Just because we don't know that something exists, does not necessarily mean that it is not actually there. Our 3 friends have discovered that the three earlier travellers, who had been presumed lost, are alive and well.
In an instant, many of the fears of failure that Pre was entertaining, based on his beliefs of something that may have happened in the past, have been proved to be without foundation.
Pro is already looking into the future again by asking if the treasure their predecessors found met up with their expectations. In reality we don't even know if they found anything at all or indeed if that treasure would have the same value for Pro.
Of the three, Nunco is the most relaxed since he is firmly routed in the present, while his friend pro is always searching for answers in the future and Pre spends his life fighting the demons of his past.
As our three friends sit down, sipping their tea, Santiago continues. “It is important before I start, that you all really want to hear our story. If any of the three of you is unsure about knowing the outcome, then will I not tell any of you about our journey or the treasure!”
“Indeed”, he continued “unless you all have the same burning desire to find this treasure, no matter what you believe it actually to be, I can not tell you. And what is more, you are probably also wondering what we have done with the treasure as well”
“So before I start to tell you our story, let me ask you the following question. Do you know what you are looking for; I mean do you know exactly what the treasure you are seeking looks like?”
“Yes” shouted Pre and Pro simultaneously, while Nunco said “No”
Pre and Pro, who had been so sure what they were looking for only moments before started at Nunco in amazement.
The third Traveller, a man of medium build balding slightly whose name was Andreas interjected.
“How will you recognise the treasure when you find it?”
Pre and pro were silent, pondering this question, when Nunco answered; “Because it will let itself be known to me”. ”I think” he added hesitantly.
Nunco, a man of few words who had never seemed unsure about anything before, continued, “I feel intuitively that there is something I need to find and I don't yet know what it is and by being with my two friends I am already finding something amazing in their company.”
“I can't however put my finger on what exactly the treasure is. I feel that to try and understand it now, would be like running after a rainbow to find the pot of gold.”
“I normally know exactly what I want and set out to achieve it. And, yes, I do want to find the treasure, but now that you ask, it seems almost amazing to me, that I have not clearly identified the reason for my journey”
“And yet again I know I must keep going. Does that make any sense to anyone?” He asked.
Pre and Pro looked at each other, seeing as they had never discussed precisely what the treasure was, they were each curious as to the other's perception of riches.
“My apologies my friends” said Santiago , “I really seem to have opened a can of worms here. But don't let that upset you as we were in the exact same position ourselves, which leads me back to my story”
He was about to continue, when Pre suddenly got up and started running back along the path that they had come from. Nunco ran after him, while Pro stayed where he was and asked Santiago to continue with the story.
“I can't continue” said Santiago , “because I must tell it to the three of you or none at all. And what is more, you all must deeply want to know what we found.”
Meanwhile Nunco, out of breath caught up with Pre, back at the mountain stream that they had passed earlier.
“What is up my friend?” he enquired, looking at his travelling companion with concern.
“ I have ruined it all” said Pre, “I just don't want to hear what it is they have to say, maybe their treasure is different to ours, maybe knowing what they found will mean that what I am looking for will not have the same magic.
Oh, why did I run away, now they won't tell us at all, and I have ruined it for you and Pro. Especially Pro, I know he wants to know, he always wants to know everything, it's like he wants his whole life planned out – isn't it Nunco?”
“And what is important in your life Pre”
“I want avoid making the same mistakes that I have always made. I go over and over them in my head, it's as though I feel I can undo the past if I focus on it enough”
“And can you?”
“Ok, Nunco, I know, you are always suggesting that I should enjoy where I am right now, but come on, get real, how can I possibly be happy right now, Look what I have gone and done, I have just ruined it for everyone. Oh, I wish I hadn't, Oh, why did I do it, I am always making a mess of things, aren't I?”
“So how has running out here, apart from making me feel knackered, actually harmed anyone?”
“Because now we will never know what treasure these guys found”
“Is that important? Knowing what THEY found?”
“Well I guess it was for Pro, I saw the look he gave me; I bet he is right now trying to persuade Santiago to tell him the story. He always does that, doesn't he? He might have even set off already to get a head start on us.”
“In fact” added Pre, “that is probably why I didn't want to hear about it at all. What If I had been wrong and Pro was right? I would never have heard the end of it. In fact I don't know why I am feeling guilty at all, it really is his fault.”
“His fault?” queried Nunco.
“Ok, so I can't really blame him, but it would be a heck of a lot easier if I could, wouldn't it?”
“Would it be easier, because then you would not be blaming yourself and thus you could avoid what we often classify as guilt?”
“Ok, you're right, I can't blame him at all, I just hate feeling guilty, because I know it is really my fault and that feeling really burns one up”
“So, decide now not to feel guilty then – after all we can never now know what would have happened since it has all passed, so does feeling guilty make you feel better?”
“Of course not, how could feeling guilty make anyone feel good?”
“You are right, you can never feel good feeling guilty – so maybe instead, you could start looking at what good can come of this – do you want to give that a try?”
“Hang on, are you saying I should just forget all about this and treat it like it never happened?”
“No, I am asking you what lesson you can learn from it, how can you now use this situation to your advantage, as a way to actually make you feel better”
“Well if we knew what the treasure was and we did not want it, we would have nothing left to strive for, that is why I left the village on this journey after all” mused Pre.
As Pre started to relax and start thinking about what good could come out of his bolting, the two of them headed back to the others.
Pre actually felt himself looking forward to collecting Pro and continuing on their adventure. Nunco started thinking how important it was, that no matter what it is you seek, that you can still live and enjoy each moment.
Maybe part of the treasure was the journey itself, after all without winning the Lotto, you can't suddenly materialise €1million out of the air, you actually have to work for it. The more your work was something that you truly loved doing, the easier earning your riches became.
Nunco was starting to share these thoughts with Pre as they rounded the corner, However they saw only the three fortune seekers.
Pro and Electra were nowhere to be seen………
………..To be continued
Blame and Guilt are two emotions focused on the past, which we can never alter, and thus they serve no purpose.
When we feel guilty about something, we are giving into self recrimination. It is much healthier to take responsibility for what we have done, accept it and move forward to try and improve on the current situation.
Blame on the other hand is normally directed at others, which as a temporary measure removes responsibility from us. By attempting to avoid the consequences of how the event could impact us we could end up missing out on some very valuable lessons.
Learning from the past with gratitude, will enable you to enjoy a far more fulfilling and joyous journey through life.
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