Did you ever wonder what or who is operating your body? I mean, clearly there is an animating force of some kind that is beating our heart and breathing our lungs. Yes, there is brain activity that controls bodily functions, but we never have to think about it. There seems to be some over-arching intelligence that the brain is channeling. In my world view, this is consciousness. And consciousness is using my brain as the receiver for the signals the brain uses to activate and animate this body.

It occurs to me that consciousness has decided that there is a body needed to transport it around through the human experience. Give what name you will to that consciousness, but isn’t the fact that it has seen fit to provide my human experience with a body reason enough to take care of it? It appears that the body is important. As it is the vehicle that my individuated consciousness is using to get from point “A” to point “B”, I’m thinking there is some kind of responsibility to take care of it. After all, if I don’t take care of this “body temple” where will I live?

Always found that an interesting question; nothing to do with a house, apartment, condo, townhouse or teepee. If my body temple ceases to function, where exactly am I planning on going? That’s a whole new kind of “homeless,” don’t ya think?

You would not be out of line to want to know if there is a point here – anywhere. Well, yes, there is. This is the time of year when we all have some kind of cosmic permission to over-indulge; to allow our addictive and/or self-destructive behaviors to have free reign. Then we move into the New Year with recriminations about reforming our bad habits and recreating or lost magnificence. Rarely happens though, does it?

The point, and the invitation, is to exercise a little self-discipline this year. There is great wisdom in the old cliché, “Everything in moderation.” Take this opportunity to plan some real intentions for next year. No need to waste time on reclaiming my old physique if I never let it go to begin with. Instead, I’m creating a new version of the next highest vision of ME. My intention is to hit 2012 running, not contemplating finding what I lost during the holiday season.