I realized that if my thoughts immediately affect my body, I should be careful about what I think. Now if I get angry, I ask myself why I feel that way. If I can find the source of my anger, I can turn that negative energy into something positive. Yoko Ono
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Last time I visited my mother in Tokyo, despite her less than ideal predicament of recovering from a surgery and undergoing a challenging physical therapy, she shared that she decided to smile everyday. It pains not only those who are weakened but those around to see someone once vibrant to be in a wheel chair or laid up on hospital bed. But it is also amazing for someone like her to tell me that despite the physical pain, she is making a “choice” to smile and laugh each day. Then, she told me that she was letting go of anger as she cited this story of a lady neighbor who became blind (really) after she became too angry with the way someone treated her. Okay, “mis”treated her. Indignant, she was furious and that caused her blood pressure to zoom up, triggering some glaucoma-effect. The following day, she woke up with no vision in one eye. Hard to believe, I said, NO! That can’t be. To which my mother said, Yes, it’s true, she absolutely lost her sight on her right eye because she lost her temper… she goes on to say, “so you need to train and tame yourself with your hot temper. Unless, of course, you want to go blind.”
whhattt?
That was my latest lesson from my mother … While it bothers me that her style of teachable moments tend always to be based on some fear – as long as she lectures and teaches, she’s still a mother… once a mother, always a mother. I am glad that she hasn’t lost “it” yet.
* “it”= fear tactic. Yes, that.
