Today I was out for a walk early in the morning, when the sun was only beginning to come up. As I walked down a street there was a car, idling, waiting for a passenger to come from the home. I went over to the window and the gentleman put the window down. I asked him if he knew that NY has a 3 minute idling law, and he smiled and said that he had just turned the car on and that the light in the front hall of the home indicated that the passenger was coming out. I thanked him for his care for the environment, and he smiled and said good day.
On the next street I encountered the same situation. I went to the car, and this driver hesitantly opened the window a quarter of the way. He did not smile, he looked at me with suspicion and apprehension. I asked if he knew of the idling law and he shook his head, indicating that he was not interested. I thanked him for caring for the environment and he hurriedly put the window up, continuing with the unhappy expression and the idling.
A moment later I broke out laughing! All of the teachings were there. It isn’t what happens to us in life that will define us, but how we handle what happens to us in life. We can approach life like an open book, ready for new words and new stories, or we can approach life with fear of the unknown and defensive of our position.
Embrace each moment with the freshness of a puppy at a fire hydrant! Embrace the you waiting to be experienced! Be an open book and let others share in the joy of reading you!
Shanthi