A Pot Anew

October 7

I opened the door, about to unlock the grills, when i spotted the mess in my porch. "Stupid idiot cat," I cursed under my breath. "Don't let me catch you or you are so dead," I fumed away as I scooped the poor plant into a small spare flower pot. I looked at my watch and I was late hitting the road and dreaded the traffic on the LDP after seven in the morning.

The big pot with my money tree was knocked over by a cat somewhat middle of the night, and there was soil all over, within one and a half feet radius of the broken pot. That also explained the thud that woke me up from my slumber. I am a light sleeper, sigh.

When I finished potted the plant, swept the remaining soil aside to be cleared later when i get home in the evening, and threw away the broken pot, I left for work. As I drove, I pondered. Was there a need to be upset? Could I have viewed the mess differently? That reminded me of the book, Buddha that said that one's emotional state was 100 percent within one's control. Getting upset or angry at something or someone was giving away that control, and I lost that battle this morning, to an unknown cat! (Darn!)

Not everything and everyday would turn out the way we would like them to. As Master Oogway said to Po, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift and that is why it is called present. Everyday is a new day, and day in itself cannot decide to be good or bad. It is how we react to people and things that determine the outcome. There would be hitches and glitches, good days and bad, and it is through these that we learn to see the good in bad, the meaning of optimism and hope. The flower pot was broken, but the plant is still alive. All I need to do is to get a new flower pot. :)