When I lived in NY, all the people that supported me were always a long drive: doctors, dentists, mechanics, chiropractors, etc... I never seem to get off the road. When I moved to Sedona, I made myself a promise -- I would find "support people" locally. And for a while I stuck to this plan. I remember the first time I went to a local dentist. I got there in three minutes and I was disoriented! In NY it used to take me 45 minutes. That plan didn't last long and unawares I slowly found myself going out of town for things I needed. I guess I couldn't get my head around the 3 minutes!

So I traveled 20 minutes to see the mechanic. The name of his business had the word "Bear" in it -- anyone who knows me knows how special bears are too me -- so good omen. I walk in the office and introduced myself to the owner and then the phone rings. Right away I could sense there was a special energy about the owner and I hear him mention on the phone that his wife is a cancer survivor and their having some kind of problem. He hangs up and I talk to him about the car. But I am thinking to myself--maybe I need to say something about the phone call. I apologize and say, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard you mention your wife is a cancer survivor. I am too and I work with many survivors." We got into a talk about what was happening with her and I offered a few tips that I thought might help. So cool, this was meant to be and I took it all as a sign to let the guy do the work on the car and scheduled an appointment.

I wake up early -- too early -- because it's a long drive! He doesn't get to my car for close to 2 hrs. No worries, I am in a place of acceptance and going with the flow. A note here: this is a long way from another Greg many moons ago! Finally they look at the car and figure out the belt is just dirty and run a bar of soap on it and the squeal suddenly stops-it was like a miracle! We all laughed at the magic of it! His mechanic says if it doesn't work I might have to change the belt. Everyone shakes hands and there is no charge!

I head up the road and within ten minutes the belt is squealing again, like off-key birds! Here is what surprised me -- I didn't get upset. Why? Because I realized that being led to the mechanic was not about the fixing the belt but offering him some advice about his wife. I believe I realized that because my awareness is higher. I followed "the path" or the omens and maybe I helped someone. I thought about turning around or going back the next day but in that moment I said to myself you need to start making your life easier and make more of an effort to find a mechanic locally.

Later that day I bring the car to a local place that I am not totally comfortable with because the owner can be a little surly. They change the belt and I am free of the noise!

That surliness or my perception that he is surly gave me a perfect excuse to give into the "pattern". And I seem to forget that the few times I did use them they always did a good job. But what do I remember -- the surliness -- so obviously it's not meant to be and I need to travel 20 minutes!

Now here is the mind-blower! Out of nowhere, I suddenly remember that this was a pattern of my mother. She was always going far-a-field to see people too. This is not a knock on her in anyway -- she was best friend and my book is dedicated to her.

So here are the questions: Are you making decisions -- maybe just simple ones that make your life more complicated than it needs to be? Do you feel that if it's harder it gives it more value? Do you have a commitment to make life harder? Or do you have a promise to not make it easy! Are you following a pattern of your parents but it really doesn't serve you?

And here is the other part: There's more to pattern, I can sense it. But I am not going to try and figure it out. I will let go of it and have faith it will come to me via an insight. This is theme with a lot of clients lately -- they are trying to manage their personal growth.

This was a tough one to write about but I think it turned out okay!