The other day I got a flat tire. Fortunately, I was only three blocks from home. Unfortunately, I had to reschedule with my client. Fortunately, it was a quiet street on a dry day and my neighbor generously offered to give me a hand. Unfortunately, the spare needed air, too, so it took longer than we thought. Fortunately, I got to the service station just fine. Unfortunately, there was a series of mistakes made at the garage and it took several hours. Fortunately, I got back on the road in time for later appointments and all is well.
How can we practice remembering that all is well, even through the “unfortunately’s” of living this human life? I notice my own tendency to worry about life’s future misfortunes that are not happening. How often have I worried about getting a flat tire? Despite having changed flats, gotten help and found a way to pay for new tires successfully in the past, the inner saboteur tells me scary tales of woe and danger. The saboteur, trying to keep me safe somehow, uses dire straits scenarios to use up my energy worrying about worse cases instead of allowing that energy free for creative endeavors. There’s no use arguing with those sabotaging thoughts; that robs me of creative power and joy, too.
Fortunately, evidence has it once again that creativity, resources and help are available to me during an “unfortunately” like a flat. And for that I can be grateful to be reminded to stop worrying.
