NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Views of a Cruise

By Michael Levy  

I have often found that the funniest experiences come to us in life by just observing our fellow humans and being aware of our surroundings. A few years ago, I give a series of lectures on board various cruise ships as I researched the validity of a book I was about to publish. Some of the older passengers, with lifetime experiences reinforced the validity of my truths. I taught folks how to invest in the stock market without anxiety. How to live a wholesome, sickness free life, and most of all... How to enjoy every moment we are on earth.

On one particular occasion I sat on the open decks outside the buffet café on board a magnificent ship. Quietly I watched folks as they made their way from the swimming pool area and into the café at the rear of the ship. It was a pathway with tables on one side and a wall on the other, so the path was not too wide and about sixty foot long. It was a great education for me, the teacher, as I observed my fellow passengers.

All types, shapes and sizes walked down the pathway to the food court. One lady waggled down and looked like a giant Super Nova waiting to explode. Four hundred pounds of sheer appetite just eager to gobble up the next few platefuls of food. I read her thoughts as she passed by.

'My appetite is my Shepherd I shall not want, Lead me into the path of temptation, My belly floppeth over my knees, Yay; though I walk through the valley of enticement, I will not weaken. My taste buds are my rod, meat and cream cakes comforts me, I dig my grave with my teeth, yet I shall fear no weight gain, Later on, after my feast, I will snooze all afternoon and be ready for the onslaught of dinner and midnight buffets, with a few snacks in between, After all aren't we here to "enjoy" ourselves?'

She was followed by one of the dancers on board who was rushing to eat her yogurt and three lettuce leaves before her next rehearsal. Isn't it amazing how the image of a human body can change shape so dramatically in just a few seconds. We are what we think and take shape with what we eat. If we can control our thoughts, we can control our shape. No fad diet can work for long. There are no quick fixes. There is no substituting universal truths, for ego's truths.

Next came a couple of guys smoking cigars, talking about the stock market as they passed by. They were most upset that they were asked to put out their cigars before they entered the café. They came out with an insult in some foreign language and went back to the pool area where they were serving hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries. Maybe we should bring smoking back into cafes, for isn't it unfair that folks can't smoke in restaurants and inflict the poisonous smoke on others?

We have stopped folks from smoking in many restaurants, airplanes and theaters, However; the medical profession are just beginning to realizing that negative thoughts are the most harmful toxins a human can consume. The question now is, how can we stop folks from taking toxic thoughts into a cafe and digesting them ?

I sat there for quite a while watching all the different people amble by and quite a few had one thing in common. Very few of them were smiling, most had very serious looks on their faces. The only really happy smiling faces I could see were those of the staff. The busboys and girls were very busy clearing the tables and they seemed to be the happiest. Joking and trying to make the passengers feel happy. A credit to the ambiance the ship was providing. Many folks onboard were locked in thoughts of past memories and the fact they were on a beautiful sailing resort did not mean anything.

The cruise industry does a great job of keeping folks happy with lots of shows and fun events. But these moments of happiness are fleeting and all too soon folks are taken back to worries and woes of past experiences. When the fun episodes are over, other images come into their minds. They could be back at work, or in a snow storm. Locked in a dungeon of doom and gloom. The looks on the faces of those shrouded in negativity were in-deed, grim and miserable.

My, oh my, why do people continue to live with negative minds? Could it be we become addicted to worry? An addiction is something we hate but can't get enough of. There is a way through the maze of ignorance and into the light but most folks will not take that enchanting journey. Many call it mumbo jumbo and continue to live in a tormented mind. Amazing what a curse and bully the ego can be. Once we plant seeds of worry in our minds, we will grow weeds of depression.

The only way to rid our mind of destructive thoughts is to detach them from our brain. Dig them out. If we take pills or any other short-term measures to rid them, we are only cutting the stems off. The root cause of worry is still there. We need to spray our minds with *Universal Love & Joy* and the weeds of disquiet will dissolve away and be replaced with *a beautiful bouquet of flowering delights.* These taste and feel real good and do not put on weight. *We need to find and understand the cause of our anxieties and not just treat the effects.* * *

Just as I was about to leave, a very feeble old man came struggling down the thoroughfare, walking with a cane. He looked like a very old version of Mr. Grace from 'Are You Being Served' (an old British sit com) He looked as though he was one hundred and twenty years old. I found out later he was 'only' ninety-one. His mouth was wide open all the time. He reminded me of the bodies they dug up in Pompeii. He was very frail and every step seemed like his last.

When he finally made it to the doors of the café he poked his head inside and a look of bewilderment came over him. He turned round and started to walk back towards the swimming pool. After a couple of minutes he made the sixty foot walk back. Another look of amazement came over him. He stood there for a few moments gazing around contemplating his surroundings. He then turned round and started to make his backtrack way to the café. By this time everyone was looking at him. He leisurely made his way back to the café, mouth wide open, legs bowed, as thin as two sticks.

Once he got to the café, the doors opened again and again there was a look of wonderment on his face. He turned round and started to make his way back. As he passed my table I was just about to ask if I could help him, when one of the waitresses came up to him and inquired 'can I help you sir.' He stopped looked up at her and asked; "Which way is it to the Gymnasium!!!!" Yes, I know it may not seem real......... but it really did happen.

Michael Levy is a professional optimist, his philosophy of life is one of joyful optimism. He is an international radio host and the author of nine inspirational books. Michael's poetry and essays grace many web sites, newspapers, journals and magazines throughout the world. He is a prominent speaker on health and wellness maintenance, stress eradication, wealth creation and development, authentic happiness and inspirational poetry. http://www.pointoflife.com/