An epiphany

[The Dungeon Master]

Ronnie James Dio died on Sunday. He believed in magic. So do I. He and Waylon Jennings were the musicians most influential on my young self (odd mix, huh?)
Anywhoo, as I thought about his life and death, and the lives and passings of other people I had and hadn't known, I had an epiphany. I am starting my own faith. It's called rexarturism. It's tenets follow and will be amended and adapted as they come to me. These are thoughts that have always been at the core of my personal philosophy, but I think I am coming to an appreciation of a codified expression.

Peace and Love

• Religion and faith provide this for people. Since I have neither I will provide it for myself. In these things I do and will believe.
  
• I am in control of only my own actions and thoughts.
  
• I can only plan what I will do and say. Beyond that I am not in control.
  
• Positive thoughts have positive energy. Negative thoughts have negative energy. Happiness and Sadness are a chosen state of mind.
  
• I decide what energy I accept and project.
  
• I will not judge.
  
• I will forgive.
  
• I will be accepting.
  
• I will love those around me.
  
• I will use my body language and expression to let those around me know I love them.
  
• I will be calm and try and calm others.
  
• I will view each moment from a perspective greater than that moment, and understand it is not others' perspectives.
  
• I will spread my own message of happiness, joy and peace in whatever way I can.
  
• I have high demands for myself, and will teach them if asked, but will not expect the same from others.
  
• I will practice the code of chivalry in it's romanticized form. It doesn't matter if it was real or not.
  
• I will be honest and true to others and, just as important, to myself.
  
• I will not expect anything from anyone or the world, unless I make it happen.
  
• I will take personal responsibility of my failures and flaws.
  
• I will take personal responsibility for my successes.
  
• I will continually assess myself and try to change myself for the better.
  
• I will strive to reconcile my actual self, with my perceived self.
  
• I will not play until my responsibilities are handled. But I will play as often as I can.
  
• I will cherish each moment of each day for what it is, not what it isn't or what it could have been.
  
• I will remember this doubly when the path is difficult, as it is easy to do so when the path is smooth.
  
• I will hope that my last thoughts in this existence are of peace and love.