Guided meditation and daily philosophy: Making positive choices in life

Imagine you are standing at a port. Standing on the dock with people milling all around you in a hustle and bustle of life. The sun is shining brightly and the crisp smell of the sea salt air is blowing in the air. Gulls cry overhead as the gentle motion of the sea laps against the sea wall.

 In front of you are two ships. To the right is a magnificent ocean liner gleaming in the morning sun. A magnificent walkway stretches across the water to the side of the ship. A red carpet lines the walkway and there are gold railings and gold ropes along its sides. The ocean liner is luxury. It's sides are painted brilliant white and the decks are made from the finest wood. On board there are groups of people laughing, joking, hugging, smiling and chatting. They are holding tall glasses of fine champagne and martini. A string band is playing exquisite music and finest foods are being served by supremely courteous waiters.

 To the left is another ship. This one is made from wood. But here the wood is rotting. In fact, there are holes in the side of the ship from which flies are appearing. There is a rickety drawbridge leading to the ship and people are having to jump over holes in the wood or balance along the side of the drawbridge. A rat is scurrying along one of the ropes. On board the ship the sails are torn and dirty. One is hanging from the mast and one of the beams is even snapped and hanging down. The ship is filthy and the smell is overpowering. The people look unhappy, hungry and destitute. Some of them are arguing and some are throwing up over the sides. The ship is creaking as it rocks back and forth. It's only small but the people are crammed on board and they're weighing it down more than it should be. There are a few rotten apples and half eaten chicken legs scattered around that people have to scavenge for. Thick black smoke is coming from an oily engine at the back of the ship that is spluttering in and out of life. A cloud of it blows to the side of the dock and it makes you cough and choke.

 You are still stood on the dock looking at the ships. You have the choice which one you want to board for the journey into the unknown that will take you on a trip, an adventure round the world. You look at your watch and the time is now 9.45 am. Soon the ships will be leaving and the time will come to chose which one you are to sail on.

In life we all have the choice as to which ship we will sail on. We choose which drawbridge we will walk down. The way we make the choice is in the things we say, the things we do, the people we chose to spend time with, the thoughts we choose to have. The choice we make is happening right now. We can choose how we receive the words on this page. And we will have the choice today, tonight and tomorrow as to how our lives will develop. What the journey will be like that we go on. And we can choose the ship that will nourish us, keep us healthy, happy and wealthy. We can choose to take that direction. And even if we are on board the ship that is not good for us, every minute of every day the luxury cruise liner will be sailing alongside it and there will be a waiter standing on the side holding out a silver platter with a golden ticket with your name on it inviting us to join that glorious brilliant ship. We have the choice to board that ship. We can live that life. We are living that life of health and happiness if we chose to.