This is Optimal Living Daily Episode 2127, an excerpt from the book Life is Messy.

By Matthew Kelly and I'm Justin Molick, a very own personal narrator.

Welcome to an award-winning podcast thanks to you where blogs are narrated to you for free

with permission from the websites. But sometimes book excerpts too, like today.

Now tell you about today's author right after the reading, so let's get right to the book excerpt,

Man Start Optimizing Your Life. An excerpt from the book Life is Messy by Matthew Kelly.

Every life has highs and lows. I've had more than my fair share of mountaintop experiences,

but like everyone else, I live in the valleys and on the plains. The thing that surprises me in this

moment is the stillness in my soul. Writing this book has been a tumultuous experience.

I've experienced the effortless grace of inspiration over the years as a writer,

but this book wasn't like that. These words didn't come from a mountaintop experience.

A high price had to be paid for them. They were hard fought for in the lowlands and the

wastelands. Another would be more storms and I know I am better prepared than ever before.

But right now in this place at this time, I cherish the profound calmness. It is a gift.

There's so much more I like to share with you. I sit here, paging through my journals,

and on each page I find some insight that begs not to be left out. Here are some that I cannot

pass over. Number one, you cannot live a meaningful life by filling your life with meaningless

things and activities. Number two, everyone is going to hurt you. Find the ones that are worth

the suffering and heartache, don't let anyone hurt in your heart, and remember that even with your

best efforts to avoid it, you are going to hurt people too. Number three, don't complain.

It's not attractive or productive. Number four, give people the benefit of the doubt.

Life is difficult and messy and everyone is carrying a heavy burden. Number five, death comes to us all.

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