I Had a Dream

"Are you blind?" she screamed, "World War III has started andyou're acting as if everything's just peachy"!, referring ofcourse to the current state of the world.The subject in my dream several nights ago I am very close toin real life. I recall replying something to the effect that"I can understand why you think this, but the world was notthat great a place *before* 9/11 and the terrorist attackshave only served as the catalyst for the positive, spiritualchanges the world needed to make anyway". Something in realityI have said to many people.However, she rebutted, and this is verbatim:"You had better wake up and smell the anthrax!"I intensely dislike nightmares, and especially those that wakeyou up with a jolt like this did, but the surreal conversationserved as my own catalyst to change how I have been "existing"since September 11. I'll explain in a moment.You may be having trouble sleeping or having dreams, or worse,nightmares related to the terrorist attacks and the currentstate of the world. We are being told by experts that this isperfectly normal considering the scale of the senselessslaughter, the onslaught of biological attacks and continualtalk of more threats, even nuclear, and the overall 'crisiscoverage' bombardment in our lives day in and day out. Icertainly believe them. If you weren't concerned abouteverything that is going on right now, including your ownsafety, you'd have to be pretty insensitive!However, I believe the biggest enemy we face right now is ourpersonal preoccupation with these world events, and, the levelof "shutdown" we've allowed into our lives as a result. Justlook around at what's happening, or better yet, not happening.Travellers and vacationers aren't flying and the airlines andtourist industries are in deep financial trouble. People areavoiding public places and countless major events have beenpostponed or cancelled. You could probably hurl a good sizedsnowball through your local restaurants and not hit a patron.The stock market has plummeted and businesses large and smallare beginning to fall by the wayside in droves. People justaren't doing what they normally do and that includes spendingmoney enjoying themselves.Me? I readily admit that too many people have been in mymiserable midst to hear me grumble in disgust about how slowmy Internet sales have been. Not like me at all.But come to think of it, I haven't bought a single thing onthe Internet since September 11! Nor in any department store.I haven't hopped on an airplane let alone ventured out to arestaurant. I haven't attended the theatre or been to asporting event either. I've been sitting in my office andrunning to the nearest television for 5 weeks now, stuck inthis fog, frozen, like too many people! So how could I then beexpecting people to spend money on MY products when I wasn'tbuying theirs? Worse, how come I was not enjoying my life likeI normally would? Am I not part of the problem?See, we all have been attacked by these terrorist thugs. In mycase, I let them change not only my thinking process but thepatterns in MY life! I just *had* to follow every breakingstory, see every related interview, stay on top of everydetail of the 'war on terrorism' and otherwise remain a slaveto the chaos these demons created. I was getting my routinework done but that was all. I had NOT been my progressive,creative and otherwise normal self since September 11. Partialvictory, Osama!For some reason though, this twisted dream made me realizethat I had the option NOT to be a victim and play into theblood stained hands of these devils on earth.So I made some decisions. I am no longer staying tuned to theplay-by-play of the War on Terrorism. I'm going to dosomething fun with my family this weekend and every weekendthereafter. And, I AM back to work on a new project that was"inspired" by the great tragedy of September 11. And boydoes it feel great!I am now getting on with business and my life. Something somany of us have to do a much better job of. When you reallythink about it, being all-consumed by the events of the recentfuture only plays into the hands of the thugs that are tryingto destroy all that is good in this world. Psychologicalterrorism is potent and an awfully easy infection to catch butthe good news is you're a decision or two away from a cure!Yes, we are in a war. A war of good versus evil. Right againstwrong. Love against hate. World War III? No way! We all knowwho's going to win this thing and it's just a matter of time.The same time we can be putting to use in ways that make *us*contribute to the coming victory! Allowing the fear that theterrorists have created to dominate our thinking, stop us fromliving our lives normally and moving forward in our businessesand careers is in reality hoisting the white flag to the evilwe are fighting!We owe it to ourselves, our families, our businesses and ourfree nations to get back to normal in these unnormal times.Like, right now! May I suggest taking the family to yourfavorite restaurant and a movie this weekend? How aboutplanning a well-deserved trip, even if by car and even if justa weekender? Doesn't a leisurely excursion to your local mallto treat yourself to something you've wanted for a long timesound good? And by all means, if you have been swimming in thesame soup as I have for weeks now, make a decision to get backto work!I urge you to put an end to whatever level of shutdown you maystill be in. Hopefully you were more enlightened than me, anddug out early. But if not, begin the process of "letting go"of those things you can't control and take possession of whatyou can - Your Life!I've started that process and I can't begin to explain thegreat sense of freedom I have. The same feeling I had beforethat terrible day none of us will ever forget.