Day 2 - The Weather matches the Mood!

Yesterday was Day 2 of Wendy's holiday and it has been quite a miserable day today, raining and windy! ...Or has it?

There is a saying that every cloud has a silver lining, or if you are so inclined, every silver lining has a cloud!

How interesting? It seems to suggest that you cannot have one without the other. And if that is the case, unless we are happy to be on a rollercoaster through life, the best way is to accept the 'rough with the smooth' and make the most of what there is now - isn't it?

I once a heard a story on the radio about an old woman who had 2 daughters. One was married to the local umbrella salesman and the other (in the next village) was married to the local ice cream seller.

On hot and sunny days, the old lady had a dilemma - her daughter married to the local ice cream seller would be making lots of money and that was fantastic. "But what about my poor daughter, with no rain she will not be making any money, and she will not have enough to live on!"

On rainy and windy days, the old lady's dilemma was no better. She was really pleased that her daughter would sell numerous umbrellas to provide for her and her family. Then she thought about the other daughter "oh, how is my daughter going to sell ice cream in this weather, to provide the money to keep her family?"

Every day, regardless of the weather, the old lady was torn over how well one daughter would be doing, (and how good that was) and on the other she was worried about how the other daughter might be making ends meet.

A man was passing one day and heard her tales of woe. He listened patiently as she explained her dilemma. Once she had finished, he nodded wisely. "Old lady" he said "why are you giving yourself such a hard time? The answer is easy! When the sun is shining, be grateful that this allows your daughter to sell many ice creams and thereby build up extra funds for those 'rainy days' and when it is raining, be grateful that your other daughter is able to sell many umbrellas, allowing her to survive through the sunny spells."

The old woman looked at the man in surprise and then gave him a really big hug "Oh thank you so much, I hadn't thought of it like that! You are indeed right! Whatever the weather, one of my daughters will be making money, and I know that this will stand them in good stead for the times when they are unable to".

This story had 2 messages for me.

One is that it is possible, with just a little help from someone else, to see things from a different and possibly more positive angle and the second is that maybe, just maybe, we spend too much time complaining about our lives not being perfect, that we don't stop to appreciate what good things we do have going on. Before we know it, that time is past and we can never go back....

So what are you complaining about? Could a change of perspective help make it more acceptable?

And do you find you are constantly striving for that time when you have the money you need, the next promotion, that relaxing holiday, have children, have the children leave home (if indeed they do!)....then be careful, you may have just fallen into the age old trap of not really appreciating where you are and enjoying the ride!

If this does sound like you, then call Relish People now on 01252 783 524, to see what we can do for you, to help get life back into perspective - within 4 sessions we can make a difference!

Footnote

I have written this with a touch of personal experience - I have lived much of my life in the future, despite having a very positive outlook on life. I just thought about the changes I could make that would make life even better.

With a little help from a friend of Relishs', I was able to see how much I was not appreciating the present and the good fortune I had now. As a result, I still have one eye on the future, and the other on the present!

Further Reading: Eckhart Tolle - The Power of Now - a little tough to get to grips with, but persevere, it has some powerful messages!