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of the snake and promptly fetched our oldest son to retrieve it from the closet.
by exotic lizards in containers, with books stacked atop their cages to keep them from getting out. The snakes were particularly strong and could lift four to five pounds worth of reading material to escape their cages’ confines. Needless to say, the gig was up. We put a stop to the breeding operation and ordered them to thin the herd. They could keep one or two snakes, but the rest had to go. Despite the horror of that night, I was proud that the boys were able to turn their hobby into a business and keep it under the radar for so long. However, my wife was less sympathetic. To this day, whenever she hears the sound of crinkling plastic, she freezes in terror!
The morning after the terror in the wardrobe, we sat the boys down to talk about their snake getting out. They seemed nervous — shaken by the prospect of having to answer for their reptile’s great escape. We sensed we were not getting the whole story, so we pressed further. Our oldest son, realizing the gig was up, confessed. As it turns out, there wasn’t just one snake to keep track of. In our oldest son’s closet, there was an entire illicit enterprise — a snake farm. He was breeding the cold- blooded creatures and selling them off for extra cash to buy more feed mice. Hidden in our oldest boy’s closet was not just one snake, but 22. They were accompanied
–David Bennett
STRATEGIES FOR FACING THE UNKNOWN DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTY
Time flies, and things change quickly. The unpredictability of life can be daunting, and no one can predict the future. When we were kids, we feared the dark; now that we’re older, we fear uncertainty. They both stem from the fear of the unknown. With modern technology making the world smaller than ever and the pace of innovation outpacing its efficacy, the future can seem frightening. However, we need not perceive ambiguity and uncertainty as a threat. The future holds challenges, true, but it also is filled with wonder. Here are two strategies to help you overcome your fear of the unknown and approach what life has in store with renewed strength and confidence. Learn to Accept It We all crave information about what’s next. When we don’t understand what life has in store for us, our first instinct may be to hunker down and resist any change. A great example happened during the pandemic when the world shared a moment of common unease and uncertainty. However, the only option was to roll with the punches and accept that some change was inevitable.
Rather than focusing on creating certainty through simple answers to complex problems, like astrology apps, fundamentalist religions, or conspiracy theories, it is better to accept the current circumstances and understand that some things are, for the time being, very nuanced or potentially unknowable. Accepting that we aren’t in control of all facets of our lives helps us be content. Treat the Present as a Gift Keep things fresh by keeping yourself engaged. Instead of worrying about things you cannot control, better yourself so you are prepared for whatever life throws at you. That doesn’t mean you must learn martial arts and survival skills, but even picking up a new hobby can help occupy our minds and settle ourselves down. Remember the many experiences and challenges that led up to this present moment. We all worked hard to get here, and we should take the time to enjoy it. Reconnect with friends and family, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t dwell on things you can’t change. Enjoy the present moment, and live for today!
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