7 Rules That Will Change Your Life

Czechoslovakia during communism, 1982

It’s a cold, miserable, gray day. It’s raining and snowing at the same time. Brno is colourless. People pass each other with no sense of direction and without any expression on their faces. Humanity and joie de vivre are gone. It’s almost Christmas 1982.

Jana, my “big sister,” and I are going to town together. Not to buy carp, which local vessels have just delivered—it is still too early before Christmas to buy carp. No, right now my sister and I are focused on getting oranges. Yes, oranges!

We walk through the city with a glimmer of hope that something special is being sold somewhere. We’re lucky. There is a long queue in front of a store where they sell a small range of fruit and vegetables. All the people in line are certainly not there to get regular stuff from that store. Something special is on sale today.

We both try hard to see what’s being sold. But we can’t figure it out from a distance. We decide to join the queue. No one seems to know what’s being sold. I choose to leave the queue, asking Jana to keep my spot, and try to move to the front of the row so I can finally know what’s being sold. To my surprise, I find out they are selling oranges and bananas. Extraordinary for us, surely…

There is no choice; we might get green or brown bananas. The oranges are dry, but hey, take it or leave it. Standing in line is unpleasant. People don’t talk; they just hold their position and wait for their turn. We see satisfied people with big smiles on their faces leaving with full bags of fruit. We hope that soon we will also be lucky.

My toes are freezing slowly until I can’t feel them anymore. I wonder whether they’ve already turned blue. My sister complains about the long queue; she’s clearly annoyed. Expressing her impatience is not a wise thing to do, especially in these days of oppression. Fortunately, the line in front of us is getting shorter and shorter. I now have a view of the crates and boxes. Someone yells that the merchandise is almost gone. We continue to wait anyway along with everyone else.

Somebody in front of us orders a kilo of bananas. Now there might not be enough for everyone. Only two people in front of us—we are getting close! The bananas and oranges, however, are gone. Sold out. Nothing is left. We stare at the empty boxes in disbelief. I’m deeply disappointed, sad, and angry. My sister feels even worse. We walk home, with frozen feet, frustrated and outraged, and dreading the thought of facing yet another “dinner” of bread and sardines.

Life Is an Adventure

1. 1. This world and its inhabitants will change. These changes are already in process. The Mayan calendar pointed to 2012 as the year when a major shift in consciousness would start to arise. As with the rebirth and transformation of our planet, we also must be able to enter a new age ready to master new challenges (climate issues, artificial Intelligence, privacy issues, and so on).
   2. There are no certainties or guarantees in this life, so don’t expect them. Don’t expect any bananas or oranges if there’s a chance they will be sold out. It is possible, however, to set new priorities, choosing wisely and being aware that there will be multiple choices in life. Life is an adventure, a journey through time. There is no end point.
   3. Everything is moving and changing all the time. Therefore, move through every day, week, month, and year following your inner compass. See yourself on a boat floating on the river from the fixed point of today to an unknown destination.
   4. Live every chapter of your life to the fullest. Insert a new energy flow into your life by making choices with both your head and your heart.
   5. What will your next chapter in life be? You create your own destination. You reach your goal by daring to embrace the unknown, and live proactively at the border of your possibilities, not passively at the outer edges of your insecurities. As Stephen Covey said, “Begin with the end in mind”; focus on your goal, but achieve it by taking small steps. Be flexible and trust the ocean to be the captain of your own boat. Go with the flow, and let the waves take you to your desired destination.
   6. The most important aspect of your life is your soul. Your age doesn’t matter. You can heal the frustration and pain from the past if you choose. Be good to yourself.
   7. As you get older, you become a better student in living your life. You learn every day so you can give more love to others. You rewrite your story daily and express gratitude for the many lessons that become your guide. The footprint you leave behind will make an even deeper imprint. This will be your heritage. Remember, the biggest wake-up call you can ever get is to actually live the life you love!