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Time moves forward and there is conflict. Conflict with the joy of change. Conflict with the pain of change.
Things change always, and always there is conflict.
I’ve enjoyed the time spent watching the wonderful people of Sedona
and regurgitating my observations into this column. For the most
part, you are a loving, open people trying to walk the path of
a higher road.
It’s a fictional book about people searching for their heaven
and the roads they take to get there. I’m co-writing this book
with my cousin and friend, James Howell. James’ creativity, imagination
and light have inspired me for some time now.
Before I go, I got a few things to say.
In the opening paragraph I spoke of conflict. You see, I don’t
particularly want to stop writing Synicus, but I do have other
fires which need tending. Suddenly, conflict rears its ugly head.
I saw a friend of mine on these matters. She’s a wonderful lady
who looks for the good in people. She speaks of her love for animals,
and how the gentle, and cloudy spirit. While playing her fiddle,
she smiles and openly admits that she’s not very good. However,
anyone listening will tell you she’s great. People feel the love
she puts into her music. Although life hasn’t dealt her a perfect
hand, she still talks more about what those around her need than
what she needs. With her quick smile, easy laugh, and kind nature,
this lady strikes me as being terribly unselfish.
Since I was feeling selfish about wanting to write my book, I
told her my dilemma and asked for her advice.
She said, "Oh, that’s just brussel sprouts."
To me, brussel sprouts are like hot dogs. Hot dogs are bits and
pieces from various animals that are so bad, they can’t even make
dog food out it. Likewise, I suspect brussel sprouts are made
by a farmer who scrapes his fields then mixes whatever he has
scraped plus green glue and sawdust to make a product which is
confused for a vegetable by the unsuspecting public.
I asked her, "What do you mean, brussel sprouts?"
She said, "You’ve made this decision of yours into a huge obstacle.
It’s become a wall of guilt you must climb over. Kind of silly
when you think about it. Let me tell you something very important,"
she whispered.
I stared at her in disbelief. "No," I almost shouted. "I don’t
know. I suppose you feed them brussel sprouts to make them happy—how
the hell should I know. I want to talk about my decision to write
the book."
"Your column makes people smile. Your book will make people happy.
It’s a win-win situation. Listen, when something seems too big
for you to handle or understand, just see it as a big pile of
brussel sprouts. The sprouts won’t cause you guilt and stress
and anxiety. In the end your decision isn’t terribly important
because you’ll still get where you’re going."
Even now, the standard Sedona conversation is confusing and frightening
to me. I thought about her words for a time and came to the conclusion
that she was right. Most decisions are just brussel sprouts which
we turn into walls of unpleasant feelings.
Decisions shouldn’t make us stressed-out or pissed off.... But
like brussel sprouts, it’s okay if they make us a little nauseated
from time to time.
Until we meet again.... |