Boy Advance
When my son was about 18 months old, he figured out how to open the refrigerator, a development that came to my attention one morning when I heard him give a sudden wail from the kitchen. Heart in my throat--had he burned himself? Was something broken? Was he bleeding?--I ran in and found him standing in front of the open refrigerator and holding half a cherry tomato, his face covered with juice and seeds and the flush of outrage. "It kachoo-ed at me!" he sobbed indignantly.
What a cool, fascinating deduction! Based on his limited experience--he had never eaten a tomato before, but he had, apparently, been sneezed upon--he came to a brilliant, though entirely wrong-headed, conclusion. It took me a while to convince him that the stuff I was cleaning off his face was not, in fact, tomato snot.
And so it goes. We're muddling along, all of us, making up stories and explanations for the people and events that surround us, but often we're basing those conclusions on little more than a stew of past experience, supposition, and fear. That guy at work who never says good morning thinks I'm stupid and not worth talking to. Every time I come into a little money, some unexpected expense comes up and takes it all away. This morning, I weighed 200 pounds--I'll never be able to lose weight. My husband forgot my birthday; he doesn't love me anymore.
We think it, so we believe it. And we mistake our beliefs for fact. Consider: the guy at work might be painfully shy, or socially maladjusted, or is holding his own belief that you don't like him. The universe may be providing the money you need just when you need it, instead of giving you a gift and then taking it away. It's possible that if you believed yourself capable of making healthier food choices, you would be more likely to make them, and you would lose weight. Maybe your husband didn't remember your birthday simply because he is disorganized, overwhelmed, or absent-minded.
Those are all stories, too. But they're stories that give us a way to feel good and move forward, instead of stories we use to beat ourselves up and reinforce our feelings of disconnection, victimization, anger, and fear.
So what are your stories? Why do you believe them? Can you think of other ways to look at the same set of circumstances, and to come to different conclusions? If you believed those other, better stories, how would your life--how would you--be different?
Laura McReynolds is a certified life coach specializing in "second acts," midlife course corrections, if you will, designed to help you dig deep, dream big, and find the life you were meant to live. Check out her website and blog at http://lifeworkscoaching.com/
How To Get Visual Boy Advance & The ROMs
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Scruffy little boy in a run-down shop doorway - Manchester Photo Mugs A dirty-faced little street urchin stands on the doortep of an abandoned loan shop in Hulme, Manchester. Photograph by Shirley Baker.... |
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Let Go $4.98 Self-professed skate punk Avril Lavigne sings that she'd "rather be anything but ordinary" on her debut. While the fact that she had a record deal by the age of 16 separates her from the pack, too often Let Go's lyrical shortcomings drag the teenager's musically impressive recording entrée into the realm of the typical. The catchy choruses of Go are substantial, though, thanks to Lavigne's riff-d... |
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The Three Pickers $13.21 It took a North Carolina concert for PBS's Great Performances series to get bluegrass legends Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs together for the first time. It was a celebratory occasion, and this live session, supersaturated with hot licks and down-home warmth, successfully captures the excitement of the unprecedented event. For all the assembled instrumental expertise, it is the traditi... |
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Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder $8.45 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: FATBOY SLIMTitle: GREATEST HITS: WHY TRY HARDERStreet Release Date: 06/20/2006... |
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The Paper Boy $9.99 ... |
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Annie Duke's Advanced Texas Hold 'Em Secrets - How to Beat the Big Boys (Masters of Poker) $9.98 World Renowned WSOP Tournament of Champions winner Annie Duke shares her inside secrets on how to master Texas Hold `Em. For the first time ever, Annie reveals the advanced poker strategies that have earned her millions of dollars. Learn how to "Beat The Big Boys" and compete like a true professional poker player. Go beyond the other poker videos available and get inside the mind of a World Cha... |
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Duggars Hit the Slopes $1.99 ... |
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Baby Jogger Liquid Holster $19.95 Its unique design allows it to fit on round or square tubing, which fits most strollers on the market today. The Liquid Holster is a self leveling drink holder that sways with the motion of the stroller - helping to prevent spills. Attaching the Liquid Holster is easy - just clamp it over the existing frame tube and tighten down 2 small screws. It's that simple.... |
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NUK 36 Count Advanced Dry Disposable Nursing Pads $6.69 NUK® Advanced Dry Nursing pads with Advanced Dry Technology provide extra protection without a bulky pad, the unique, webbed construction binds moisture to lock in leaks so you feel dry and confident at home, at work and on the go!... |
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Lenmar Ready-2-Go R2GAA4 1.2V 2150mAh Rechargeable NiMH AA Battery (4 -Pack) $11.99 The ready-to-go convenience of alkaline batteries plus the economy and high-performance of Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable, the R2G batteries are ready when you are - even straight out of the package. R2G batteries hold their charge up to 4X longer than standard NiMH rechargeable batteries. Perfect for both low and high-drain devices. And they work with any NiMH charger. Lenmar R2G vs. Standa... |
