Have you ever had an epiphany?

One day I realized that I needed more fiber in my diet

Of course, the most recent one being that some of my old friends and I aren’t compatible anymore.

Yes, I realized that I am extremely lazy. But did nothing about it…

Two years ago.:)

Holy shit! I just realized that I haven’t had an epiphany for ages!

Oh, wait…

Several small ones. However the largest one happened a little over 20 years ago while I was standing on top of a high rise building removing a parapet clamp while working as a window washer by day so I could support my musical aspirations by night.

The epiphany sounded something like this:

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now a software engineer who can still play the snot out of a guitar when the mood strikes.

One day I realized I was just going through life, not caring about anything, not committing to anyone. I realized my life was boring because I wasn’t putting enough effort into connecting with people or with trying to find a passion.

Since then I’ve been more involved in my life. And certainly I’ve been enjoying it more.

Looooong time ago: white bread is bad for my stool.

Though I care not to describe what brought it about, yes I have had an epiphany before. It came suddenly and without warning. It stopped me dead in my tracks and spoke as a voice within my head as clearly as any persons voice I had ever heard before. It said to me…

“Evil always disguises itself as good”.

About three weeks ago, I was walking up the stairs at work and I heard this little voice that sounded exactly like me in my head, “You’re okay the way you are. Quit trying to change.” I have not yet decided if I should believe this little voice. I’m having a few more days where it happens though.

Somehow, I thought any epiphany would happen in my mom’s voice. Heaven knows I’ve heard her in there plenty of times before!

That’s interesting @Blackberry. The same realization has come to me as well, though more slowly over time, and on a friend by friend basis, rather than a global assertion.

I’ve often wondered if that is something which only occurs for men, or if women come to the same conclusion at times. I’m inclined to believe it may be a male only realization, since men typically mature slower than women. I think for men, the epiphany you describe is a sign of growing up, and a realization that our friends don’t do it at the same time we do, if ever.

Yeah.

After my first wife left, I was more than willing to recite (for anyone willing to listen) a list of “she done me wrong” grievances.

It kinda clicked for me one day that I did more harm to myself (through negative, hateful thinking) than anything I imagined she did to me.

Whatever she did, she did was over and done with, but my constant revisits were more damaging to me emotionally than the actual occurrence.

An old zen story illustrates this perfectly.

Two monks were traveling when they happened upon a woman having difficulty crossing a stream. These monks had taken a vow to have nothing to do with women, so one of the monks was rather taken aback when his fellow monk picked up the woman and carried her across the stream.

This monk was truly offended. He ranted and raved at the other monk the next few miles for having the audacity of touching a woman. Eventually, the monk who had assisted the woman across the stream turned to his fellow monk and quietly said,

“My brother…I left the woman several miles back. Why are you still carrying her?”

(Click to read an excellent version of the monk story.)
_

I had a bit of a wake up call recently.

… I had a vision that my essence was in a place of light with what felt like a council of helpful, nameless, yet familiar spirits in the form of intention and energy. They surrounded me with assurance, possibility, knowing, and most of all love. This place/feeling was so profound that it obliterated all preconceptions from my being, and redefined (or maybe undefined) the depth of my nature. It was the closest I’ve ever felt to truth. This was an existence without time or space- my source for knowledge.

I learned how to be mindful of the constant learning experience that is life.

@rOs Wow.