Monday morning started the way it normally does in our house. I got up a few minutes earlier than my partner. I got the newspapers in and turned on CBC newsworld. My husband went to make the coffee. Making the coffee means pressing a button. I was reading the news feed at the bottom of the screen when I read something truly shocking and let out a loud, "NOOOOOOOO." My partner came running in and asked what was happening with Trump and I said, it's worse, "Ex-Bridgewater Mayor convicted of sexual assault." "NOOOOOOO", he said. It was a bitter-sweet moment. On one hand, we were in sync, on the other hand, something bigger was at stake. Both of us have started believing that Bridgewater, Nova Scotia is the happiest place on Earth. Hearing anything remotely negative about this place was shattering. I have to explain. One of my childhood friends moved there almost a year ago. I had not previously heard of this paradise but everything she posts makes me believe in utopia. Right now, she is posting pictures of the fall colours. Amazing. How are there so much foliage so close to the ocean. Yes, she basically lives a five minute walk from the ocean and she takes her perfect dog there almost every day. Even when there is wind or rain, it is break-takingly peaceful. She posts pictures of fresh seafood that make me salivate all day. In the summer, the wide variety of postcard perfect plants that just "popped up" in her yard were so beautiful. Her home, her business, just an oasis. Everything she posts looks like the best thing in the world. She goes to a farmer's market and gets blueberry grunt, I am jealous for a week. Everything looks perfect. I tell her I am sick of looking at her posts but it isn't true. (However, it is true that a few times I have felt like throwing my laptop across the room after looking at some of her more "you've got to be kidding me" posts) I totally look forward to seeing more Bridgewater. I have been convinced that it is the most perfect spot on the planet. In fact, I think it is so perfect, I am too scared to go there just in case it isn't true. In reality, I need Bridgewater to be perfect. I need to know there is one place where life is perfect. Life seems to be getting more difficult and more complicated. It is difficult out there. I need to hold on to a little vision of greatness existing. A world where everyone respects everyone and is kind. For me, that place is Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
Your perception determines your reality.
You see, Bridgewater is not the only way my friend has got me under her spell. She is also obsessed with tacos. I believe she is the coolest person ever so I want to be more like her. So, Taco Tuesday and whenever I am having a bad day, I am just as likely to crave taco as I am a perogy.
In reality, my friend may have the odd problem in her life. But, I don't believe it because my perception has determined my reality. She posts something every now and then about lousy access to medical care but I just ignore those. My reality is that Bridgewater is utopia.
It is the old glass half full, half empty kind of thing. It is a clique because it is true. Have you ever watched a movie that you thought was hilarious only to watch it again and think there is not a single thing funny in here.
The first time I watched A Clockwork Orange, I thought it was a brilliant commentary on society. I recommended it highly to a friend and took her to see it. We left less than half way into it, Clearly, I was in an accepting mood when I watched it the first time, and the second time was in an entirely different mind set. Same movie. Two different reactions from the same person.
It is your perception that determines your reality.
A few years ago, a girlfriend of mine lost an incredible amount of weight. She was always beautiful and now she was even more stunning, except she didn't think so. She confided in me that she felt she lost her "sparkle". She only lost some of her confidence. When she was overweight, she felt she needed to attract people because of her personality, so she made a point of "shining" and drawing people to her. She stopped "working it" when she lost weight. She eventually found a way to be drop dead gorgeous while still having her sparkle. Yes, real world problems. The point is that she hadn't changed in our eyes, she had changed in her eyes and her perception formed her reality.
There is an old saying that if you look for what is wrong, you will find it. If you are looking for what is right, you will find that.
If you truly don't like your reality, start with challenging and changing some of your perceptions.
Start with graditude. Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the simplest ways to improve your perceptions and your health.
#Begrateful.
Very well written!
ReplyDeleteI take time every day to to thank my creator for the miracles in my life!
From recovery from prostate cancer in 2003 to living with spinal cancer there have been many days of feelinh grateful.
Through daily walking and proper nutrition,encouragement from a freind and family the pain killers are now on the back shelf!
Prayers and positivity work wonders!