my car during an ice storm, 3/4/14
Yesterday I spent several hours dealing with what appeared to be battery problems on my car. I drive a 16 year old Toyota minivan which has generally been an amazingly reliable vehicle with one exception: It eats batteries. My current battery is a 60 month battery that has about 24 months on it, so I know I am approaching replacement time. The full replacement warranty is for 36 months, and in the past, I have had one die five days after the full warranty expired. As far as frequent repairs go, however, this is one that is actually relatively cheap since it’s usually prorated if not covered completely. One of our previous cars ate CV boots which were $100 each at that time; those got old to repair.
A fairly common problem among those who are energy workers and/or highly sensitive people is that they accidentally drain batteries. Many people see this happen with their watch batteries, though now that more people are using cell phones instead of watches, it is less of a problem. Someone I know blows out headlights on her car on a regular basis. Anything that involves energy or power is at risk for being drained by an energy worker, though obviously most of us are not doing this intentionally. Lately, I’ve started noticing a pattern related to my emotions and when electrical and/or battery problems happen in my car. So one of my upcoming personal challenges is to figure out how not to let my emotions and the energy they release impact the electrical system on my car!
Whenever my battery dies on my car, it’s always an interesting experience to see how I get help and who offers it to me. In yesterday’s case, my ex-husband was off work for Indigenous People’s Day (or Columbus Day if you believe the local calendars), so he came to help me. The holistic health office I was at when my car refused to start had two receptionists, one of whom had a Prius and the who had a half-dead battery which she had jumped on Friday. Neither was really a realistic candidate for helping me jump my car, but they were both very kind to me, helping find a wrench when we needed to remove my battery. All of the other practitioners were in sessions with clients or patients, so clearly they couldn’t help me.
As my ex-husband was jumping the car, I was sitting on a nearby staircase, and an elderly woman came by. She smiled at me and said, “I’ve been there.” That is the bottom line of it: All of us have been there with car problems at one time or another. To me, it’s never a bad idea to help someone out jumping a car if you are in a safe location and have the time and ability to do so. It feels like a deposit in the karmic piggy bank for the next time your own car dies. A year or two my yard guy’s car battery died in front of my house. I was happy to turn my car around and lend him my jumper cables to jump his car.
What surprises me is when people refuse to help for non-existent reasons. It really shouldn’t because it’s simply another indication of the narcissism and selfishness that is abundant in our society. When my car battery died three years ago in August, I had a horrible time finding someone to help me jump it. I was stranded at Zilker Park outside of Barton Springs pool with all three of my kids in 100 degree heat. My ex-husband was out of town, and his car was at the airport parking lot. I stood by the exit and asked everyone exiting if they could help. A few people were very apologetic as they refused, and I do understand. Sometimes you really do *have* to be somewhere. The oddest refusal, though, was a man who said, “I have a brand new car so I can’t help you.” I wondered if I were a gorgeous young 20-something in a bikini if his new car excuse might have melted away. Finally, one of my kids’ camp counselors, a college student with a beat up old car, quite willingly helped me jump my car. She was incredibly understanding and helpful, and I will be eternally grateful to her for assisting that day.
Compassion can seem the most powerful at times when it appears as help with the little things. Sparing a little battery juice and five minutes of your time to help someone start a reluctant car is one of those acts that can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Whenever we can, it seems like the kind and human thing to do to help others in whatever way presents itself.
© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC
A fairly common problem among those who are energy workers and/or highly sensitive people is that they accidentally drain batteries. Many people see this happen with their watch batteries, though now that more people are using cell phones instead of watches, it is less of a problem. Someone I know blows out headlights on her car on a regular basis. Anything that involves energy or power is at risk for being drained by an energy worker, though obviously most of us are not doing this intentionally. Lately, I’ve started noticing a pattern related to my emotions and when electrical and/or battery problems happen in my car. So one of my upcoming personal challenges is to figure out how not to let my emotions and the energy they release impact the electrical system on my car!
Whenever my battery dies on my car, it’s always an interesting experience to see how I get help and who offers it to me. In yesterday’s case, my ex-husband was off work for Indigenous People’s Day (or Columbus Day if you believe the local calendars), so he came to help me. The holistic health office I was at when my car refused to start had two receptionists, one of whom had a Prius and the who had a half-dead battery which she had jumped on Friday. Neither was really a realistic candidate for helping me jump my car, but they were both very kind to me, helping find a wrench when we needed to remove my battery. All of the other practitioners were in sessions with clients or patients, so clearly they couldn’t help me.
As my ex-husband was jumping the car, I was sitting on a nearby staircase, and an elderly woman came by. She smiled at me and said, “I’ve been there.” That is the bottom line of it: All of us have been there with car problems at one time or another. To me, it’s never a bad idea to help someone out jumping a car if you are in a safe location and have the time and ability to do so. It feels like a deposit in the karmic piggy bank for the next time your own car dies. A year or two my yard guy’s car battery died in front of my house. I was happy to turn my car around and lend him my jumper cables to jump his car.
What surprises me is when people refuse to help for non-existent reasons. It really shouldn’t because it’s simply another indication of the narcissism and selfishness that is abundant in our society. When my car battery died three years ago in August, I had a horrible time finding someone to help me jump it. I was stranded at Zilker Park outside of Barton Springs pool with all three of my kids in 100 degree heat. My ex-husband was out of town, and his car was at the airport parking lot. I stood by the exit and asked everyone exiting if they could help. A few people were very apologetic as they refused, and I do understand. Sometimes you really do *have* to be somewhere. The oddest refusal, though, was a man who said, “I have a brand new car so I can’t help you.” I wondered if I were a gorgeous young 20-something in a bikini if his new car excuse might have melted away. Finally, one of my kids’ camp counselors, a college student with a beat up old car, quite willingly helped me jump my car. She was incredibly understanding and helpful, and I will be eternally grateful to her for assisting that day.
Compassion can seem the most powerful at times when it appears as help with the little things. Sparing a little battery juice and five minutes of your time to help someone start a reluctant car is one of those acts that can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Whenever we can, it seems like the kind and human thing to do to help others in whatever way presents itself.
© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC
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