Ever wonder what stories you’re telling yourself? Look around at your reality, and like me, you’ll know your stories. We are our stories, whether they dwell on politics, the economy, kindness, positivity, or something else. All of us see what we expect to see, and miss most everything else.
Let me tell you how a cat up a tree shredded some of my current stories on people in general and neighbors in particular. My one-eyed stunted cat went missing around noon last Saturday. I could hear him crying but couldn’t find him anywhere and searched into the night, finally sending an email to my neighbor group asking for help.
By 7:00 a.m. Sunday one neighbor was out helping me search, three others came (people whose faces I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t recognize) as well as three policemen who were dispatched and three firemen. One guy found Nala in a pine 60 feet in the air, and by 9:30 I had woken up a tree company guy who showed up by noon, jumped in his truck’s bucket and rescued my very tired cat.
Everyone was kind, several others emailed to check the status of Nala. All of this made me think of the stories I’ve been telling myself about the uncaring nature of most people these days. When given the smallest opportunity to help they showed up in droves, and no one asked my political tendencies or thoughts on climate change or global economy. They just came to help. Rescuing a cat in a pine may be a small thing, but it’s indicative (according to my new stories) of the kindness of strangers when given half a chance to respond. It makes me wonder what stories all of us might begin to change?
May all your stories this holiday season include kindness, generosity and tolerance, and may you create and enjoy incredible stories in the coming year.
