Buffalo Gulten Buffalo! “A lesson in acceptance“
Buffalo Road Revelation: Embracing Acceptance
I felt disappointed as I glanced towards the exit I had missed, with cars speeding by at seventy-five miles an hour. Determined to rectify my mistake, I hastily maneuvered across two lanes to reach Buffalo Road instead of Rainbow. Deep down, I knew this alternative route would only lead me to a dead end before my intended destination, but it seemed like the next best option for me.
This wasn't the first time I had missed an exit due to being consumed by my destructive inner dialogue. I found it challenging to process what I perceived as unkind behavior from someone close to me. However, I must acknowledge that my perspective is not necessarily aligned with reality. Unsurprisingly, each person's upbringing and experiences shape their views and actions; mine is no exception.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by kind-hearted, caring, and compassionate individuals who have enriched my life in countless ways. Ironically, they are also the source of my deepest sorrows. Before I continue with the story, let me share a secret: thus far, strangers and casual encounters have never had a lasting impact on my soul. I consider myself lucky in that regard, although I admit that I am not always courageous enough to listen to their side of the story.
Fundamentally, we all understand that those we deeply care about have the power to penetrate our consciousness. Yet, we must remember that the arrow of suffering points in both directions. While, at times, they may cause our pain, we often contribute to theirs as well.
The incident that had left me in tears for the past three days caught me in a cycle of heartbreak, disappointment, and despair—no wonder I couldn't find restful sleep with the same negative thoughts repeatedly playing in my mind.
While struggling to overcome this overwhelming sadness, I knew I was embellishing my victim story, which perpetuated my suffering, as a story can only survive if we keep supplying it with the necessary blood supplies; my victim story playing in my mind like a restless monkey was the blood supply. While driving that day, I dwelled on past grievances and imagined hidden wrongdoings, clearly a terrible idea that only fueled my negative thinking.
Understanding that my negative thinking was my worst enemy did little to help me be rational and loving in such moments. Unfortunately, my senseless rumination continued even after I exited the interstate. I found myself wondering, "Why can't they be nice all the time, like me? I am kind, loving, hard-working, passionate, and considerate. I would never treat them the way they treated me."
Beneath my ramblings, the truth emerged—I acknowledge that I possess all those positive qualities at times. Still, I can be just as careless about others and their feelings as anyone else. So, enough of this rant; let's return to the story.
I remained infuriated as I approached the dead end; I had to choose between turning left or right to circle back onto my preferred road. Out loud, I exclaimed, "I can't believe this road doesn't go straight! Now I have to go around?" It was evident that I struggled to accept the concrete reality before me, knowing that no amount of wishing, hoping, crying, cursing, or praying would alter the situation to my liking.
At that very moment, I burst into laughter. Unless the city was planning to demolish this entire neighborhood in my honor and construct a road just for my convenience, or I miraculously sprouted wings and flew over all obstacles in my path, I had no choice but to go around. With resistance out of the way, acceptance finally took center stage.
As we all know, accepting reality as it is, without the need to change any part of it, holds the potential for miracles. As I drove around, I felt the walls of my inner turmoil crumble. My body relaxed, releasing the tension that had plagued me for days.
Struggling with other human beings is nothing new for me. It seems laughable to expect the universe to conform to our personal standards and behaviors. However, I often seek shelter under self-created dark clouds for prolonged periods. After the dust settled, it became clear that my desire for things to be different and my resistance to accepting what lay before me were the primary causes of my suffering—not the people or things in my life.
How could I forget that each individual possesses a unique perspective on life? For this reason, I strive to enhance my emotional understanding every day. Perhaps, one day, I will enter a sacred space where I honor the people in my life as they are, without a personal need to mold them into my ideal version for the sake of my own happiness. Since I was not prepared to abandon them and retreat to an isolated island, I thought that whenever I encountered problems with anyone or anything, I could silently repeat, "Buffalo Gulten Buffalo!"
Filled with excitement, I shouted out loud, "Buffalo Gulten Buffalo!"
