My wife and I recently holidayed in Scotland.
If you are visiting Scotland, you are interested in history or have a family connection; you are not there because of the weather. Scottish weather is notoriously bad. It can involve a phenomenon known as ‘horizontal rain,’ which is pretty much as it sounds. And there is a good reason Scotland is famous for thick wool sweaters. You need thick wool sweaters to keep warm in the damp cold.
One day in Edinburgh, we were eating at a restaurant. The couple at the table next to us were complaining about the weather to the waitress. With a broad Scottish accent, she replied, “acch, there be no such thing as bad weather, there is only inadequate clothing.”
My wife and I laughed, and so did the couple complaining about the weather.
During the next week, we often said, “acch, there be no such thing as bad weather; there is only inadequate clothing.”
As the Scottish rain dripped off my wet gear, I, grateful for being warm and dry, said to myself, “there is no bad weather, there is only inadequate clothing.”
One day we were turned away from a museum that we wanted to visit. The staff was leaving early and closing before the advertised time. Irritated, I turned to my wife and said, “a little bit of damnable Scotland work-to-rule attitude.”
My dear wife said, “now, now… there are no bad things in life, there are only bad attitudes.”
The more I reflected on this idea, the more I liked it. Attitudes are spiritual clothes for life. When I have the correct attitudes, then no matter what happens, I either take no notice, or I laugh it off.
Practicing our 12 Step principles in all my affairs, I have acquired better clothing. In good times and bad, I strive to:
- maintain prayer and meditation practices,
- through inventories, identify my character defects and ask God to remove those that He thinks are a problem, and
- share the message of hope with alcoholics who are suffering.
Then when the bad weather comes in life, I am prepared with adequate spiritual clothing.
Andy says
From emails sent in response to this Post:
“Love it. I sent it to all my staff. ” From Stacey at a treatment center.
And from John “Your wife is a wise woman.”
Thanks for the feedback
Andy says
And from Jim P in Calgary “Nice piece, Andy. I have always thought the only thing I truly have control over is my attitude. I like your notion that it forms our `spiritual clothes`.
Warm regards,
Jim”
And from Shawn in Victoria “Truth”
Andy says
From Aran in Thunder Bay
“Excellent
Aran O
Ps. I am named after the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. Famous for their Aran knit sweaters “