"Today I will judge nothing that happens."

That's what the lesson from ACIM is about today. I want to know how you do that. I mean we judge our experiences every day. It's why we have five senses.

You taste things. Like Goldilocks you judge it as too hot, too cold or just right.

You smell things. Pepe Le Pew comes along- you decide if he is a cat or a skunk by his particular aroma.

You see things. You go into a store to buy groceries or perhaps to buy a new outfit. Your eyes tell you a ton of things about the item that you are shopping for before you even lay hands on it. Then you pick it up. Your eyes scan for flaws, you read the labels or tags, etc. You critique it.

You hear things. A new artist has a song on the radio. Your listening ear decides whether you like it or not in comparison to all that you've heard. Based on the one song you might even judge the singer as a one you never want to hear again.

You touch things or things touch you. You step outside with a t-shirt and shorts this morning, like I just did to let the cat out. The February air let me know that I was not dressed right for the weather.

So, can someone tell me how you experience life without judging? I'd be interested in knowing.

Hey, I walked away from this for a few minutes and it came to me. Just replace the word "judge" with another word. How about decide, discern, determine, etc?

I had an epiphany (I'm not sure I'm spelling that correctly) this afternoon as I looked at my family. How much do I love and hate them at the same time? I love them for who they are and I know what happens when I try to change something about them- we go into the war zone. I hate them at times because they do not allow me to be free and to be myself. That's when it hit me. Judgement starts with family.

I have come to accept that my mother is, well, my mother. Sure, there are things about her that I wish were different. But if she had been the things I wanted her to be I would not have had the opportunities to become who I am. I accept my brother's uniqueness while at the same time resenting him. Yes, I admit that I wish I'd been dealt a better brother. But, again, his uniqueness is part of the reason I am who I am.

When I look at them I have to remember that I am looking at myself. I can't change them but I can change my perception of them.