Finding What You're Looking For - David Bentley's weekly column

DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN

MILLION-DOLLAR POSSESSIONS

Walking along the beach, an older man noticed a young man seated on a driftwood log looking despondently into the water washing over the sand. He stood there observing for a moment, and then sat down on the opposite end of the log. Together, in silence, the two men stared into the horizon where the water seemed to touch the sky -- each contemplating his own thoughts.

After several minutes, the older man asked what burden the younger man was contemplating. Startled at first, the younger man told this intrusive stranger that his life was no longer worth living. Then, in a sudden burst of emotional elocution, the young man related the story of his recent life. He told about losing his job and not being able to find work. He recounted the details of the bank repossessing his home and his car. His life was in financial ruin, and he could see no way to turn it around.

Following a reflective pause, the older man said that he could tell that the younger man still had several possessions for which others would be willing to pay millions of dollars.

Taking the old man for a fool, the younger man scoffed him and asked if he did not hear how he had lost everything. Certainly there was nothing he possessed for which anyone would pay millions of dollars.

Undaunted, the older man asked how much the young man thought a blind person would pay for his eyesight, or what a person with a terminal disease would pay for his health, or how much money his mental ability might be worth to a person with Alzheimer's Disease. Then the old man stood up and continued his walk down the beach, leaving the young man alone in silence as he had found him.

What million-dollar possessions do you have?
Do you remember to be grateful that you have them?
How can you focus more attention on what you do have than on what you don't have?
Are you willing to change your focus from lack to abundance?

David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world.

You may contact him at 360.378.8436

by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com

or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com