Chapter 2, Becoming Confident

One time, when she was very little and needed to be taken care of, she was walking with her nanny in a giant hotel garden when all of a sudden, she realized that she was all alone.

She looked around and saw that no one was there to watch over her.  She was overcome with happiness and began to explore the garden path, hoping unexpectedly that she would not be found.  She felt at one with all things and it never occurred to her to be afraid.  Never.  Her heart opened wide and she felt free.

When she was found, by and by, she knew that she would never forget those moments of feeling free and unafraid.  And, for this little girl, that day was to become the spirit of her life: boldly and confidently, to travel, to explore, to ask questions and to find answers.  She was only 3 years old.

There was a time many years later, when she was in class at school and her teacher was very mean.  One day the classmate who sat near her became ill and raised her hand so that she could be excused.  The teacher ignored her for awhile and finally just told her “no,” she could not be excused.

The inquisitive little girl realized that even if a person had the authority of a teacher, this did not mean that the person was wise.  She rose up from her desk and without asking for permission, escorted the sick little girl to the nurse’s office, all the while ignoring the teacher’s threats.  This was a significant moment in her life.  From that time on, she questioned all authority and did not automatically believe anyone who was in charge or had written a book.  She was released from being bound by blind authority, and she felt free.

A few years later still, there was a time when another little girl was being harassed by a bully in the class who threatened to pick a fight with her after school.  Because all the other kids were afraid, they walked with the bully on the other side of the street.   The inquisitive girl walked alone with the one who was being bullied.  And no harm came to them.  That was also a significant learning experience for her.  She could stand up to negativity!  When you make a stand, there is a certain presence which protects you and negative people become powerless.  She was released from being bound by fear of having to go along with the crowd.  She was released from having to be the same as everyone else.  She felt the thrill of being independent and free!