It Only Takes A Smile

I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. -William Butler Yeats

            This morning, while taking out my dog for her morning walk, I stepped on a snail.  This was not on purpose. I am usually so careful of where I am stepping.  It’s at this early hour where I watch the snails go from the grassy area over the sidewalk to the bushes.  This is the only time of day I observe them in my neighborhood inching around.  But today I wasn’t paying attention to where my feet were walking and I heard a crunch.  Automatically I felt quite bad, how was I not more mindful at this moment? Where was my head?

            Instead of ruminating on what I didn’t do, I could focus on what I can do for the future: PAY ATTENTION.

            I also began to think of the metaphor of treading softly.  How often do we hurt others with unkind words or a lack of support in people following their dreams or goals? Our one disapproving comment could stick with them.  A person told me yesterday, how the comment “there are no stupid questions” he once believed this, but once when he asked a question in a setting and the person answering belittled him and reminded him this was a stupid question.  “It only was once, but it stuck with me.”  This sheltered this person’s sense of curiosity or ability to trust others, for fear they will be judged. 

            How often do we do this to ourselves as well? Make negative statements to ourselves, show a disregard and negativity to our own aspirational pursuits.  We are harming our own dreams.

            Therefore, pay attention to the words you express towards yourself or others, “tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”