*“A little child was playing one day with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best, but all in vain. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now, my son, make one more try. Open your hand all the way and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull.”
To his astonishment, the little fellow said, “O no, father. I couldn’t put my fingers out like that, because if I did, I would drop my penny.”
*Story from “Top 100 Motivational Stories: The Best Inspirational Short Stories and Anecdotes of All Time”
What are you holding on to that is holding you back? Are you holding on to bitterness, regret, unmet expectations, anger at someone who wronged you? If you are working in the field of education, perhaps you are haunted by thoughts of how much money you could be making in a different profession or perhaps what you thought your job would be like. Or as a parent, are you haunted by your dreams of what you imagined your family would look like? I’ve been there. Trust me when I tell you that those thoughts will infect and rot much of the good work you are prepared to do and enjoyment you can have, both at work and at home. C.S. Lewis once wrote: “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” There is happiness and fulfillment waiting on the other side when we let go in order to move ahead. Now I must admit that my inner cynic is protesting – “But Rick, are you really telling people that they should lower their expectations?!” To which I would respond -“….not really, rather, what I’m suggesting is that we all ought to be thoughtful when setting and/or when changing expectations, not necessarily lowering them.” Legendary basketball coach John Wooden is credited with saying it this way: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
Until next time….Laugh a Lot, Love a Lot, and Have an Excellent Edventure!
