Mushrooms and Manure

Last updated on: November 11, 2015 at 3:00 am by Terry Drew Karanen

Mushrooms and Manure 2015-11-08T13:51:26-07:00 Terry Drew Karanen

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Do you seem at times to be doing a lot, but accomplishing little? Working through a To Do list can end up being more of a chore than a triumph. If this has happened to you then perhaps it’s not the list but what’s on it.

People often wonder why their goals are not realized or their prayers not answered. A major part of seeing our desires manifest is the commitment we exhibit to produce the end result. It’s very easy to get bogged down in the details so that we are doing busy-work, rather than being busy about the work at hand.

Helpful in this regard is being able to understand the difference between what we need to do to accomplish our goals and what could be unnecessary drudgery. In his new book, “Elders Rock! Don’t Just Get Older: Become an Elder,” author Dr. Harvey W. Austin states this:

“Distinguish the mushroom from the horse manure it grows in.
They are both brown, but only one is edible.”

Well … THAT certainly puts it in a difference perspective, doesn’t it?

We can ask ourselves if the world will end if our bed isn’t made daily. We might stop complaining about the commercials between the scenes of our favorite TV show and consider recording them to watch later in less time by skipping over the ads. Why, we might even consider what we want to do for the holidays instead of what society or our families say we should do.

My Grandma Esther used to say that being in horse manure up to your neck really isn’t so bad. After all, it’s warm and after a while you get used to the smell. I would challenge you to see if you’re putting up with the s%*t in your life that no longer serves you just because it’s easier than doing something about it.

Using a person in our life as the excuse not to return to school or take that trip may allow us to ignore the part that includes worrying about having the money needed. A physical ail may allow us to skip out on functions we didn’t have the nerve to say “No” to. The list goes on; I encourage you to find your own stories in this regard.

And, yes, they are stories. They are the horse manure we serve up to ourselves and others when we aren’t ready to make a decision. But the problem with that is it becomes all too easy, too warm, too comfortable, and so we stay stuck in the muck.

Perhaps this week you’ll consider the possibility of being more selective about the “mushrooms” you pick, noting more importantly what could be hanging on. If we are mindful and focused on our goals then we can allow the waste to fall off our plate just as easily as brushing the dirt and other matter off a little mushroom. Bon Appétit!

P.S. Be sure to check out Harvey’s new book – just click here!

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

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