Some days we simply get up and “the”
mind is in a fog. Today is one such day. We’ll see what falls on this page.
In those moments
when there is nothing much to do or to think about, I tend to reminisce about
the long passing of the years. Childhood, youthhood (huh??), adulthood, and eventually oldhood (another -huh??- please?).
Sometimes these
thoughts are full of wonderment about how we, tiny humans as we are, manage to
survive many obstacles and improbabilities. There is no certain answer to this,
but I do believe in the human capacity to survive, when the choice is made to
do so. In talking with a friend about this, he asked whether I had ever been to
a “motivational seminar”. The answer is no, I have not participated but have
listened to and watched some of those gung-ho servings of adrenalin which come
under the title “Motivational”, subtitle “send me your money”.
I have to bring
up the unasked question: Can we really go to a seminar for a few days and,
along with another thousand folks present, expect to totally change our lives
around?
Yes, these
gatherings will uplift your spirits and will -at least temporarily- awaken in
you the dormant “lion” asleep inside. The music, the jumping, the screaming,
the constant prodding by the staff people disseminated throughout the
gathering; some identifiable and some incognito. Their, and their leader’s job,
is to make sure you participate to the fullest. When closing day comes, you’ll
swear this is the greatest, your life is changed, forever. You’ll never be the
same average chump you always were. You now have a dream, a horizon, a goal. Your
money was well spent … You’re gonna kill’em!!!
Then you go back
home. To the same place, with the same people, the same job, and the same clouds… all patiently waiting for you to come back. That huge silver lining
suddenly becomes a “sliver of a glimmer”.
Am I being
negative? Even if my comments sound sarcastic, no, not really. Because this is
the moment when the chaff is separated from the wheat. When the human element,
that unknown quality or quantity comes into play.
I look at the complex
human body as a living computer with the mind creating the shifting algorithms
which make that computer function. Not the brain. The mind. The brain has the
distinction to serve as the command center for the mind.
All of us have
the capacity to react to outside stimuli. And we do. How we react, however, is
the result of our cumulative capacity to create a response pattern. We achieve
this response capacity by our accumulated experiences, including prior response
patterns developed along the way. As humans, we become creatures of habit. Culture,
childhood teachings, convenience, security, comfort zone, envelope … call it by
any name you want, these all reflect an ingrained degree of fear of the
unknown. Of real change.
The chaff and the
wheat previously mentioned? It has already been said that it is only a fool who
continues to behave in the same manner, while expecting a different result. Those
whose minds choose to alter the functioning algorithms to rise above that
perceived fear; to change and face the relative unknown in a manner different
than what was “always done”, while knowing there are no guarantees, become the golden
wheat. Those who don't? They become the chaff; the ones who witness and who complain
about someone else's success, but who are ever unwilling to assume the risk of being
different.
“Being all that you can be” An oft repeated
sentence, an expression of wishful thinking. Perhaps a bit “trite” but,
nonetheless, true. It’s not about money, it’s about the individual potential. Most of us
don’t reach that plateau in life, of being all each one can be, yet all of us
do have the potential to choose to do so. To at least try.
Where do you
fall?
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
· Pray
for those who are
fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every
request is heard, and counts!!
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