with my name on each...I was suddenly very curious...like Alice in wonderland I wanted to know how this story would end...It all felt so special and so meaningful. I took my time opening the boxes savoring each moment...wanting this feeling and this place of Nirvana to remain with me forever...
I opened the first box and to my amazement I started to dance and sing and laugh...I couldn't help myself - the greatest music I had heard was playing everywhere around me and as it played I could see words and writings and to my amazement I saw that the writing was mine-from my journals to my stories to my book all the words together all around...And beside me was a child, dancing to Michael Jackson's music, I laughed, amazed and then saw that the child was me...and I was awed by the child's movements unashamed and uncaring, dancing away like my life depended on it...
Then I opened the second box, and I saw a map...I was puzzled for a moment and then the map started to unfold...a magic map! It revealed such interesting places and as I tried to read it I started to see on the map different destinations in my life...it was my life map! I quickly wanted to see tomorrow and the next day and the next year in fact I wanted to see how long my life was and how it would end! Sadly I realized the map only revealed my life up until where I stood, right there in nirvana...but then I saw an arrow and I realized that this map was going to show me where I was meant to go! I never had to worry I could live the life I was meant to live!
Finally I wanted to see what was in the final box, I imagined that hand in hand with the life map, I would get all the treasure and all the money to live the life I had always dreamt of. I tore open the box super fast and as I reached into it I found.....a mirror. Was it a magic wishing mirror? I closed my eyes made a wish and nothing happened. Disappointed, I sat there and stared into the mirror wondering what this was all about and mumbling about the unfairness of it all. I kept staring into the mirror, looking at myself...and then I knew. It suddenly all made sense and I was overwhelmed with emotion as it all became clear. These were indeed the greatest gifts I had been given. My own nirvana, true happiness...I closed my eyes and gave thanks for my birthday gifts...
The first gift, the gift of talents and dreams..all the God given talents and dreams that I have been blessed with, my chosen gifts that I was so open to as a child and may have given up on my path to adulthood...the second gift, the gift of purpose...opening up to the reason my life exists...my purpose is my life map to guide me to live the life I am meant to have...my life map,my purpose is unique, whether I choose to follow it or not, it's right there, given to me as a guide...always there, a part of my heart and intuition...and the final gift, the greatest gift of them all....me. My existence, every breath I take, every moment I have to live that another person may not have. Life itself, that so many take for granted, is truly the greatest gift.
....What was that noise? I opened my eyes and Nirvana was gone...I looked around the familiar room, my alarm was ringing...I sat up, surprised....wow what a dream! I looked at my calendar...8th October 2011...my Birthday. I jumped out of bed smiling...and took a moment to look up,give thanks to God...I said a silent prayer of thanks...for the greatest birthday gifts that I now know I already have.
Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.
Tony Robbins
