"Are you blind?" she screamed, "World War III has started and
you're acting as if everything's just peachy"!, referring of
course to the current state of the world.
The subject in my dream several nights ago I am very close to
in real life. I recall replying something to the effect that
"I can understand why you think this, but the world was not
that great a place before 9/11 and the terrorist attacks
have only served as the catalyst for the positive, spiritual
changes the world needed to make anyway". Something in reality
I have said to many people.
However, she rebutted, and this is verbatim:
"You had better wake up and smell the anthrax!"
I intensely dislike nightmares, and especially those that wake
you up with a jolt like this did, but the surreal conversation
served as my own catalyst to change how I have been "existing"
since September 11. I'll explain in a moment.
You may be having trouble sleeping or having dreams, or worse,
nightmares related to the terrorist attacks and the current
state of the world. We are being told by experts that this is
perfectly normal considering the scale of the senseless
slaughter, the onslaught of biological attacks and continual
talk of more threats, even nuclear, and the overall 'crisis
coverage' bombardment in our lives day in and day out. I
certainly believe them. If you weren't concerned about
everything that is going on right now, including your own
safety, you'd have to be pretty insensitive!
However, I believe the biggest enemy we face right now is our
personal preoccupation with these world events, and, the level
of "shutdown" we've allowed into our lives as a result. Just
look around at what's happening, or better yet, not happening.
Travellers and vacationers aren't flying and the airlines and
tourist industries are in deep financial trouble. People are
avoiding public places and countless major events have been
postponed or cancelled. You could probably hurl a good sized
snowball through your local restaurants and not hit a patron.
The stock market has plummeted and businesses large and small
are beginning to fall by the wayside in droves. People just
aren't doing what they normally do and that includes spending
money enjoying themselves.
Me? I readily admit that too many people have been in my
miserable midst to hear me grumble in disgust about how slow
my Internet sales have been. Not like me at all.
But come to think of it, I haven't bought a single thing on
the Internet since September 11! Nor in any department store.
I haven't hopped on an airplane let alone ventured out to a
restaurant. I haven't attended the theatre or been to a
sporting event either. I've been sitting in my office and
running to the nearest television for 5 weeks now, stuck in
this fog, frozen, like too many people! So how could I then be
expecting people to spend money on MY products when I wasn't
buying theirs? Worse, how come I was not enjoying my life like
I normally would? Am I not part of the problem?
See, we all have been attacked by these terrorist thugs. In my
case, I let them change not only my thinking process but the
patterns in MY life! I just had to follow every breaking
story, see every related interview, stay on top of every
detail of the 'war on terrorism' and otherwise remain a slave
to the chaos these demons created. I was getting my routine
work done but that was all. I had NOT been my progressive,
creative and otherwise normal self since September 11. Partial
victory, Osama!
For some reason though, this twisted dream made me realize
that I had the option NOT to be a victim and play into the
blood stained hands of these devils on earth.
So I made some decisions. I am no longer staying tuned to the
play-by-play of the War on Terrorism. I'm going to do
something fun with my family this weekend and every weekend
thereafter. And, I AM back to work on a new project that was
"inspired" by the great tragedy of September 11. And boy
does it feel great!
I am now getting on with business and my life. Something so
many of us have to do a much better job of. When you really
think about it, being all-consumed by the events of the recent
future only plays into the hands of the thugs that are trying
to destroy all that is good in this world. Psychological
terrorism is potent and an awfully easy infection to catch but
the good news is you're a decision or two away from a cure!
Yes, we are in a war. A war of good versus evil. Right against
wrong. Love against hate. World War III? No way! We all know
who's going to win this thing and it's just a matter of time.
The same time we can be putting to use in ways that make us
contribute to the coming victory! Allowing the fear that the
terrorists have created to dominate our thinking, stop us from
living our lives normally and moving forward in our businesses
and careers is in reality hoisting the white flag to the evil
we are fighting!
We owe it to ourselves, our families, our businesses and our
free nations to get back to normal in these unnormal times.
Like, right now! May I suggest taking the family to your
favorite restaurant and a movie this weekend? How about
planning a well-deserved trip, even if by car and even if just
a weekender? Doesn't a leisurely excursion to your local mall
to treat yourself to something you've wanted for a long time
sound good? And by all means, if you have been swimming in the
same soup as I have for weeks now, make a decision to get back
to work!
I urge you to put an end to whatever level of shutdown you may
still be in. Hopefully you were more enlightened than me, and
dug out early. But if not, begin the process of "letting go"
of those things you can't control and take possession of what
you can - Your Life!
I've started that process and I can't begin to explain the
great sense of freedom I have. The same feeling I had before
that terrible day none of us will ever forget.
About the Author
Rick Beneteau is the highly-acclaimed author of 3 top-selling eBooks
guaranteed to put you on the fast track to e-success:
http://www.interniche.net/ebooks.htm