I am going to put this box over your head.....

I am going to put this box over your "head" so you will not be able to "hear" us. .....we used to chant as we played a very funny trick on our college buddies who were very "high". We would hold an imaginary box in our hands and pretend to place the box over the dazed persons head and silently mouth the words when the imaginary box was over their head. "Wow that's so cool" they would always say, "how do you do that!"



Now many years later (although it seems like yesterday), as a business owner, I frequently find myself trying to put myself in that very box (minus the marijuana)! A place that is see-through but protects me from that which doesn't matter and only lets in that which does...wouldn't that be so cool!



There are so many amazing people that I have the opportunity to meet each day, so many gracious, caring and talented people that walk through our doors to work, to teach, to experience and sometimes all three. They want to learn and give back. Eyes open to making the world a better place. To transforming, to becoming better people so that they can be better parents, husbands, wives, children, employees and bosses. Although each of these people share a similar goal of finding balance and happiness, they are each unique...some are thin, some are not, some are loud and some giggle quietly, some like to write, some like to run, some like to cook, some like to hang upside down in silk and some like to just lay still and breath, each bringing something valuable to our little community.



How can I put all of them in this box with me? In our box people could grow and change too...they could respectfully be introspective, make mistakes, maybe even fall apart and then when they put them selves back together share with all of us what they have learned, so we can all possibly avoid the same mistakes or maybe just make them with more information. A place where tolerance and forgiveness live and each person has their own space (this is a very big box) to do their "thing" and do it well. Sometimes you would be the person supporting the person next to you and sometimes they would support you. In truth, eventually some people inside this box will probably leave to make their own box and when they do we will be happy to have known them, because they leave with a sense of gratitude and purpose, perhaps they create tunnels from box to box so that we can all stay connected on some level.



I do not want to imagine or dwell on those who are outside of the box, mouthing words that we can not hear because they only are judgements, not necessary, ungrateful or just plain unhelpful. Some people may listen to those outside the box..because for some reason it is more fun to believe bad things about good people, mostly to feel better about ourselves.



Ahhh, its mighty to imagine this perfect world in my box, but truth be told, I, like everyone else, spend time both in and out of the box. We fight to hold onto balance and what we think is ours. We live in fear that we wont be able to get into the box, or perhaps just cant do what it takes to be able to achieve our highest goals. We make excuses as to why we don't owe the person next to us anything and find fault in those who succeed so we can sleep better.



Even though this business owner isn't perfect, I can still try to create a box for people to come to, to find balance, goodwill, a place to fall apart and put themselves back together again, with out judgement or fear. A space for people to share their talents,perhaps fail and try again with a new twist. A place where the sky is the limit and anything with good intentions can live. I can try to set this stage and will continue this work as I just cant think of any other way I would love to make a living.....Namaste.



Life Lesson # 10 Good will, balance and happiness seem to slip away as soon as we think we can hold them...remember we can always get them back if we set our intentions to do so.



Life lesson # 11 - practice balance, goodness and happiness as often as possible - even if it is only practice because it seems to be to be so far out of reach - the more we practice it the sooner it will become habit.