Hmmm... SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POST FEELS A LITTLE SCREWY ... first of all, I can't delete the space between the title and my first line.
Secondly, if the first part of this post has already been published, I apologize for repeating myself.
On the other hand, these points make so much sense that if you've read it, before, I hope you'll read it, again. If you choose not to reread it, I hope you'll scroll down, because significant points about my mom and dad have been added at the end. So here we go:
If you've ever wondered how tower vision differs from tunnel vision, then this is your lucky day.
Let's take tunnel vision first: I visualize a person stuffed into a tunnel, crawling forward, gathering clues in the dark. And while crawling forward, eyes remain focused on a glimmer of light, which signals the end of confusion, ahead.
Ultimately, the day will dawn when that glimmer of light expands into a beam of light, highlighting a deeply sought after Aha! moment. At that moment, the tunnel expands; the crawler stands up and hungrily devours the smorgasbord of logic that pours into his or her mind. Tunnel crawlers tend to be bookish.
On the other hand, here's how I visualize life amongst tower dwellers:
First, imagine egos, wearing blinders, balancing precariously atop sky-high pedestals. Next imagine a safety net, grounded in reality, encircling each pedestal. Now picture this safety net being held secure by many loving hearts.
Unfortunately, no matter how caringly these hearts coax the tower dweller to take a leap of faith, every word of encouragement falls on ears too fearful of change to hear. You see tower dwellers can't break the spell of self imprisonment until the blame game est finis. In short, logic speaks to deaf ears.
First, imagine egos, wearing blinders, balancing precariously atop sky-high pedestals. Next imagine a safety net, grounded in reality, encircling each pedestal. Now picture this safety net being held secure by many loving hearts.
Unfortunately, no matter how caringly these hearts coax the tower dweller to take a leap of faith, every word of encouragement falls on ears too fearful of change to hear. You see tower dwellers can't break the spell of self imprisonment until the blame game est finis. In short, logic speaks to deaf ears.
While frightened brains blame others for devastating changes, spongy brains bounce here and there, hoping to meet others half way. As a frightened brain exists within a narrow frame of mind, it's train of thought keeps circling round and round. So rather than bouncing from here to there, it grows ever more brittle and resistant to change, over time.
Before any person can embrace a leap of faith and fly free of fear, we must each cast off the heavy weight of our ego's protective shields. Expunging fear of change is difficult to do unless we place pride to one side and own up to our vulnerabilities—truthfully. Once the heavy weight of false pride is set aside, we fly toward freedom on humility's wings. In this way do couples-at-war hug, kiss, make up and fly toward the future, hand in hand.
Before any person can embrace a leap of faith and fly free of fear, we must each cast off the heavy weight of our ego's protective shields. Expunging fear of change is difficult to do unless we place pride to one side and own up to our vulnerabilities—truthfully. Once the heavy weight of false pride is set aside, we fly toward freedom on humility's wings. In this way do couples-at-war hug, kiss, make up and fly toward the future, hand in hand.
Tis true that the higher we climb the farther we fall, so both minds must feel secure enough to discard false masks. Minds, which grow spongy enough to absorb insights, rebound from a serious plunge with a bounce.
For example, I remember one time when my parents were in their late eighties, and my mom was bouncing new ideas off my dad, which caused our beloved patriarch mind to ache. When Dad voiced his frustration by declaring, "I'm too old to change!" here was Mom's spunky reply:
For example, I remember one time when my parents were in their late eighties, and my mom was bouncing new ideas off my dad, which caused our beloved patriarch mind to ache. When Dad voiced his frustration by declaring, "I'm too old to change!" here was Mom's spunky reply:
"Well, you may be too old to change, but I'm not dead, yet!"
Way to go, Mom!
When Dad asked for my opinion about changes taking place in Mom, I smiled, hugged him close, and gently said: I think Mom is being influenced by the 'younger' generation—namely—Lauren and me. Though Dad took pride in his adult daughters' independent minds, his perspective narrowed when the ideas of my generation hit too close to his home. :-)
It's scary for tower dwellers to remove their blinders, because no one wants to see the narrow limitations of one's own scope. Had Dad been able to take that leap of faith, he's pride in Mom's courage would have shone bright. And if I take the liberty of paraphrasing Mom's attitude of moving forward and thriving over surviving, here's what I believe she'd say: Life offers people of all ages and both genders countless opportunities to open their minds and embrace self-empowering leaps of faith.
In addition to showering our family with love, Dad showed his children how to adventure past certain fears.
In addition to showering our family with love, Mom showed her children how to fly free of constraint on humility's wings.
It's scary for tower dwellers to remove their blinders, because no one wants to see the narrow limitations of one's own scope. Had Dad been able to take that leap of faith, he's pride in Mom's courage would have shone bright. And if I take the liberty of paraphrasing Mom's attitude of moving forward and thriving over surviving, here's what I believe she'd say: Life offers people of all ages and both genders countless opportunities to open their minds and embrace self-empowering leaps of faith.
In addition to showering our family with love, Dad showed his children how to adventure past certain fears.
In addition to showering our family with love, Mom showed her children how to fly free of constraint on humility's wings.
Lucky Lauren. Lucky me.
So if Dad's heart and spirit had matched Mom's, then why did our beloved patriarch take offense at having been challenged when our beloved matriarch needed to test her wings?
Well during times of conflict, good people of both genders and all ages take turns being—tunnel crawlers, tower dwellers, safety nets—and rebels.
In truth, real life is fraught with as much conflict as any reality show on TV. So, Mom could no longer follow the script, which make Dad's comfort zone feel secure. In short, having listened to changes taking place in her daughters' generation, Mom's expanded sense of self respect insisted that she speak her mind differently than she had in the past. As you can imagine, Mom's new attitude did not sit well with: The Papa! The Papa! Tradition!
After all, my parents were in their eighties when changes, which made sense to the 'younger' generation, began to 'speak' to Mom. And when one accepts change while the other does not—emotional combustion matches the finale on the Fourth of July.
*While struggling with comfort zones and combustible emotions, twelve year old kids have no clue about tunnelers, towerers, subconscious insecurities, and creating safety nets in which to catch each other's unexpected leaps of faith. So back in the alley, Joseph has no clue that his caressing gesture of deepening affection and his comment about the softness of Annie's hair has blown his friend's mind in much the same way as my Mom's comments concerning changes, which had grown in importance to her, had blown my Dad's confidence. I remember him saying: Your mother's so feisty, I don't feel like 'the man' of the house, anymore.
When our minds are blown, basic instincts kick in, logic tunes out, and ...
Well during times of conflict, good people of both genders and all ages take turns being—tunnel crawlers, tower dwellers, safety nets—and rebels.
In truth, real life is fraught with as much conflict as any reality show on TV. So, Mom could no longer follow the script, which make Dad's comfort zone feel secure. In short, having listened to changes taking place in her daughters' generation, Mom's expanded sense of self respect insisted that she speak her mind differently than she had in the past. As you can imagine, Mom's new attitude did not sit well with: The Papa! The Papa! Tradition!
After all, my parents were in their eighties when changes, which made sense to the 'younger' generation, began to 'speak' to Mom. And when one accepts change while the other does not—emotional combustion matches the finale on the Fourth of July.
*While struggling with comfort zones and combustible emotions, twelve year old kids have no clue about tunnelers, towerers, subconscious insecurities, and creating safety nets in which to catch each other's unexpected leaps of faith. So back in the alley, Joseph has no clue that his caressing gesture of deepening affection and his comment about the softness of Annie's hair has blown his friend's mind in much the same way as my Mom's comments concerning changes, which had grown in importance to her, had blown my Dad's confidence. I remember him saying: Your mother's so feisty, I don't feel like 'the man' of the house, anymore.
When our minds are blown, basic instincts kick in, logic tunes out, and ...
The only brain signals left to 'speak' during times of emotional upheaval are: fight, flee, or freeze. As you shall soon see, this Jack-in-the-box response is an aspect of reality that both genders would be wise to get a handle on—at every stage of life.
As Annie's mind will not conjure up THE LINE OF CONTROL until she's raising a family of her own, you'll witness lots of basic instincts leaping out between loved ones as my blog unfolds. You see, emotion stuffed deep inside, does not disappear. Emotion coils up. And just like a fully cranked Jack in the box ...
And it's really hard for people on both sides to heal (for real) from 3rd degree burns.
As Annie's mind will not conjure up THE LINE OF CONTROL until she's raising a family of her own, you'll witness lots of basic instincts leaping out between loved ones as my blog unfolds. You see, emotion stuffed deep inside, does not disappear. Emotion coils up. And just like a fully cranked Jack in the box ...
As inner pressure builds and fully cranked minds burst open, there's no telling what may pop out of our mouths.
Therefore, if two fully cranked minds burst open, at once and if there's no telling what will pop out of two mouths—then it's smart to run for cover, because—you can bet your boots that Kettles, boiling over are bound to crash, head on, with Boiling Pots!And it's really hard for people on both sides to heal (for real) from 3rd degree burns.
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