My Coach
The other day my coach said he had become aware, of his lack of self awareness, about being self aware. I had to chew on that for awhile. Let me see…I’m not being self aware. Is that like getting my head out of my phone or being aware of my mental and physical sensations? A good friend of mine says “Up Yours”…and I’m thinking no fella, “Up Yours”…and know he’s talking about “Awareness”. Up Your “Awareness”.
My Coach said, “if you have no awareness, you have no chance”. I’ll say that again, “If you have no awareness, you have no chance.” That could apply to crossing the street, to having blinders on at the ATM, to signing contracts, to texting while driving, or a myriad of other life situations. I connect awareness to being “mindful”, mindfully aware of the present moment, as to where I’m at, what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, where I’m going. Now apply this to personal safety. What is happening around me? My Coach say’s to “always choose safety”. Lets see…It’s 3 in the morning, I’m in a shady neighborhood, drunk, I think I’ll walk alone down this dark unlit street. That’s not choosing safety. And then you get mugged, beaten, robbed, raped, murdered. Remember bad guys only want one of three things….your Property, your Body or your Life. Always choose safety.
No Accidents
We humans are prone to using the “accident” clause. It was an accident. I’ve heard it said “there are no accidents”. If we stop and ask ourselves…what happened before the ”accident”, and before that, and before that, and before that – we’ll more than likely be able to trace it back to somehow…not being “mindful” of the moment (our heads were somewhere else) and in that moment we didn’t “choose safety” by being mindful of where we were at, what we were doing and what was going on. We weren’t paying attention and then something happened. And then looking at “what part we played”, in that “accident”, is another way to look at taking responsibility for ourselves, our thoughts, words, actions and choices. I’m reminded of what a good friend said. “We have to take responsibility for the choices we make or don’t make in life, and then become willing to suffer the consequences of those choices”. Which again is becoming mindful and aware of our thoughts, words and actions.
INSTINCT – INTELLIGENCE – INTUITION
People who have had a bad experience and lived to tell the tale, in all cases said, “I had a bad feeling before that happened”, and rationalized and dismissed that intuitive feeling in their heads as being fearful or paranoid. How many of you ever had that “intuition” that something bad was about to happen…kind of a crazy weird feeling isn’t it. Some call it premonition. Like going to open a door and get a magnetic eery feeling and dismiss it, instead of acknowledging that feeling. I know premonition exists. I’ve experienced it on several occasions. A personal story. When I was 16 employed as an usher at the RKO theatre in downtown Denver, one of my duties was to change the marquee (thats the whats showing sign for those unfamiliar) and the letters were stored in the dark scary basement. Yes back then we had to spell it all out. The RKO was huge, a block square, and the access door to the basement where the letters were stored, was located behind the screen. So during the movie, I walk down the aisle, go backstage behind the screen. Its dark, without a flashlight, and the only light from the projector portraying images on the screen. To access the basement I had to go through a metal door leading downstairs. The light switch was on the stairway wall behind the door. To turn on the light, you had to open the door, reach around in the dark and find the switch. I put my hand on the handle, instantly had the strangest, weirdest feeling of fear and danger. I said to myself, now thats crazy, I’m just being afraid to go to the basement, don’t be a scaredy cat, so I open the door and in the dark stand two bodies. Whoa. Freak out. So from that day forward I started listening to my inner voice, my guide, my intuition. Always Choose Safety.
NEED A HAT, DONUT, WATER TOY, BRACELET, ICE CREAM…
These are a few of my favorite things. And while you’re at the beach, they magically come to you. Amazing. There you are and look up…want a donut? How about an ice cream, or a hat…yes a hat.
Pick your hat, water toy and beach.
Okay I’ll leave you with this. Have yourself a wonderful day. Remember, today is a gift, thats why they call it the present. If you enjoy this Sunday Yogiism blog, share with your friends and family. Your comments and place to receive the weekly inspiration below. Remember….always “Choose Safety”.
The ‘No Accidents’ part was interesting. Being in law enforcement, there are no ‘accidents’ but prior events that cause something to happen. That brings to mind the recent ‘accident’ by Tiger Woods, who seems to have a dark cloud following him around like the cartoon character in the old ‘Lil Abner’ comic strip – Joe Blzxfits. We don’t know exactly what happened, but even the Sheriff/Police Chief interviewed on TV said it was ‘just an accident’. Don’t think so.
As always so enjoyable my brother
Always spot on Charles! Thanks
Thanks Brother Ron – Glad you enjoyed the read.