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 Sixteen years ago at the age of eighteen after traveling the world for 5 years as a refugee, I made it to Los Angeles without knowing a word of English or a penny in my pocket. But, I had finally arrived & was happy. A few weeks later not only had I found a job cleaning the floors & stocking merchandise in a liquor store for $3.00 an hour but somehow I was accepted in the nearby high school due to my reasonable math & science skills. Two years later having graduated high school with honors I applied and was accepted to the engineering program of the California State University. The only thing left to do was to graduate, get a job at a big corporation, get a car, buy a house, marry, have a few kids, travel a bit, get a few "toys", keep my head down& follow the herd (for 40 years), then retire, travel a bit more if I can, enjoy the last few years & BAM! disappear into oblivion. There, now that's a "Good" & "Normal" life they told me; the American dream.
The universe however did not agree and had other plans for me.
I was a year away from my graduation when one day first my external & then my internal world was literally turned upside down. On January 17th 1994 the massive & deadly Northridge earthquake forced us out of our apartments and due to massive damage we spent the next two days in a high school gym nearby ( Funny how running out, I had unconsciously had grabbed all my important stuff; my photo albums & water) Well, so much for my 40 or 50 year life plan I thought, "I'm not even sure what's going to happen tomorrow or will I be alive". That whole day I was dazed & confused. All I was thinking about was; what happened, what if I hadn't made it, why is God doing this, is there a God at all, what is my purpose, what is life all about, who am I, how should I live my life, what should I be doing and many other questions that we ask only when the "Angel of Death" starts to get a bit too close. I went to sleep that night in the school gym with 200 others still asking all those questions. Around midnight for no apparent reason I suddenly woke up, put on my slippers, got a cup of coffee, went outside in the cold weather and silently stood next a strange older man who was standing over a heating lamp. Now keep in mind that a. I was fast asleep & very tired b. I don't drink or eat anything after 10pm c. I don't even drink or like coffee and d. I was in no mood to stand in the cold & talk to a stranger in the middle of the night. It was as if "I" was not in charge of "ME" at the time. A few minutes later I was stunned to find out that I had just turned to that man and asked him who he was & what was he there to tell me. He smiled, told me that he was from up north & he was here to unlock a few doors for a friend. Confused, I asked what type of doors these were, why were they locked & how come his friend did not have his own keys. He said he gave him a set but that he just can't seem to find them. "But that is not your "real" question is it?" he asked. Again without thinking I had just asked him if he knew anything about the meaning of life & what am I suppose to do here. What followed next was a two hour conversation that blew a hole into everything that I believed in, all that I though I was and what I wanted to do. I had my head down & thinking when he walked away & disappeared into the dark Since that moment on I was never the same again. To this day I don't know who that man was, what he was doing there, and how did I casually get up and ask him those questions (the closest explanation that has ever been given to me was that in an earthquake some bank safes automatically shut close ( to avoid theft) & need a special key from the headquarters to be opened again). That night was the beginning of a 10 year journey; a long, hard but fulfilling journey of wisdom, understanding, self discovery & self mastery. Throughout this journey I have come to know & study with some amazing masters, teachers, yogis & gurus. I have also read & internalized hundreds of the greatest books written, lectures given & programs ever produced. I have been very lucky to associate with so many simply amazing & wise people that have proved to me that indeed a human being is blessed with an extremely powerful mind & an infinitely powerful soul. I have come to personally realize that nothing & no one can limit you once you discover your purpose, become your true self & walk down your own path. I have learned never to confuse success with true fulfillment; security & comfort with happiness; doing with being. It's amazing what a difference it makes to have someone believe in you & care enough to show you the way. Sixteen years ago if anyone would have told me that I will go down this path, meet these people, become this person, do these things, travel the world again, become a partner in a company that would sell for millions, raise my awareness, wisdom & consciousness level so much, become a teacher & coach, open my own company, and help people to realize their true purpose and become their true best selves….I would've told them that they're crazy… after all, I just wanted to go to school, get a job & live a "normal" life. This is what happens when you get wise, find & follow your own path I guess; You let go of the "normal" life & start living the "right" life. So my message to you is simply this: Define your true purpose and live it, realize who you really are & fully be it, discover what your best is & give it, decide what is right & do it. By becoming who we really are & doing what we really love, we end up giving an enormous amount without even a struggle. And as far as the end goes; Death is no big deal when you have lived such a great life that you almost don't mind. As Joe Lewis said "I'm not sure, you may only live once- but if you work it right, once is enough". Emerson knew it too when he wrote "Heartily know, When half-gods go, The Gods arrive" So, stop being a half-god. Be & Do your best. It's the only thing that is being asked of you. - Rafael Tomik P. S. And what was the life changing advice the man gave me on that night? "For a very long time I have seen people who have lived & died as someone else, as someone that they where not. That seems to be the way these days, you see others, you copy them, you become them. But only a few men & women reject that idea & dare to become their authentic selves; their true selves, their God given selves and those are the ones that change the world for the better; for themselves & all of us. Whether they choose to become famous & popular or stay quiet & humble; the impact is the same. It is the more difficult & unique path however but, once you are on that path, inner peace & true fulfillment is guaranteed & nothing can stand in your way for on that path & only on that path you are the creator of your own destiny. Only of that right path ( and not any other) is God & the Univese waiting to help, support & guide you on your way. Find yourself, be yourself, give of yourself & walk your own path in life. Remember that the body & the mind are powerful yet temporary tools; they will die. Keeping them happy & comfortable is not the point. The only thing that matters is your Soul and what it needs to accomplish, the soul is the REAL & ONLY you. Let it guide you and you will shine in every way & always." I never thanked you for your words of wisdom Sir. I am walking my own true path now. I just wish I knew your name. I wish I could thank you in person. |
