Gust Avarakotos…have you heard of him? Gust was pretty incredible CIA agent, basically a blue-collar version of James Bond from the 80s. I learned about him in the movie 'Charlie Wilson's War' years ago. It was a specific scene played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, depicting Gust in the movie, that really has stuck with me all these years later.
Gust and Charlie (played by Tom Hanks) are out on a balcony chatting. Gust proceeds to recite a “parable” to Charlie about a Zen master in a small village.
The story begins with a 14 year old boy that gets a horse for his birthday. The whole village exclaims how wonderful the news is. The Zen master commented, “we’ll see.“ One day, the boy is riding his horse and falls off and brakes his leg. The whole village exclaims what awful news that is! The Zen master replies, “we’ll see”. War soon breaks out and because the boy broke his leg he is not able to fight… I bet you can imagine how the village responds as well as the zen master.
How often do we quickly slap a label on an experience? It’s usually some version of that was a good experience, or that was a bad experience. We might use slightly more creative adjectives, like “ugh, that was tragic” or “how phenomenal” but usually when reduced, they would fit into the general category of either good or bad.
It must have started when we were small children. Parents are quick to categorize actions and consequences as good or bad. We warn our sweet little toddlers, “if you touch a hot stove, you’ll get burned and that is bad”. Or later in life, if you get straight A’s, you will be successful and that is good.”
Our brains love simplicity. What is more simple than duplicity? This system worked so well and was so effective that we carried it into our adult lives. If you make these types of choices...have these beliefs...avoid these actions...then you are good. Anyone that chooses otherwise is bad.
What if it isn't that simple though? What if there is a field of grey between good and bad whether it be people or experiences. So many times I have followed a course thinking one thing will happen and something entirely different unfolds.
Nearly seven year ago now, I studied to become a health coach. When entering into this path I assumed I would be practicing health coaching for a long time maybe the rest of my life. Sidenote: I also thought that when I became a massage therapist and when I studied molecular biology in college. Here's what actually happened. I realized fairly quickly into my health coaching career that I did not enjoy it. People do not like to be told what to eat even if they are paying me to do just that. I also learned something about myself. I take on other peoples pain. I am what is called a physical empath. (One of my secrets...shhh) Maybe I will share that story on a different day.
Anyway, I loved supporting people on their healing journey and knew that I could no longer do 'hands on' healing or one-on-one work. What revealed itself? Herbal medicine and healing with teas. Wild Sage Tea Company was born. It was quite perfect, actually, not only was I able to play around with herbs and heal some of my own health issues, I was also able to formulate blends that would help others feel better too.
Now, I feel like a new path is emerging. Things have been unfolding quickly once I declared to the universe that I am ready. The mountains have been calling my soul and I am ready to lean into trust and many unknowns.
On my way out to Colorado this winter break, I asked for clarity on the timeline of when I would be moving to Colorado. Would it be in a year, once my daughter graduated from 8th grade? Or perhaps in five years, once she graduated from high school. I remember thinking "if I am supposed to stay out there in January, I would do that."
We packed the car up with my family including my two kiddos and two fur babies and way too many snacks. I pulled out of the driveway at 5am. It was foggy and I remember wondering if it was often foggy in the mornings because I rarely was awake this early.
What I didn't expect was for the fog to continue through Kansas where it turned into heavy rain and then snow to the point where I-70 disappeared on us. I remember thinking somewhere through Illinois that this fog was symbolic to where I was in life. All I had was information to get me 20 feet ahead of me. My job was to continue driving and trusting. The rest would reveal itself in time.
Question: is there something in your life right now that is unclear? Or has something occurred that you are trying to clump into either good or bad? What would happen instead if you thought…We'll see...
Comentarios