I was reminded this morning of an episode of Frasier, an American sitcom that ran from 1993 to 2004. It's central character Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown Seattle where he lives with his father, a retired cop, and where he works as a radio psychiatrist.
In this Episode, called Door Jam, Frasier and Niles, his brother, score an invitation to 'La Porte D'Argent'. This turns out to be an exclusive day spa. They get wonderful treatment and as they are about to leave they spot a Golden Door. They are told this is for Gold Level members only and you need to be on a list. They use their connections to get into the Gold Level where the service is amazing. As they are sitting in a relaxation grotto when they spot a Platinum Door. Anxious to find out what is behind it they try to get through the door which to their amazement is open. They barge into the other side ..... only to end up outside with the bins at the back of the building with the door shut behind them.
It dawned on me that we often do the same.
We are set targets at work. And when we reach the targets, they get increased. Time after time. Until we fail to reach them. Then an inquest starts.
We set goals for ourselves. We work hard towards them, making sacrifices. We persevere through tough days and give ourselves 100%. Then we reach the goal. We celebrate. And set another one. And another one. And then we fail to reach a particular goal and we feel deflated and useless.
We want more money than we can spend so we can invest. We need to top our investments because bad times might come. We need a great pension scheme for old age. We need more bedrooms, a bigger garden, an SUV for driving through the city, a second Michael Kors handbag. And then we never stop getting and wanting.
To be grateful that today you find yourself in 'La Porte d'Argent'. We have forgotten that. To be grateful for being here today. We have forgotten that. To be mindful and live in the Now. We have forgotten that.
To listen to the birds, cuddle the dog, admire the rainbow, save a bee, hug a tree, swim in a lake, love each other. Can we remember this?
We can seek continuous growth. Or we can live. Be. Just simply be. And do from that being.
I have chosen. Have you?
It dawned on me that we often do the same.
We are set targets at work. And when we reach the targets, they get increased. Time after time. Until we fail to reach them. Then an inquest starts.
We set goals for ourselves. We work hard towards them, making sacrifices. We persevere through tough days and give ourselves 100%. Then we reach the goal. We celebrate. And set another one. And another one. And then we fail to reach a particular goal and we feel deflated and useless.
We want more money than we can spend so we can invest. We need to top our investments because bad times might come. We need a great pension scheme for old age. We need more bedrooms, a bigger garden, an SUV for driving through the city, a second Michael Kors handbag. And then we never stop getting and wanting.
To be grateful that today you find yourself in 'La Porte d'Argent'. We have forgotten that. To be grateful for being here today. We have forgotten that. To be mindful and live in the Now. We have forgotten that.
To listen to the birds, cuddle the dog, admire the rainbow, save a bee, hug a tree, swim in a lake, love each other. Can we remember this?
We can seek continuous growth. Or we can live. Be. Just simply be. And do from that being.
I have chosen. Have you?
