I am sure that many of you have already heard this little story. I keep it posted on my refrigerator to remind me about it whenever I get to feeling depressed or overwhelmed or like running away from problems and negative experiences. Yesterday was one of those days. This morning it was the first thing I noticed. Someone, maybe the spirit of my mother, brought it to my attention because I needed to read it.
One evening and old Apache told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all "One is Evil---It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
"The other is The Spirit--It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?'
The old Apache simply replied, "The one you feed..."
ohayo gozaimasu, i had never heard that little story but how true it is. thank you for sharing. we all go through difficult times-it's just part of human nature. sometimes, as the little story says, we feed the wrong wolf and then we get even more down. although i am usually pretty happy, there are times when the slightest things set me off. i go over and over them in my head and let them get me down even further. sometimes it's just a process that i have to go through before my spirits lift again. it seems that this is what you are going through although i know that the negative comment from that person was very hurtful and difficult to deal with. however, you have seen from the many positive comments you read from those of us who enjoy your blog, that you are loved and admired and that we all hope you will continue to write. may the good wolf win ;-)
ReplyDeleteteresa in nagoya
Thank you so much Teresa.... I appreciate your feedback and also admitting that you too have times like these, times that just spiral downward. But I am better today..... I am feeling all the love from people and that helps me a lot. P
ReplyDeleteso glad you're feeling better. something that helps me a lot is starting my day with exercise. it puts me in a great mood and if i am having difficulties, it usually chases the bad wolf away. but as i said, it's a process and sometimes it just takes a while. so glad you have started to recover.
ReplyDeletehave a great week!
teresa in nagoya
Hi Teresa, Thank you so much for your concern. Yes, taking a long walk with Chico also helps. Even waking up with Chico helps. I have been so surprised by how many people have written to me about this problem. I really appreciate all the emotional support. P
ReplyDeleteI know the story of the wolves, yet hadn't heard it in awhile. Very nice to read it again. I should print it and put it on my refrigerator, too. It's one of those things that brings me front and center each time I read it. Such a good and timely reminder. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's always something throwing us off center. Always. I continue to learn to trust my middle. Well, I do trust it. Rely on it, I guess is a better way of putting it. I tend to react rather than respond, right off the cuff, and it's not the best approach. The lesson of the wolves is perfect.
I am so glad you're still here. This is your home. You have perfect right to say anything you want in your own home. Anyone dropping in is a guest, and if they have any class at all will conduct themselves as one and respect their host and the fact they are a guest in someone else's home. Anyone who doesn't is not someone I would care to call friend. I bet not many others do either.
So bless you for continuing to speak your truth.
I was so happy to find you here this afternoon.
Barbara
Thank you Barbara. I always appreciate your comments. P
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that story! Read it at a moment when I truly needed to hear it!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear...
Cuidate mucho!
Thank you for writing. I am also one of the students. Patricia
ReplyDeleteI love that tale - so wise and true. I'm going to print it out and post it on my fridge to read every day. Thanks Patricia!
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie, Thank you for writing. This tale has helped me out many times since it was given to me. Thank you and Valerie for being so kind to me when I was over there and in such a terrible state of mind. Still feeling depressed but working through it. Love, p
ReplyDeleteDear Patricia,
ReplyDeleteI live in the cold north of the US. Although I will probably will never move to Mexico. I enjoy your pictures and reading your writings. Please do not discontiue your blog.
Dan
HI Dan, Thank you so much. I need a few days away from it to think it through some more. I really appreciate people asking me to keep on writing. I will probably do it again, but I need a little time to think about it. It takes up a lot of my energy. So far I haven't found anything else to replace that amount of energy that I enjoy as much as I enjoy this blog. Thanks, P
ReplyDeleteOne anonymous person, who made one anonymous post, put you in this state of mind? You're wasting precious time that you won't ever get back by fretting over it.
ReplyDeleteKim
Hi Kim, Thanks. I guess I needed to take a little break and this just provided the opportunity for me to do that.... I spend a lot of time doing this blog. Sometimes I guess it is good to rethink things. P
ReplyDelete