Last
time I promised you I’d explain what I mean by transformation. So let’s get
that out of the way right now so we can move on to other things. When I speak of transformation,
I’m speaking of a change in nature or character that begins “internally” with
words and thoughts, but then begins to manifest itself in actual behavior. Transformation happens when people cross
Significant Bridges. Here are a
few examples:
·
Hobblestone observed the cat, thought about it,
crossed the Flexibility Bridge and
stopped throwing tantrums when he didn’t get what he wanted.
·
Hobblestone’s uncle thought about a lot of
things that made him able to cross the Leap
into the Unknown Bridge which eventually got him to Topeka, where he’s
done quite well for himself. And he has very good health insurance which paid
for his kidney stone problem.
·
Virgil crossed the It’s Okay To Say if We Just Stay Friends bridge and stopped
dating Lucindaso he could finally cross the Pam
Bridge. Virgil’s mother, on the other hand, continued thinking that she
knew what was best for her son (=marrying Lucinda) and didn’t cross any bridges
at all.
·
I thought about how much I loved my buddy’s
beagle, crossed the “Don’t Get Mad at the
Stupid Mutt Who Doesn’t Know Any Better”
Bridge and didn’t get angry when the dear doggy made off with another
one of my socks.
·
Mamma Buttons (you haven’t met her yet) did a
lot of thinking about folks over 70, noticed which ones were still brightening
up the world and which ones gave up and grew bitter. She underwent a Tranformation, went out to volunteer at
the local methadone clinic, and became a beloved “grandmother figure” by one
and by all, addicts and non-addicts, policemen, social workers, doctors,
nurses, and her 19 grandchildren. She also became a “class grandmother” for
Pam’s class at the Hobblestone Elementary School where she grew very adept at
recognizing children who were victims of abuse. But that’s another story all
together. (And now you’ve met Mamma Buttons, and might I point out that you had
no idea you’d be meeting her when you started reading this blog entry. We never
know what’s coming up, we never really know).
Note
also that a lot of people never cross any bridges because they refuse to
examine the way they think, no matter how much the facts show them that they
are mistaken. For them, facts don’t matter; Transformation
is impossible. This happens especially in politics and in religion.
There’s also a saying about non-transformation that’s been floating around in
different forms. Here’s one version: “If you keep thinking the way you’re
thinking, what you’re going to end up with is what you have.” Be warned, my
friends. Be very warned.
So give
yourself a quick check to see how you’re doing on the Transofrmation scale:
How
has your thinking changed in a way that is affecting your attitudes and
behaviors? Are you crossing bridges, or a you still stuck on an island that
keeps getting smaller and smaller as time goes on?
Heady stuff, I know. If it doesn’t
make any sense to you, don’t worry about it. You’re probably not ready for it
yet.
Rule # 147: We can only learn what we’re ready to learn; we can
only understand what we’re ready to understand. If you don’t understand this,
you’re not ready. Just relax.
Now I
certainly don’t know what you’re ready for or not, and that’s the way it should
be. After all, even if I did know who you are I still could only take a guess
at what you’re ready for since basically you are a Mystery to me. So I’m going to stop this entry now and we’ll
talk more about Transformation some
other time.
Until
then, think about these things. Don’t, however, concern yourself with any of
the following: 1)” No child left behind”
and the damage it has done; 2) mind-altering drugs; 3) What the night life in
Topeka is like.
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