Keep your cool!

 I drove around the shopping center’s parking lot for  fifteen whole minutes searching in vain for an available  space until, finally, I spotted a woman walking toward  her car. I followed her and patiently waited as she put  all her shopping bags into her red truck.

Her tail lights finally lit up, indicating she was ready to go. I heaved a sigh of relief and backed up a little bit to give her room to pull out. Then out of nowhere, another car tore around mine and pulled into the space I had obviously been waiting for! I couldn’t believe it. I was so furious, I felt like I was turning the same shade of bright red as the lady’s truck!

I was just about to roll down my window and let that guy have it, but then I remembered a sermon I had heard in church the week before. The minister had said that every day we all have hundreds of opportunities to fly off the handle at someone who was rude, or at a disobedient child, or at a boss for not giving us a well-deserved promotion.

He said that in those heated moments when we’re just about to lose it, we should try to be like an eagle. When eagles run into a storm, instead of trying to fly through it, they calmly, majestically spread their wings to a span of up to eight feet. Then they soar above the dark clouds until they reach clear skies. These amazing birds can fly at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet! No other species can go so high, even sharing airspace with commercial jets.

The incident in the parking lot illustrated for me that in a challenging situation we can choose to act like the eagle, or we can behave like ravens, known for harrassing other birds and disrupting their flight.

I admit that after I parked right next to that gentleman (and I use the term loosely!), I was very tempted to take the air out of his tires… Or at least one of them! But I took a deep breath and said with a smile, “I am an eagle, and I can rise above the storm.”

The next time someone provokes you, instead of sinking to their level, act like the splendid bird, spread your wings and soar to clear skies, where just like the eagle, you will always find peace.

Maria Marin is an international motivational speaker, radio host, columnist and bestselling author. Visit: www.MariaMarin.com

This post is also available in: Spanish