and ending up in a bloody heap at the bottom with a smashed knee, broken leg, foot, arm, ribs, a punctured lung and a cracked skull.
Teri’s ‘second life’ began in hospital when he regained consciousness and realized that he had been ‘born again’. Everything appeared to him much brighter, more memorable and meaningful. Thirty years on Teri still reports that being given a ‘second life’ comprehensively changed his attitude to every day in that new life. Each day is a gift, and he spends each day enjoying every moment of it. He is known as a wonderfully caring and compassionate man, with a gift for putting others at ease with his generosity and humour.
As he so succinctly puts it: ‘Well, when you get a second chance at life, it does make you see things differently and appreciate what you’ve got a lot more, doesn’t it?’
Tony and the ‘Floating Balloon’
On holiday in the Caribbean, I was taking an early-morning swim in an exquisitely beautiful bay with crystal-clear blue water, mirror flat from the calm of the night before. Not particularly paying attention to where I was going, I ended up doing a long and leisurely series of back-strokes. When I stopped to turn around, I saw what looked like a blown-up balloon on the surface of the water, and without thinking (always dangerous!) I swam towards it. I noticed that the colour of the water underneath it appeared to be not so much blue as a beautiful lavender. Suddenly my brain recognized the danger signs, and screamed at me:
‘Portuguese Man-of-War!’
Terrified, I swung about in the water – too late. The beautiful purple tendrils wrapped themselves around my waist and legs and sent me rocketing out of the water in pain. It felt as if I had been wrapped in barbed wire through which giant electric shocks were being pulsed.
I suddenly remembered (and understood!) the many reports I’d heard of people who had died of such an experience. For the next 10 or 15 minutes I was like some Walt Disney cartoon character with my legs thrashing like an outboard motor in the effort to get back to shore! With every stroke I wondered whether the poison was going to kill me rapidly, or lock all my muscles into an immovable rigidity that would lead me to drown.
The fact that you are reading this book means that you know I made it! I spent a little time in hospital, and came out still shocked, having been taught a number of lessons by Mother Nature – among them that I need to be more observant and more alert to danger.
Most importantly, however, I had learnt, while facing the prospect of having no days left, to pay much more attention to appreciating and enjoying the ‘gift’ of every day that I had and would be given.
Do You Make a Difference?
‘God sleeps in the rock,
dreams in the plant,
stirs in the animal,
and awakens in mankind.’
(Sufi teaching)
Believing that they can make a difference is another hallmark of the Spiritually Intelligent.
Do you make a difference?
Of course you do! Everything you say, do or create affects the environment and the people around you, and it and they affect others, and so on for infinity and eternity. This cause and effect can be confirmed by Chaos Theory – according to which a butterfly beating its wings in the Amazon rainforest can cause sufficient air turbulence to eventually cause a typhoon in Java.
You and your soul are ‘immortal’ whether you wish them to be or not! The real choice you have is whether that ‘immortality’ affects the human race and the planet in a positive way; whether you wish to leave it to chance; or whether you wish to work to its disadvantage. The Spiritually Intelligent person obviously chooses the first of these options!
Now that you are aware of your own magnificence, the vastness and the beauty of the universe in which you live, of the wonderful nature of Nature, and the fact that your spirit is immortal, you are ready for a good Spiritual Workout.
Spiritual Workout
1 Remind Yourself How Miraculous You Are
Remind yourself just what a magical work of design you really are. Make it a point to track down more information about the extraordinary capabilities of your human body and brain. Go to your local library or bookstore and dig out some of the popular science books around at the moment – on everything from brains to genes! Alternatively, watch some of the popular science programmes on TV. Constantly apply this knowledge to your own self-awareness and to the development of your self-confidence.
2 Remember that Everyone is Miraculous
Apply your new-found knowledge of your own magnificence to everyone around you – your friends, family, children, colleagues, people you meet on the street, and yes (this is a book on Spiritual Intelligence!), even your enemies. Once you begin to realize that everyone is as unique a person as you are, you will find yourself looking at people in a new light: each one with the spark of divinity in them. Decide what you can do to appreciate, help and learn from them more.
3 Learn from Your Life’s Events
Look back over your life and its major events, traumas, pains and failures. Realize that every one of these is something that is strengthening your Spirit. Do everything you can to help that experience accelerate your growing strength – seek out the positive aspects, the silver linings, and all the possible lessons you can learn.
4 Learn to Appreciate the Natural World
Spend some time appreciating the multi-sensory beauty that surrounds you. Go for walks in the countryside as often as you can, or in parkland or some beautiful botanical garden (if you are lucky enough to live near one). Drink in the fresh air, the different scents and sounds, and the peace. Try doing this alone, as well as with your family or friends.
5 Play the ‘Uniqueness Game’
Consider how many thoughts you have had in your life so far. Now think how many other people could have thought exactly the same thought, at exactly the same time, in exactly the same place?
You are unique amongst all the human beings who have ever lived, who do live and who will ever live. You are alone in this vast universe. But by being alone, you become like the six billion other human beings on the planet who are also alone. You are together in being alone! Think about it, and marvel at your simultaneous individuality and community.
6 Star Gaze!
Look up at the stars at night and try and get to know the different constellations – better still, invest in a basic telescope and really begin to explore the heavens. It is an amazing fact, but the entire universe you are seeing, you are recreating in your head! Just think – the tiny, microcosmic you can take in, hold and recreate the universe!
7 Ask Yourself Questions
Asking yourself questions such as:
