Power Of A Positive Focus

“It is like a fog and the clear wind blows it away and the sun burns it off.”

- Ernest Hemingway

Fog rolling in over the N. California coastline from my motorcycle trip (day 9).

Getting ready for bed I realized I no longer had my license or credit card in my pocket.  Ugh!  Planning on leaving town the next day on my motorcycle for the city, I was starting to experience WORRY.

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The story in emails the following day between myself and the friend I was staying with:

“Any luck on your license/cc? – K”

My response:

Hey Darlin!  I went into Howard’s and sat eating breakfast, moving my energy from a shade of “gloom” about “losing” something important to me toward a more positive focus (I know worry doesn’t do a body mind good).  I ate.  I appreciated the super cheery waitress, colorful interior, and sun shining in.  I read some…looking for some thoughts that would help me feel better.  Refocusing.  The word “harmony” came to mind, and the idea that nothing can really “upset” my feeling of harmony unless I let it.  Do I let this rock my boat?  How do I respond when rocked?  How do I continue to enjoy the ride…even the rocking?  I walked outside the restaurant not sure where to go or look next.  I started walking across town, all 3 blocks of it.  I thought, you know, today I want to be happy and that is the most important thing.  So, whatever I find, I want to be happy.  I said this to myself with certainty and noticed it felt good.  I walked toward my motorcycle…enjoying little Occidental, CA…worry burning away like fog.  I packed up my bike and then decided one more check inside the Bohemian Market.  I asked the woman at the counter, who said she hadn’t seen my missing items, but suggested that I retrace all of my steps.  She went on, “Once after two weeks I found my son’s shoe on the side of the highway.  My husband is always, ‘bah humbug it’s gone for ever!’ and I always know I’ll find things eventually.”  I realized I had only retraced half of my steps.  So, I walked passed the only bar in town and down toward the Bistro.  The Bistro was closed, but I found the bathroom door open and checked there…nothing.  I walked around the back, my gut told me to keep exploring this possibility.  I found another open door, the chef that I had remembered from the night before was making bread in the kitchen.  He smiled and said, “I’m so glad you’ve come!”  He disappeared around the corner as I got ready to jump up and hug him.  He said he came in to work that morning and saw something sticking out of the fall leaves on the patio…my cards and $3!  Yeah!!  I asked him his name and to take his picture, a stretch for a shy chef, he asked how we enjoyed the food last night, gave me some local knowledge about beautiful roads to ride, and we said goodbye.  I walked back into Bohemian Market to thank my other angel, the woman at the check out!  She and I gave high fives and laughed and shared other stories of finding things almost “magically!”  Magic or a mindset?  She slowed to a turtle’s pace packing up a customer’s groceries, but the woman waiting seemed to glow as she heard our story.  Another guy in line chimed in, the one with the old Robin’s egg farm truck packed with four happy looking dogs.  Outside, he came over to admire my bike after his truck wouldn’t start, to which he didn’t seem concerned, he just casually rolled it into a spot until he could get a jump.

What happens when we stay calm and committed to having a good day?

Can I roll with it all, enjoy the fog and the knowing that the sun comes again?  I remembered today that it’s not “what” happens that is most important to me, it’s how I “feel” in the experience.

PRACTICE IDEA:  Say, “Today I want to see some evidence of harmony in myself, in everything and everyone.”  If you want a place to look first, look at anything in nature where harmony and beauty abound effortlessly.