Today was the day that all motorists dread, the annual MOT test, a day of anxiety and disappointment or elation. Sadly mine was one of disappointment. It’s a strange feeling, handing the keys over to a stranger, not that Tom at Volvo Poole is really that strange. But it’s a bit like leaving your kids with a new babysitter, you just hope that they know what they’re doing and take care of your pride and joy.
I knew that the car needed a new inner track-rod joint, it’s been on the cards for a while, but I had decided to bite the bullet and get it fixed before it caused any trouble. But when the dreaded phone call arrived, the news was not what was expected. The car had failed, a split steering gaiter being the culprit. So I had to agree to getting it replaced, there wasn’t really any alternative, they had my car and would hold it hostage until it had a pass certificate.
Now I do look after my car. I get it serviced at the dealership, use original parts when they are needed and generally give it a deal of TLC. So when it fell at the first hurdle, even though it was because of a part, so well hidden, I would never have spotted, it is disappointing. Of course I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill. The nice man at Volvo replaced the part and a nice crisp pass certificate duly appeared. All I had to do was hand over the dosh. However, and this is the interesting bit, having risen to the challenge of dealing with the failure in a calm and composed manner, I was rewarded by a generous 10% discount off the bill, both parts and labour. Cause and effect? Do you think?
Despite my plea yesterday, the blame and counter blame emails started flying this morning, so sad. I understand that everyone wants to put their side of the story, make themselves look like the innocent party, get the family on their side. But isn’t that just the way wars and feuds start?
Tonight’s post is a plea from the heart to my family and those who are close to me. When problems arise between two people, there are always two sides to the argument, nothing is black and white, and one side’s view will never coincide with the other’s. So as an onlooker, please take a pace backwards and try, as far as humanly possible, to see the situation from both sides with a quiet, but understanding sadness.
It may seem to be a strange thing to say, but our happiness, or otherwise, is actually a choice we make for ourselves. It’s basically tied to the way we view the challenges that life throws at us.
When we find ourselves in stressful situations, we often find ourselves acting in ways which are both damaging and unhelpful. When relationships hit problems our hearts may rule our heads and we may find we do not recognise ourselves in the way we react.
I’m having a lot of trouble getting onto t’internet at the moment.
There is a saying that the earth upon which we fall is the same ground which enables us to push ourselves back up again. There is another which maintains that barley grows better after it has been trampled on.
It is a well known Buddhist saying that our problems are not the real problem, it is the way we perceive them that is the problem.
When you are grappling with a tricky problem, good friends can sometimes offer an alternative view, some aspect that you may have over looked.
The Search For Enlightenment 
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