"A Non-Toothache is Very Pleasant"

I am reading this book and it is changing my life....I will be seeing Thich Nhat Hanh in October (thanks Molly) and have listened to him on CD (thanks again Molly) and everytime I think or hear the word "happy", I hear his voice, "you will be very happy".

My lack of mindfulness the other day caused me to almost run a pedestrian over. He wasn't really a pedestrian, he was doing landscaping on the rotary in my town..standing on the brick (where we are not supposed to drive) blowing leaves, etc. He couldn't hear my car because of that and the fact that I drive a Prius, that when in battery mode is silent. I was maneuvering the circle, attempting to make a call, something on the radio, etc. Never even saw him until I was about 2 inches from him. I slammed my brakes, he looked up...and I was horrified. Apologized profusely, he was very gracious and I continued on my way....shook up. Needless to say this was the same day that I experienced the shoplifting incident. Or was it???

In the BB story Acceptance is the Answer,,,,as I discussed in an earlier post....it says "if you focus on the problem the problem increases..if you focus on the answer, the answer increases." I believe by writing, by asking for help, by praying, I focused on the answer and I believe the answer came. When I sat alone with it, for that first day...I was focusing on the problem and almost killed someone (well , that may be a bit of exaggeration but you get my point.)

I consulted 2 elders of the group, just as the business meeting was commencing Saturday. And one of them said..."How do you know?" "You cannot judge." "How do you know she did not pay for it later?" "How do you know she did not put it back?" I cannot know this unless I ask her and that would have to be done very delicately, since I did not do it in that moment. It is not uncommon for people to leave notes for the bookstore manager about purchases they intend to make or return to pay for something. I have done it as has this elder I consulted. She asked..if it had been me..what would you have thought? I would not have assumed shoplifting. So yes, I was judging. She also suggested that I not blur the line between my membership of the AA group and my role as volunteer of the bookshop. In other words, sure if someone approaches me and asks if they can pay for something because they know I can ring it up, do it...but to actually announce, the book store is open for business after the meeting...is blurring the line.

I am very grateful for this. I have been asking, yes do the the next right thing but HOW do I know what is right? And the answer was..you will know. It will feel right. This feels right.