Metaphors for Adults

Question 1

Self Confidence

APPLE TREE

Answer 1

At the bottom of a garden, two trees gnarled old apple tree & newly planted pear tree, straight, vigorous and young. A tree surgeon had to remove one. He examined both trees thoroughly. The old apple tree was worried. She knew she was old and gnarled. She also knew she didn’t make as much fruit as she had done in previous years. The handsome, young pear tree was confident: ‘I have a tall, straight trunk and many seasons of bearing fruit to come. The old grandfather said: ‘I remember the day in Autumn that my father planted this tree, we were so excited to see the first year it bore fruit.’ And the apple tree felt a warm feeling spread through her trunk. Then, his son said: ‘I remember hanging a hammock from this big tree to the other big tree one summer and having the best sleep of my life’. The boy’s mother smiled and said: ‘I love this old tree. I remember feeding you children as babies under it.’ Her teenage daughter smiled and said: ‘I remember climbing this tree in the Summer and eating one of the big juicy apples, when I got right to the top.’ And the old apple tree felt the warm feeling pulse through the whole of her. Then, her young brother said: ‘I still climb this tree!’ And the next day the tree surgeon came. The pear tree was dug up and planted some distance from the old apple tree. And the old apple tree was left exactly as she was. She spread her branches and shook her leaves with contentment.

Question 2

Memories

CARPET BAG

Answer 2

The first day the boy went to school, he was given a back pack. It was light and contained only what was essential. He was very proud of it. And he felt like he was growing up. Then, when he became a student, he was given a bag for books. And when he started his first job, there was another bag for his laptop. Soon, he realised that he was carrying a large amount of weight with him wherever he went. And, as time went on, strangely, he started to feel the burden, even when he wasn’t at work. That night, the man had a dream. In that dream, he dragged a large carpet bag. When he opened it, he found that it was filled with his lifetime of memories and thoughts. Some were light and wispy, like air, flecked with golden lights. They floated in the carpet bag. But some were heavy, dark metallic grey iron bricks and weighed down the carpet bag. He took out each brick, until it formed high wall around him. The wall was intimidating, shiny, and claustrophobic. And he was determined to transform that wall. He looked down and noticed that his hands were creating a great deal of heat. He put them out to touch the wall and somehow all the heavy metal bricks began to melt. And as they melted, they turned into wisps of air, flecked with gold. Until there was nothing left in the room but the lightness of his memories swirling around him. When he awoke, the man’s hands were normal temperature, as they always had been. But he felt a tremendous release of tension.

Question 3

Adventure

CARPET OF FLOWERS

Answer 3

There was once a woman who loved to take photographs. The walls of her home were covered in her beautiful, framed landscapes. She loved the experience of finding locations, taking pictures and developing and displaying her art. Her friend had liked to take photos too. He was struck by his friend’s recent photo of bluebells lit up by sunlight in a wood. ‘I wish I could take a photo like that,’ he said. His friend was eager to help. ‘Go down the lane,’ she said. ‘Take the fork on the right. Go over the stile and there is the wood - with the carpet of flowers.’ The man knew the right fork because he always took his morning walk in the wood - but he always took the left fork. ‘I’ll go tomorrow!’ he said decisively. He went into his attic and found his camera. When he came back from his morning walk the next day, he carried his camera. So, his friend asked: ‘Any luck?’ Dispirited, the man replied: ‘No, I didn’t take the right fork,’ he replied. ‘It was steep and I’m a bit tired. So, I just stuck with the left path, as usual. It isn’t steep.’ On the second morning, she met him again and she asked: ‘Any luck?’ Crestfallen, the man replied: ‘No, the right fork looked muddy. It’s been raining, so I just stuck with the left path, as usual. It rarely gets muddy.’ On the third morning, the photographer asked: ‘Any luck?’ Disappointed, the man replied: ‘No, the right fork was busy with other walkers, I felt I would be in their way. So, I just stuck with the left path, as usual, because it is always quiet.’ But this time, his friend the photographer replied: ‘Never mind, the bluebells will have finished by now. But there is an amazing view from the brow of the hill. You could go there tomorrow instead. I think you’ll really like it…’ The man smiled, relieved to know that there was another opportunity for him in a completely different place.

Question 4

Confidence

CHURCH BELLS

Answer 4

Back in time, before technology, communities communicated in other ways. In one particular town, the church was a focal point and people knew when services were held, by the pattern and sound of the church bells. There were specific chimes for weddings, and chimes for funerals, and chimes on the hour, every hour to tell the time. In the belfry, the bells jostled with one another, each believing that they were more important than the other. The largest bell said: ‘Well, I make the most noise and most people can hear me, so I am definitely the most important.’ Then, the bell that was rung the most said: ‘That most certainly is not true. I ring more than any other bell, so I am definitely the most important.’ The bell that was rung at weddings said: ‘Well, that’s wrong. I ring at weddings and I make people the happiest - so I am definitely the most important.’ The smallest bell grew despondent and as time went on, the bell wondered what its purpose was, so high up in the church and ignored. Then, one day, there were urgent footsteps on the steps to the church tower. People were anxious and shouted to one another. And the smallest bell was rung over and over that day with someone taking it in turns to ring it vigorously. And the noise of the little bell chimed all over the town. And the bell realised its purpose. It had the most important duty of all - to warn the townspeople that there was a fire. The purpose of the smallest bell was to save people’s lives. And from that day on, all the other bells were quiet and no longer argued.

Question 5

Confidence

COLOURFUL CLOTHES

Answer 5

In one particular industrial town, it rained a lot. One woman, who worked in a factory, would put on her sombre clothes each morning. She would look at her reflection in her mirror and sigh. She felt as dreary as the town.She really wanted to wear a spirited yellow, a lively pink or an uplifting green, but her colleagues merely scoffed at her idea. So, she stifled the nagging sense that a bit of colour would make all the difference. At about that time, a new clothes store opened. It broke the mould. In the window, were stylish fashions in all colours of the rainbow. The woman slowed her pace as she walked by the shop each day, looking in to admire the bright colours. But she didn’t dare to enter because her colleagues criticised everything about the store. The woman noticed, however, that some other people had started to wear clothes and shoes from the shop. And they were people with a jaunt in their step and a smile on their face. They were people the woman didn’t know. But they were people she definitely would have liked to know. That evening she bravely walked into the new shop and bought a pair of ruby red knee length high boots. The following morning, she walked to work with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She wore her cheerful, red boots People in the street noticed them and some smiled. Each day, she wore more and more new, bright clothes.

Question 6

Goals

DOMINOES

Answer 6

Change can be like a cascade of dominoes. The patience it takes to set them up correctly can be daunting. At first, you may place them too far apart - or even too close together - to ensure that they will fall correctly. In fact, you may knock a few over by mistake and have to start again. But, in time, you will place the dominoes precisely upright and the optimum distance from one another across the floor. And then first domino will fall. And so will all the rest, spectacularly, one after another. Just as they are meant to.

Question 7

Presence

GOLDEN SUNRISE

Answer 7

When the sun rises each morning, its glorious orange glow marks the end of night and the beginning of a bright, new day. But, to the people on one particular farm, it wasn’t a brand new day to them. The farmer felt tired and irritable, as he tugged on his boots and walked to the cow byre. As the sunrise deepened red and gold, the farmer’s wife frowned, as she kneaded dough in the kitchen. As shafts of light showered the farm, the farmer’s elderly mother grumbled that she felt cold, as she lit the grate in the fire. But the farm’s handsome cockerel felt invigorated, as he fluttered up onto his high perch. His eyes were the shade of the morning sun as he looked out at the world. He was filled with exhilarating excitement and vigour as he crowed. He crowed to meet the day - to mark his territory and to express his absolute delight at being alive; and his cros was lusty, loud and long.

Question 8

Worry

HOUSEMARTINS

Answer 8

When Spring came, the housemartins neared the end of their long journey back from Africa to their summer home in England. It had been a long journey. They were aiming for the rafters of a great old barn where, for generations, they had raised their young. One particular bird, who tended to be more tired than the rest, was full of worries: ‘I’m sure that our nest will have been destroyed in the Winter,’ she said to the bird who flew next to her. ‘Then you will build up the foundations of moist mud, layer by layer, until there is a firm nest again,’ her companion replied. But the bird was still worried and said: ‘What if there isn’t enough soft material to line the mud nest?’ ‘Then you will search until you find feathers and soft, dry grass,’ her companion patiently replied. But the bird had thought of another concern and said: ‘What if there aren’t enough insects to feed on?’ ‘You will find insects,’ her companion patiently replied. ‘You are light, muscular and have quick reflexes.’ But the bird had thought of another concern and began to say: ‘What if ?’ And her companion realised that there was no end to the worries of this bird and this time she interrupted and said: ‘Look around you – we have flown across the world. You are missing the mountains, oceans, valleys and rivers. This is a journey of a lifetime!. For the first time, the housemartin looked around her, alive to the present moment. She suddenly noticed the exquisite rolling English countryside, the warm sun on her glossy black and white plumage and the soft currents of air. And life, which had seemed so utterly overwhelming, was, in that moment, beautiful and glorious. Therapeutic Goals: ·Present Moment

Question 9

Relaxation

JIGSAW PUZZLE

Answer 9

All the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle were scattered in piles across the table. There were many pieces, with obscure fittings. To the sad man, nothing seemed to fit together. He could neither tell what the picture was, nor how to make it. To him, the puzzle seemed impossible. The man became upset and frustrated. He so much wanted to solve the puzzle. So he decided to get up and take a break. He rested his body. And then he calmed his mind. Then he realised what he must do to complete the puzzle and he said to himself: ‘I will look at the picture on the box again. This is what I need to aim to make. If I follow that, I can’t go wrong.’ And the sad man looked at the picture on the box and was surprised to see that it was of himself, happy and laughing. This was the picture he needed to make. And he realised that all the pieces in front of him, were of parts of himself: his hair, his eyes, his nose, his mouth and his cheeks. All he had to do was to patiently look at the pieces and refer back to the picture of his smiling self and he would be able to solve the puzzle. The task was actually quite possible, after all.

Question 10

Letting go

LOCKS AND BOLTS

Answer 10

In a small, gloomy, sparse cell was a man who had been imprisoned for many years. Every day, he went through monotonous routines, cut off from everything that made life worth living. And he felt as if he carried the sad sorrow of his life like a dead weight around his neck. More recently, he would stare through the bars of his small window and wonder at the lives of people who were free. In the distance, he could hear children laughing, the cheerful ringing of a cyclist’s bell, an old-fashioned tune piping from an ice cream van, birds singing and the chatter of friends. Although close, they felt a million miles away. And the more he listened, the more he longed to belong. One day, a new prisoner arrived in the next cell. They could hear each other’s voice through the wall. The man was eager for company and asked: ‘What are you in for?’ ‘For the same reason as you,’ came the mournful reply. The man realised, with a jolt, that he couldn’t remember why he was there. So, he asked: ‘I may be losing my memory but please tell me what you did.’ The fellow prisoner replied: ‘You put yourself here. Something very painful happened to you and you decided to lock yourself away. The locks were ones you locked, the bolts were ones you bolted, just as I have done. Can you not remember?’ The man stared at the cell door, shocked. He remembered the pain now but it was so long ago, that it seemed very small and unimportant now. The feeling that life was passing him by was much more pressing. He nervously touched the forbidding array of bolts and locks. Then, with determination, he pulled across the bolts, one at a time. When he had finished, he noticed that around his neck was a thick chain where many keys were suspended. He took the chain from around his neck. The feeling of release was immense, as the dead weight was lifted. Using every key, he unlocked every lock. As freedom came closer, the feeling of anticipation and excitement grew until, finally, he opened the cell door. He was bathed in bright, golden light. He blinked, unused to the glare, as the sun’s heat flooded his body. And he stepped forward, knowing that he was ready for life again.

Question 11

Coping

LOST KEYS

Answer 11

There once was a man who preferred to know what was going to happen in advance so that he could prepare. Above all things he disliked a surprise. One day, he arrived home on the bus. It was raining and he put his hand in his pocket to get the key to his front door. But he could not find it. His house keys were nowhere to be found. How was he to get in? All he wanted to do was relax! It was the last straw after a long day at work, where nothing seemed to have gone right. His mind was blank with panic.. And, as he sat on his doorstep, he became very quiet and still. And, in that stillness, a little voice inside his head reminded him of a game that his brother and he played when they were children. They would pretend that they were on a desert island. And he remembered how they had said they would build a raft and spear fish and make a hut. They had play-acted how they would use everything around them to survive. There seemed to be no end of adventures on that island. And, as the rain lashed down, he started to play that game again - though not about the desert island but about what he could do to help himself now. He realised that: · He could phone a friend. · He could call a locksmith. · He could phone work and ask them if they could look for his key. · He could speak to a neighbour and ask them to shelter him until help came. · He could smash a window and let himself in the back door. Where there had been a black hole of panic, there now were many options to explore. And then he remembered something else. Some time ago, he had left his spare key under a pot by the door so that a friend could stay when he was away on holiday. And so he turned and found that pot and lifted it up and there shining brightly back at him was the spare key. Therapeutic Goals: · Cope with any Challenge · Remain Relaxed in all Situations

Question 12

Freedom

MELTING DROP

Answer 12

The water drop was frozen to the branch of an old tree, high up on a mountain. And it disliked feeling so immobile. Its days were melancholy as it hung there, feeling that maybe this inability to move would continue forever. It had been a long Winter. But the opportunity of Spring was on its way and the drop was determined to take advantage of the thaw. And, one day, rays of sunshine began to appear on the mountain and the drop of water was determined to give way and melt. So, it relaxed in the transforming warmth, and it loosened its grip on the cold branch. Naturally, the icy drop felt a little unsure as it absorbed the sun’s energy and began to change into a flexible liquid. And it splashed down from the branch to the ground. The sense of freedom was invigorating. With mounting confidence, the drop flowed in a stream, with all the other gurgling water drops, down to the river. It was the beginning of new experiences, which could not be predicted. What creatures would the water drop meet? Maybe playful otters or flying fish? Would the river take it on south, where the weather would be hot? Maybe it would head to the equator, where it would evaporate and form part of a cloud,…swooping around the earth, until a formed magical, geometric snowflake some timed later. Whatever the journey, the water drop knew its adventure was just beginning.

Question 13

Calmness

NOISY BRIDGE

Answer 13

The man lived in a flat, by a road, on a bridge. It was the busiest part of the city. The flat was at the top of a building of many flats, filled with noisy people. Cars either sped along, or queued on the bridge, in long traffic jams. Slow boats chugged under the bridge, whilst speed boats zipped under it, tooting their horns. The man had lived there for many years. He always said ‘hello’ to his neighbours. He always cheerily smiled, as he cycled passed the queues of cars on the bridge. And he always waved to the people who travelled in the boats under the bridge. He even had time to welcome newcomers to the block of flats, with a gift of fresh soup. A particularly anxious young mother, who had just moved in, was finding the neighbours, road and boats too noisy to bear. And when the man arrived with soup, she gratefully took it. She noticed how serene the kind neighbour was. And so the young mother asked him: ‘What’s your secret? How to you manage to stay so calm?’ And the man smiled and said: “There is a quiet eye of stillness in the centre of every storm. You just have to walk over and stand in it.”

Question 14

Resilience

OCEAN RACE

Answer 14

Everyone knows that sailing can be a dangerous sport, especially when sailors cover long distances over perilous seas. But with the right training and practice, it can also be a thrilling adventure. Every year, there was a great race from one side of the ocean to the other. It was very competitive. The race began well. But rumours started about storms. The media told of catastrophic Force Nines and made other dire predictions. Of course, they weren’t meteorologists, but it didn’t matter to the newsreaders, who continued to scare-monger. When the news came through, many sailors turned back, frightened by it. Others continued on a bit further, but the more they listened to the reports, the more uncertain they became that they would make it through with their lives. The newsreaders continued on with horrifying predictions about the size of the swells and the force of the gales. And, one by one, they all turned back, except for just one yacht - ‘Intrepid’. It sailed through the storm, which was no more than a swell, and reached the finish line all alone. There was a media frenzy. Stations from around the world, who had been so incredulous that anyone could cross the ocean, jostled to interview the yachtsman. He smiled, a little amused, and said: ‘Well, I checked the forecast before I left, memorised the charts and used my navigational aids. I switched my radio off because I knew the way.’

Question 15

Perspective

Oil Painting

Answer 15

The student stood in the impressionist section of the art gallery. He stood very close to a canvas, examining a painting. He had studied what he should look for and so noted the wide brush strokes of unmixed, coloured paints. It made no sense to him, but he wanted to appreciate the picture. A teacher saw the student, engrossed in the detail, and said: ‘Why don’t you stand back from the painting and look at it from over there?’ Surprised, the student agreed and walked several metres away and immediately saw the vibrant image with new eyes. The single colours formed a stunning, bold picture of a bird in flight. Then the teacher asked: ‘What do you think of the painting now?’ And the student replied: ‘By looking at it from a new vantage point I can see it in a completely different way. This picture is now beautiful, whereas before, it only had the potential to be.’

Question 16

Change

Old and New Friends

Answer 16

The woman was shy. Although she had many kind thoughts and interesting ideas, somehow she found it difficult to articulate them. Many times, she noticed a group of people who were quick-witted and could tell jokes and stories to each other, effortlessly. She so wanted to join them. The things she liked doing, like swimming, running and playing chess with old friends seemed very boring in comparison to the new friends she wanted. It wasn’t long before the group welcomed her and when she was with them she too felt amusing and relaxed. The trouble was, the more time she spent with her new friends, the more of her they seemed to want. It was fun at first, but soon it became expensive and stressful. If she tried to have a night to herself, her new friends kept pressurising her to join them. Seeing her old friends was out of the question now. Her new friends were not patient with her. And the woman began to realise that what she had perceived as their fun and happy banter was, in fact, gossip and nasty stories. She was also worried and distracted by her money concerns, so she could not concentrate on playing chess or exercise either. Her whole day was fixated on her time with her new friends. As the woman walked home, with a heavy step, she had to wait at some traffic lights. And there, in front of her, was a STOP sign - white writing on red. She stared at it as if it was a message, just for her. And as other people walked on when the light went green, she stopped. Her future life flashed before her eyes: more financial and health problems and loss of old friendships. The sign was right, she did have to STOP. It wouldn’t be easy. Part of her still wanted to be in the group, but the truth of the matter was, they were making her unhappy. As she walked on, she came to the bar where they all sat. And they waved to her. But, this time, she didn’t wave back and she walked home - as if she had lost a huge weight from her shoulders.

Question 17

Commitment

Plot The Route

Answer 17

Everyone knows that a maze is just a bit of fun. For one particular boy though, this just wasn’t the case. For him, the key was to get to the centre. He wanted to get there first and to avoid as many of the twists, turns and dead ends as possible. He hated the thought of not knowing where he was going. He arrived at the maze with a detailed Plan. As his brothers and sisters piled in, laughing excitedly, the boy, as planned, noted compass directions, only took left turns, counted his footsteps and drew his route onto paper. But new variables appeared. The hedges were taller than he had imagined. What was more, branches had been broken at a low level by people squeezing under the hedges, so there were unexpected routes. The boy was confused. And his notes became confused as he began to get disorientated. He could no longer follow his Plan. As he stood flustered and immobile in a dead end, he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder and turned to see his older brother. ‘What are you doing?’ He asked. ‘I’m plotting the best route to the centre of the maze, so I don’t get lost,’ the boy anxiously replied. His brother smiled and said: ‘Let’s just run and see where we end up. We may not be first to the centre of the maze. We may get lost - but I promise it will be fun. Come on!’ And he ran ahead gesturing for his brother to follow him. And the boy smiled, put his compass, paper and pen into his pocket - and he ran on into the maze.

Question 18

Serendipity

Poetry Prize

Answer 18

It was the time of year when the English Teacher at one particular school invited all of her students to enter a competition. This year, it was to write a poem entitled: ‘The Meaning of Serenity’. The children were keen to get the prize and so many of them entered the competition. There were short and long poems, limericks, sonnets and prose poetry, some were of excellent quality and some were not. But the theme that ran through every one the English Teacher read, was the same. They all focused on places and people who were calm, in order to describe the meaning of serenity. The poems described boats gliding on tranquil lakes, there were peaceful conversations, there were happy families and sunny skies. But the English Teacher knew that something was missing. Then she picked up a submission from a young girl who came from a broken home. She remembered her well because her shoes were always scuffed and her hair rarely saw a comb but she always had a smile on her face. Her poem was only two lines and it read: ‘Life can be hard, confusing and mean But I stand alone and I stand serene.’ And the English Teacher knew that the girl deserved the prize because she had included the thing that was missing from all the other poems. She also knew that the other children would be surprised at her decision. So, just before she gave the prize to the young girl, she said: ‘I am awarding the poetry prize to someone who knows that it is easy to be serene in a peaceful place. And that the Meaning of Serenity is having the ability to be peaceful amidst the challenges of life.’.

Question 19

Addiction

Rabbit’s Foot

Answer 19

Most people are nervous about change. But one young man felt this more so than most. His stomach was full of butterflies as he tried to imagine what his new life would be like, when he started his new job away from his family home. Years before, his uncle, whose life had not been an easy one, had said that if you carried a rabbit’s foot, it gave you luck and confidence. The young man laughed at how stupid it seemed. To think that confidence could be linked to something like a rabbit! But that first night away was lonely. The flat where he was living now seemed very empty. He slept badly. The following morning, at this low point, as he passed a butcher’s shop, he decided to try out his uncle’s theory. He bought a rabbit’s foot. He was quite embarrassed to ask, but the butcher was used to being asked for them. The young man was surprised at how expensive it was. But, as soon as he touched it, he found it very smooth and comforting and he knew that his uncle had been right. The young man felt instantly better. Somehow, with the rabbit’s foot in his pocket, when he met new people, he felt like the best version of himself, funnier, more out-going and popular. But he didn’t tell his new friends about what gave him that security and confidence. As time went on, the rabbit’s foot began to rot, and so he would have to get another - and another. Each time, he would have to buy a fresh one, he was disgusted with himself, for desperately needing the security of it. He yearned to know what type of man he could be, without it. But he was too scared to find out. And far from feeling confident, he realised that he couldn’t quite be himself with people, as he was ashamed of the rabbit’s foot. So, he did everything he could to hide it. He kept thinking that other people could smell it rotting and he became very tense. One particular night, when he was faced with yet another rotted foot to throw away, he looked at it as it really was - quite disgusting. For the first time, he knew that he could not buy another. He looked deep within himself. And it was if his heart whispered back to him: ‘Your confidence is in here, not in the rabbit’s foot.’ And even though it was another change, and you remember that the young man didn’t like change, he came to learn about his own inner confidence. Even though it was only natural to yearn a little for the rabbit’s foot, which had been so familiar, without it, his life became his own again.

Question 20

Openness

Rose Garden

Answer 20

Back in the days when there were big country estates with households of staff, there was one in particular where the gardens were incredibly fine. The hedges were clipped and the lawn’s edges kept in neat rows. There were fountains and statues, gravel pathways and vistas. There were herb gardens and vegetable beds for the kitchens. But the army of gardeners spent most of their time in the spectacular rose garden, tending the rows of beautiful white, pink and crimson roses. On some summer nights, the perfume from the roses was intoxicating, as it drifted through the windows of the big house. It was during the height of the season that the roses needed the most water and tending. One day, a gardener noticed a plant which was vigorous and beautiful, but whilst all the other rose bushes were a profusion of flowers, this one was just in bud. He checked that the plant had enough water and left, wondering why. Afterwards, the rose bush looked around at the other roses, basking in the sunlight, drinking in the heat of the sun and welcoming the insects and butterflies. She whispered to the nearest plant: ‘Aren’t you worried you will get cut and put in a vase in the big house? Or, that your petals will fall soon, by being so open now? Do you worry that the butterflies will trample on you?’ The rose bush nearby, who had been humming contentedly to… Some highlights have been hidden or truncated due to export limits. Then, she yawned and went back to humming to herself. It took many days for the rose bush to consider what she had learnt. And the gardener wondered if she would ever bloom. Then, one day, when the warmth of the sun pressed on the outer edges of her petals, she tentatively began to unfurl. As the petals began to open, the rose felt beautiful, warm, light air flood through her. The effort it had taken to keep the buds held so tight melted away. She felt blissfully connected to the world, for the first time. She wondered why she had held herself so tight for, so long. The gardener was delighted to see that the rose bush was in bloom. He gathered his fellow gardeners around him to wonder why there had been such a dramatic change. Had it been the full moon the night before? Had it been the rise in temperature? Whatever it had been, they all concluded that this plant, with its deep red roses, was the most beautiful they had ever seen. A handsome Red Admiral butterfly heard what the gardeners had been discussing and flew over to the plant. For a while, he just circled it, admiring the wonders of the rose’s scent and beauty. The, he landed softly on an open flower while she, in unison with all the other rose bushes, began to hum contentedly.

Question 21

Perseverence

SIP OF CHAMPAGNE

Answer 21

Change is a slippery thing. It is an idea which is powerful but may not be easily grasped, especially at your first few attempts. Now, imagine a bottle of champagne - with its delicious chilled liquid and the effervescence bottled up inside. And you know that it is there to be used in celebration. You want to pour some into a crystal champagne flute and enjoy a sip. But, first, you must take off the foil, unscrew the wire mesh and dislodge the cork. And this can be frightening. The cork may fly off. You may be worried that some of the precious liquid could be lost. The cork may also take a while to move. So, you turn it this way and that. And you may even wonder if it will ever move. But, remember, the pressure to change is there. You just need perseverance. And suddenly, as with change, the cork will pop noisily and fly off. And the smoky gas will be released. And then you will be ready for your first sip…

Question 22

Resilience

SNAKES AND LADDERS

Answer 22

You may have played the ‘snakes and ladders’ board game as a child. Here, with each roll of the dice, your aim is to move from one square to the next, gradually moving up the board. And in life, there are helpful opportunities, or ladders, which move you onwards and upwards. And there is adversity, or snakes, which move you backwards and downwards. And the first thing you meet when you encounter the snake, is its head. It has a frightening ability to hiss and rattle. And even give a venomous bite. And just as a ladder feels strong and reassuring, as you prop it up and climb up its solid, wooden timbers - so, the snake feels uncontrollable and slippery, as you slide down its smooth length. But, remember, with each roll of the dice, you will always encounter more chances to find those sturdy ladders to climb. And the more snakes that have hissed at you, the more agile and strong you will become – until you have the strength to climb the very highest ladders.

Question 23

Confidence

STRAY CAT

Answer 23

There was once a farm, in the centre of acres of fields of grain, which were carefully tended. This particular Summer, the pace of the farm increased once more, as machines harvested the corn. From dawn to dusk, there was a great deal of activity. The farmer’s wife had two cats. Each was free to roam. One had been chosen by the family and had been brought onto the farm as a kitten. She was beautiful, with soft, white fur, a round face and golden slanting eyes. She loved nothing more than to stay indoors and luxuriate in the lap of the farmer’s wife. She was adorable - truly the treasured pet, rarely leaving the house, except to sunbathe outside the kitchen door during those Summer months. The other cat was a stray which had arrived one day, seeking shelter. He had been bedraggled, gaunt and frightened of people. He decided to live in the barn. But, over time, he learnt that if he came to the kitchen door, he would be given a saucer of milk. Otherwise, he lived off hunting mice and was independent and alone. The indoor cat knew that she was adored by the family. The outdoor cat was ashamed of his imperfections and shyness, feeling neither attractive nor needed. But, day by day, month by month, he came to trust the farmer’s wife. When he came for his saucer of milk, he looked at her gratefully. As he lapped the milk, she bent down and stroked the stray, who was no longer bony, thanks to the mice he ate and she said: “I am so glad that you came to the farm. We have no problems with mice eating our gain now. We had always hoped that our cat would deal with them but she is not interested in hunting. We now keep all out crop and this is down to you. We are very grateful.” And the cat bristled with pride, hearing the value he had to her. His difference made him special. He had just never realised it before.

Question 24

Courage

SWIMMING WITH THE CURRENT

Answer 24

Once, there were two fish, amongst many, living in a cool, clear river. One was a rainbow of silver colours - the other was brown. The brown fish was agile and loved to dart and swim in the river’s current. When the river sprang into life, she went with it. She loved the sensation of moving along in the water. And she was equally comfortable plunging into the depths of the reeds, as well as springing up to the warmer, higher waters. But the silver-coloured fish was cautious and sedate. She preferred to wait for still water and move herself along, setting a course with her fins. She felt much safer like this. But she admired the brown fish and was curious about her. So, one day, she asked: ‘Where do you get the courage to let the river carry you along?’ The brown fish replied: ‘Just let go. Learn to love and trust the river. Don’t think about swimming. Go with the flow…’ At that moment, the river’s powerful current came near them both and the brown fish engaged with its energy. The silver-coloured fish had the opportunity to let go. But something held her back and she sheltered behind a large stone. The brown fish called out: ‘Come on!’ Grabbing hold of her inner strength and power, the silver coloured fish swished her tail decisevly and moved into the current and rhythm of the river. This time, she did not try to control the direction of travel with her fins. She moved and swayed her body in sync with the current and she felt elated. She experienced much more of the river in those short moments than she had for ten times as long in the calm water. And the silver coloured fish caught up with the brown fish. ‘Thank you for showing me! It’s amazing!’ she said. ‘There’s no need to thank me. You did it yourself,’ said the brown fish, as they sped along in the water together.

Question 25

Change

TEACH THE PARROT

Answer 25

There was once a parrot who lived with an old, bad tempered recluse. The bird was very handsome, had brilliant plumage and intelligent eyes but, unfortunately, he repeated what the man told him. And nobody wanted to visit the old recluse and his bird because the experience was not an enjoyable one. The parrot would say: ‘Nothing good on telly again,’ ‘Get lost!’ and ‘I hate you, you old bird!’ And then he would swear and grumble. Many years later, when the recluse died, his niece was called to sort out his affairs. There was much to do and, in a cage, waiting for her, was the parrot. The woman took the parrot home and decided to look after him and give him the best care possible. But her problems started immediately. The parrot’s phrases started to wear her down and she felt her uncle’s anger and negativity through the words spoken by the bird. Its constant complaining and swearing wore on her nerves. She tried putting a cloth over the cage, stroking him, giving him the best food possible. But it didn’t stop. She went to work, less buoyant. She knew that something must be done. So, she tried a new tactic. Every time she fed the parrot, she said: ‘You look fantastic.’ He then repeated it back to her. She then began to teach him two other new phrases: ‘Great day isn’t it?’ and ‘It’s a smasher.’ And she would repeat them to him. Learning new phrases was a hard habit for the parrot to break but, eventually, he added these positive remarks to his repertoire. In fact, he seemed to prefer the sound of ‘It’s a smasher’ to anything else. The woman marvelled at the change in the parrot. Her guests smiled and laughed at the bird, as he complemented them. And the parrot loved the attention from the woman’s friends and whenever he had the chance, he showed off to them. He wasn’t perfect, of course. The odd negative remark would slip out - from time to time – but, this time, they made her friends laugh.

Question 26

Change

TENDED GARDEN

Answer 26

There was once a woman who lost her happiness and closed the door on her life. Time stood still for her, as rain, snow and wind battered her house. Her beautiful garden, of which she had been so proud, became overgrown and wild. Weeds fought with her plants, jostling each other through thick undergrowth. But the woman remained barricaded inside and ignored it all. One morning, the sunlight was so bright, that it shone through a chink in the curtains and slid over her bedcover until it rested on her eyelids, bright and warm. The sun had returned in the Spring. She got out of bed and walked to the window, to close the chink in the curtain. She glanced at her garden. Where there had been beauty and order, there was chaos and ruin. Ivy had run riot. The lawn was crisscrossed with brambles. Nettles grew several feet high. Pots had fallen and cracked. Some plants were dry and wilting, others choked and starved. She was horrified and put her hand up to close the curtains. In that moment, her eye was caught by a patch of primroses poking their faces to the sun, jaunty and alive, amidst the ruin. As she looked at them, their delicate beauty spread their tendrils around her cold heart. And she knew that she had to weed just the area where they grew, to protect them. She put her dusty old gardening clothes on. For the first time in a long hacked and mowed. And every night, she fell into bed, exhausted. Her body, which had been so neglected, began to grow in strength. And the garden was tamed as she watered, fed, pruned and cosseted it. Those small spring primroses were gone for the season but somehow they remained blooming inside her.

Question 27

Adventure

TRAIN JOURNEY

Answer 27

The man was in the habit of buying a train ticket at a set time to a particular town, just to fill his time. As always, he would stand on the familiar platform and the train would come to a standstill in front of him. As always, he boarded. There was never anywhere to sit. The carriage was always stuffy and full of angry people. The journey was tiring and he would often get flung about, as the train bounced and jolted along the track. But this is what the man was used to doing. This was the route he always took. Station after station sped by. Deep down, every tingling nerve in his body cried out to be with people who were happy. He wanted to sit down and have a smooth route. But he didn’t. Day after day, week after week - it was the same. And then, one day, as he was queueing to get a ticket again, he overheard a young boy talking to his mother. The boy said: ‘There are so many trains here and so many places to go! It’s so exciting!’ And the man looked up at the departure board and saw all the possible trains and journeys he could take. He realised that the young boy was right. And he stood on his usual platform and the doors of the stuffy, crowded train opened and the angry people around him got on to the train. But, this time - he didn’t. The doors slammed and the train pulled away. And he smiled as he stared at it, as it sped on to his old destination - without him.

Question 28

Connection

UNCHANGING FACE

Answer 28

Some time ago, there was a beautiful woman, whose good looks had long been admired. Her thick hair, her dewy complexion and lustrous eyes were the things she cherished most about herself. An admirer, staring in adoration, commented that he couldn’t imagine the day when her looks would be gone, as, in time, they would. The woman was horrified at the realisation that her beauty wouldn’t last. So she vowed to keep her most prized possession for the rest of her life. As the years passed, news spread about the phenomenon of the woman whose face hadn’t aged. She would receive visitors, who were curious about her, keen to know her secret. But the woman rarely spoke and it remained a mystery. One particular young woman became fascinated by her and would visit whenever she could - to admire her preserved face. It was as youthful and as smooth as that of a porcelain doll. Intrigued, she would ask the old woman for her secret. But the old woman wouldn’t answer her. Many months passed and the young woman persisted. Then, one day, the old woman beckoned to her: ‘I will tell you my secret - but in return, you must make me a promise.’ The young woman eagerly agreed. And so the old woman continued: ‘My secret is that I have made a vow that no emotion will ever pass over my face. I have hidden myself from the world because connecting with people leads to emotions - and they are ageing. I have a youthful face but do not admire me. No one can outwit time. I am a woman who has had no laughter and no tears. I am now a freak to be viewed by strangers because I have loved no one. This face has a price. And that price is my forfeit of a giving heart. So, make your promise to me: live your life.’ With compassion and tears in her eyes, the young woman put her hand out to the old woman, to comfort her. But the old woman’s skin was cold and unyielding. And her expression was implacable, once again. And so the girl made her promise and left. She was free of her fascination but filled with the conviction to love and connect, planted like a seed in her heart by the sorrow of the woman who did not smile.

Question 29

Letting Go

WALKING BOOTS

Answer 29

There was once a man, who loved to walk. He walked to work, he walked to his friends, he walked to appointments and he walked up hills, for fun. His walking boots had trudged thousands of miles in their lifetime. They had experienced mud, bleaching sun, cold rain and hard, tarmac pavements. Their laces were now threadbare and frayed and ready to snap at any moment. Their bright sheen had long gone. What’s more, water leaked between the leather and sole. But, each day, the man put on those old walking boots. ‘I’ll never find new ones of the quality of my old walking boots. I’ll forever be repairing them,’ he told himself. So, he glued the sole and leather together. But they quickly parted company and he had to cut his walk short and hobble home. ‘New boots won’t be as waterproof as my old walking boots,’ he convinced himself. And he put on thick socks, to keep out the rain. But they didn’t keep his feet dry and he had to cut his walk short and squelch home. ‘New boots would rub me and cause blisters, not like my old walking boots,’ he persuaded himself. And he tied the leather and sole together as best he could, with the ends of the frayed laces. But, that day, the laces snapped and he had to cut the walk short and limp home. That night, his feet were a mass of blisters. And for the next few days, he was marooned at home. And he looked crossly at his old boots lying on the floor and longingly at the hills in the distance. But, luckily, blisters do heal. And the man realised it was time to buy the new boots.

‘My new walking boots are so sturdy and comfortable and better in every way,’ said the man, certain at last. And, with a new dynamic energy in his step, he splashed through streams and ran powerfully up the hills. And his old boots, which had once served him so well were retired to the garden, where they looked charming planted with flowers. Therapeutic Goals: · Leave it in the Past · Step out of your Comfort Zone

Question 30

Courage

WEAVER’S CLOTH

Answer 30

Long ago, there was once a weaver who produced good, plain, beige cloth. It had just the right weight. The cloth sold at a reasonable price. As the weaver lived simply, she made a moderate living. She made practical clothes from the cloth for herself too. Life was safe and time moved slowly. She was respected and the townspeople approved of her. The trouble was, she kept dreaming about a bigger and more exciting life, with more fun and laughter in it. And, as she weaved the warp and weft of her cloth, throwing the shuttle back and forth, instead of that feeling diminishing - it became stronger and stronger. The rhythm of weaving, which had been relaxing, was not soothing to her any more. She felt that there was so much more within her, that was aching to come out. But she didn’t tell a soul. Then, one day, a pedlar came to sell his wares at her cottage. Normally, she would have sent him on his way, but, this time, the woman invited him in. And she bought three bottles of liquid dye: blue, yellow and red. That evening, she got three large containers, diluted the dye and plunged in the beige thread. Before she went to bed, she hung the thread out to dry. The following morning, she saw what she had done and she flinched. In the morning sun, the dry thread seemed brighter and more flamboyant than she could have imagined. She was horrified at her impulsiveness. There was no beige thread left. But there were orders for cloth to be fulfilled and she had no choice but to keep weaving. She decided to weave in a brilliant blue first. The cloth was bold, bright and individual. When the dealer came to collect his cloth at the end of the week, the weaver wrapped the blue yellow and red cloth in brown paper, to hide it. She thrust it into the dealer’s cart and vowed never to buy from the pedlar again. She worried what the townspeople would think of her. But, the next day, there was a knock at her door. It was the dealer. Not only did she want her cloth but her number of orders had quadrupled. She even needed help from other people to weave enough cloth to meet the demand. And the weaver’s life changed forever. Her cottage, which had been so empty, was full of new friends and colleagues, working together. And she had time to leave the loom, as she experimented with different colours and styles. And the bigger life she had dreamed of - with laughter and fun and… Some highlights have been hidden or truncated due to export limits.

Question 31

Challenge

WOODEN EAGLE

Answer 31

Many generations back, there was a wooden house on the edge of many acres of land, where a large family lived. It was time for their, very old, grandfather to die and the family gathered by his bedside. They all said ‘goodbye’ until, finally, it came to his youngest grandchild to speak to him. The ancient grandfather took the child’s hand and pressed a small, carved, wooden eagle into it and said: ‘Years ago, when my grandfather died, he gave me this eagle. Put it in pride of place and look after it. The eagle will protect the family.’ After the old grandfather died, the little boy took the eagle and put it on the mantle-piece. And the family believed that because the eagle was there, they would not suffer. And they worked their land, as they had done before. Then, one tinder dry night, in the middle of harvest time, the stump of a candle, which had not been snuffed out as carefully as it should have been, fell onto the hearth rug and it caught fire. Very quickly, the family’s wooden home was on fire. All the family escaped but they were distraught, as they watched the flames lick over the house and destroy it. Although their lives were safe, the house and the eagle were destroyed. With the eagle gone, the family believed that they were no longer protected and safe. They were full of fear for the future. They could not believe that the eagle was gone. Then, the young boy spoke: ‘If you think about it, the eagle didn’t stop the fire. And the eagle won’t help us rebuild the house. And it certainly won’t bring in the harvest. We must do this ourselves.’ One by one, each member of the family returned to their work both in the field and to build a new house. When the house was finished, just before the winter, a new lintel was put over the fireplace. But, this time, they didn’t think about the eagle because they weren’t frightened any more.