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My father told me a story about how he faced his fears when he was a child and I wanted to share that with you. This story shows how fear is only a negative thought in our mind and that thought can be changed to a positive thought and experience.
When my father was a child and growing up in a little village in India, he used to walk home from visiting his relatives or friends and sometimes it would be dark when he did so. Usually my grandfather would walk with my father and my father felt comfortable walking in the darkness. Some days when he had to walk alone, my father looked at this huge ‘thing’ and had fearful thoughts. He thought it was something sinister. After a few days of feeling fearful, he mustered courage and walked up to this ‘thing’ and poked it. He then realised that this was the banyan tree that he always saw on his way home. He hugged the tree feeling very happy, picked up a stick and drew a face on that tree to make it friendlier. After that day, he never felt fearful during the nights that he used to walk home alone.
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Today, I wanted to revisit the "Attitude of Gratitude" and thought I would share with you a poem that I love. This poem is by Nancy J Carmody.
I am thankful for ...the mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. ...the taxes that I pay because it means that I'm employed. ...the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat. ...my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine. ...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking. ...all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. ...that lady behind me in church who sings offkey because it means that I can hear. ...lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. ...my huge heating bill because it means that I am warm. ...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means that I have been productive. ...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive. My daughter and husband walk together to the bus stop each morning. Dad and daughter share stories and laugh as they walk the 200m to the bus stop. A few days ago, I got a phone call from my husband saying the school bus wasn’t coming because there was a mechanical problem. I offered to drive my daughter to school and drop my husband off at a bus stop which was about a fifth of the way to his work.
So, we all piled into my car. My daughter asked if we could give a ride to her friend. Agreed and we set off to collect the friend. As I was contemplating taking a left or right where two streets met trying to figure out which stop to pick up my daughter’s friend, I noticed that I had not considered giving way to another car. I stopped immediately and let the other guy pass, not before he rattled off an expletive at me. I focussed on my driving, collected my daughter’s friend and got everybody to their destinations before I gave the other driver a moment of my thinking time. I started laughing because nobody had ever sworn at me like he did. I blessed him and his car, thanked God that we were all safe. I have a routine that I go through before I drive – something that I learnt from Louise Hay’s teachings, and it helps me. I bless my car and all other cars on the roads. I also bless all the passengers in my car, all the other drivers, pedestrians, motor cyclists, bicyclists, pets etc., with whom I could be sharing the roads. I also bless myself and say to myself that I am a good driver. It works for me – I stay calm whilst driving. |
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