My grandson had to have some embedded splinters removed from his hand. As adults we know that any foreign object that is lodged under the skin can become infected and create more sever problems in the long run as opposed to enduring a little pain and discomfort in the short run.
As this little powerhouse needed to be constrained by two adults, screamed and cried his big sister (the comforter) kept chanting - it's OK. It's going to me OK. But for him, nothing could have been further from the truth. And, since he will not have to endure a more severe procedure in the future nor take antibiotics in order to cure an infection, he will not know what potential harm he was spared from.
Isn't that scenario so true of many of us - adults? Consider people who pray, and wish, and dream to become rich one day - but they never take the basic step of simply managing their money well today. No matter how much their banker, friends and family members plead with, encourage, and flat out tell them to get their financial house in order, they continue to spend frivolously until they come face to face with their folly. On the contrary, those who do take hold of and exercise the sound advice they were given in this area endured quite a bit of discomfort and perhaps embarrassment as they denied themselves nice things and decadent pleasures. Yet, in a few months or years when their spending is under control, their priorities in order; and their bank accounts and investment portfolios are padded - they are very happy that they took hold to the sound advice and are able to live comfortable joyous lives - free from the burdens and misery of poverty.
One more common example is that of people who refuse to become self or formally educated. Yet, they want to be the judge and jury over the changes that takes place in people they know who do elevate themselves to a higher standard of life or a better quality of living. When you pay a price or suffer in some way to achieve what you want in life it does change you. You do become a better, more knowledgeable person. The real shame is in being stagnant in life and letting your mind and body atrophy.
Akin to the former are cases where we know what is or isn't good for us but we indulge in what isn't anyway. I, for example, know that my body has a low tolerance for caffeine. But, I LOVE coffee and tea. (I can take or leave chocolate.) Ahhh but a hot caffeinated beverage in the morning is, to me, like a beautiful melody is to a soul in love. Exquisite, perfect, invigorating, expressive, refreshing, soulful.... Every time I yield to the temptation to drink more than two or three cups of a scintillating caffeine laced nectar a week, I regret it for several weeks.
I hope I remember this scenario for all times and that it will be an effective barrier to my ignoring sound advice and/ or indulging in things that I know are not good for me in the future. A thought provoking, effective memory jogger just may be the thing you kneed to avoid potentially hazardous situations too. Please feel free to use my example.
In joy,
Andrea
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