Facing Dragons

My friend sent me a meme the other day about a husband telling his wife “I’m sorry we have to raise children in these dystopian times.” The wife recalled a quote she read earlier in the day: “Never feel sorry for raising dragon slayers in a time where there are actual dragons.” I smiled after reading this as I had just finished season two of House of Dragon in which there really ARE real dragons. Dragons are a metaphor for the scary
and hard things we must face in life. It can be anything from a relationship challenge, a loss of or a new job, a health challenge and plainly just getting out of bed some mornings. What I do know is that facing these dragons awakens and unleashes our souls entelechy.

I came into this world facing health dragons. I was born with no rectal track and very poor pelvic floor development. I had the first major surgery at three months, four by the time I was five years old and to date I have had ten major surgeries. Plus, thousands of in office minor surgeries. The doctors told my parents I would not be very physically active. What did my parents do? They put me into every sport I wanted to play. To name a few, I did gymnastics, ice skating, soft ball and eventually landed on tennis, skiing and martial arts. Good thing my parents didn’t stay in the condition of what the doctors thought possible for me. Playing at almost the highest level of sports possible, Spirit paid my way through college on a tennis scholarship.

There are mornings after a long day of teaching where I just physically hurt and can barely get out of bed. I must be very conscious of what I eat and be aware where every bathroom is. I experience a chronic challenge from this birth condition that flares up and lands me on antibiotics several times a year. During these times it hurts to sit, stand, lie down and walk. Just the other day in my workout class, struggling to do some of the core exercises, I was looking at the dragon in the eye and asking WHY ME! I did the best I could for that day. I get through because angels have shown up along the way to help guide me. Almost thirty years ago Dr. Richard L Friedman came into my life. His receptionist would tell me he has no availability that day and he ALWAYS found time for me. Now she just gives me a window to come in. I have taken myself to the closest ER only to come to find out he just happens to be at THAT hospital that day. He is truly my
angel.

What have I learned from facing my dragons? Most importantly, that we never know what someone is going through. They may appear perfectly put together; they may appear “normal”, but they are facing dragons we can’t even begin to imagine. I know there are days when I am frantically trying to get to a bathroom and perhaps, I have cut someone off on the freeway. There are days when being present can be challenging for
me because all my energy is going to keep my body upright. What my dragons have taught me is to be curious. I wonder what is going on in this person’s life to have them react this way? I wonder what happened to cause them to have this belief? What are my dragons teaching me. My dragons have made me a wonderful teacher as I have learned that compassion and love are the keys to facilitating learning for people. To allow people to be where they are without judgement. My dragons have brought me to Science of Mind ministry because I know conditions do not define us. There is nothing we cannot achieve if it is our soul’s purpose. How have your dragons ignited your soul’s purpose? The next time someone cuts you off on the road. Instead of road rage, send them love and know whatever they are in a hurry to get to nearby for them. And if you want to watch a fun show with lots of Dragons, I enjoyed House of Dragons!