One of my favorite TV shows ever, was The Sopranos on HBO.
It was about mob boss Tony Soprano navigating his mental health while simultaneously leading his crime family, blending his reality in the seedy underworld, with the reality that crime is unacceptable in the ‘real world’.
It blends a lot of things I like, and last night Jackie and I were watching the episode titled: Toodle-F***ing-Oo, which touched on Meditation briefly, something I believe works for those who work it.
In this episode, mob veteran Richie Aprile is released from ‘the can’, aka prison, after a 10 year stint for, well …. fuggedaboutit ….
One of the first scenes you see him, he walks into a pizza shop after mumbling something under his breath.
He asks the kid waiter to get the shop owner, ‘Beansie’, and waits as the kid goes to get him.
Beansie comes over and ‘shows his respects’ to Richie, however, Richie is unimpressed with Beansie and his total ‘lack of care’ he showed while Richie was away.
He sees that the Pizza shop is doing well and reminds Beansie that he and his brother ‘put Beansie into action’ back in the day, and it’s time to collect what he feels he’s owed from Beansie, because his shops are doing so well.
This would be classified as a ‘shake-down’, in mob lingo.
Richie, in a very cool, calm, zen-like manner says to Beansie “You know, I been doing a lot of Meditation in the can on this … you can’t believe how clear you see things … “
He’s totally right there … meditation, or, sitting with your own thoughts, leads to equanimity, or mental clarity.
When you’re able to see your thoughts for what they are, instead of emotionally reacting to them, you have achieved the ability to navigate life making empowered choices that will create the life you want.
Unfortunately, so many people live most or all of their lives disempowered, at the whim of others, in quiet desperation, hoping it ‘just gets better’.
It won’t.
That’s where, in my humble opinion, perhaps starting to meditate and understand how you, {first_name}, actually think right now, can help you take control of your mental health, and then over time you’ll learn to change that into what you actually WANT to think.
It takes work, but I know you can do it, if you want 🙂
Now, back to the episode ….
After Richie says his peace, Beansie says to him “I’m no grease ball store owner, I will not be shaken down Richie …”
Richie then proceeds to crack Beansie in the face with a coffee pot, breaking his cheek bone.
Clearly Richie needed a little more Meditation practice, however …
What are you thoughts on Meditation?
Be Well – John
Changing the way Life is done.
Mindset. Fitness. Nutrition.
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