So today while I was in class we listened to a very interesting tape that told a story that basically went along with all the different concepts and theories that we are learning in Lifespan and Development.
To attempt to make a long story short: a man saves money for years so his son can go get an education, he is able to send him off to University, the child can only go for 2 years because the money runs out, he then goes home to work with his dad who is a wood cutter. He is out cutting wood then takes a break and decides to go into the forest to look at trees, his dad says that's a bad idea because they should rest but the boy does not listen. He then hears a tiny voice saying "let me out". He see the bottle where the voice is coming from and he opens the bottle and a genie comes out. The genie then tells the boy that he is going to kill him because he has been in this bottle for thousands of years. The boy isn't to found of this (who would be!!) so he decides that he is going to trick the genie back into the bottle...well the genie ends up going back into the bottle and asked to be let out again. The boy says he will only let him out if he gives him the reward he should of gotten in the first place. The genie agrees and is let out and ends up giving the boy a claw that will fix anything that is wounded and it also changes things to silver. He then ends up touching his ax with it and it crumbles into a pile of silver and he fixes some of the trees. He takes the silver to town and gets lots of money for it. He then proceeds to give his father half the money and using the rest to go to college and finish school.
That was a long story! But anywho... after the story was told the narrator explained how this story applies to our everyday life and situations. How taking chances we never thought we could and believing in our inner self can be the best thing to do in times of confusion. This made me think, do I really have some sort of a "genie" inside of me that is waiting to be released?
By allowing our inner genie's to be released we may find ourselves in a situation where things are not so great, much as this boy found out after letting him out the first time and he was then facing his death. But then there are times where we take the chance and that leads us to something bigger and better. Something so great that we didn't even know it was possible. The decisions we make shape us and allow us moments of growth, understanding, and sometimes frustration.
I can think back to times in the past year where I allowed this "genie" to come out and it wasn't necessarily the best time for it...I then forced it back in but ended up wanting to take another chance and letting it be released. These are moments that are ingrained in my memory...these are moments where things started to work out and amazing outcomes were seen.
I feel like I have recently released my own genie in just the past couple weeks. I made a huge decision to change my education plan and go into counseling instead of waiting to see if any of the schools that wait listed me for speech pathology would admit me. On top of this I had people who were not as supportive as I thought they would be and who would regularly ask me if I was really making the right decision, and at times even advise me against my current choice. Making this final decision was tough but I felt like it was the thing I was suppose to do at that moment. On the outside I told everyone how excited I was and how great I thought I would be at it, but on the inside I really was just a scared little girl praying that my decision was the right one.
Well after being in grad school for 2 weeks, writing countless papers, reading 100's of pages from textbooks, and getting up to make it class on time each morning to sit and learn for 3 hours I can gladly say that I am happy. I enjoy what I am learning and am understanding how I can use this new knowledge in my future as a professional. By allowing my "genie" to be released and let out into the universe it has presented me with such an incredible opportunity. It was scary and nerve racking but I feel like it was all worth it. I needed to not listen to everyone else and instead listen to myself and do what was right for me.
So the next time you are presented with an opportunity that may seem foreign or out of your norm, listen to that little "genie" that is bottled up inside of you and allow it to be released....you may be surprised with where it will take you!
P.S. it is FINALLY nice out and I am soaking up as much sun as possible! I wish I could be outside more but with the crazy mosquito's we are having it is impossible to be outside unless you want to be become a human connect the dots game! I hope you aren't getting eaten alive by these little pests like we are!
wishing you warm summer days!!
-Shelley
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