Sara, Book 1 by Esther And Jerry Hicks

wasn’t until she made the decision not to use the vacuum cleaner on the living room carpet, because she didn’t want to disturb her mother, that she realized how good she had come to feel in such a short time. But, in deciding not to vacuum, and perhaps disturb her resting mother, her attention was drawn back to the negative condition; and that dull, icky feeling came back into her stomach.
    Wow! Sara pondered. That’s amazing. I can actually see that the way I feel has only to do with what I’m giving my attention to. The conditions didn’t change, but my attention did!
    Sara felt elated. She realized something very important. She had discovered that her joy is truly not dependent on anyone or anything else.
    Then Sara heard her mother’s bedroom door open, and her mom emerged from the hallway into the kitchen. “Oh, Sara, everything looks so nice!” her mother exclaimed, obviously feeling much better.
    “Did your headache go away, Mom?” Sara asked tenderly.
    “It’s much better now, Sara. I was able to rest for a while because I could tell you were out here taking care of things. Thank you, sweetheart.”
    Sara felt wonderful. She knew that she hadn’t actually done much more than she did every single day after school. Her mother wasn’t appreciating Sara for her action. Her mother was appreciative of Sara’s open valve. I can do this, Sara decided. I can keep my valve open no matter the conditions.
    Sara remembered Solomon’s affirmation: I will keep my valve open—anyway!

C HAPTER 19
    V ery nice, Sara—an A. Sara read the words scrawled across the top of yesterday’s assignment, just handed back to her by Mr. Jorgensen.
    Sara tried to stifle an ear-to-ear grin as she read the words written in bright red ink. Mr. Jorgensen glanced back at Sara as he handed the girl in front of her her paper, and when Sara’s eyes met his, he winked at her.
    Sara felt her heart jump. She felt very proud. This was a new feeling for Sara, and one, she noticed, that she liked very much.
    Sara couldn’t wait to get to the thicket to talk to Solomon.
    “Solomon, what has happened to Mr. Jorgensen?” Sara asked. “He seems like a different man.”
    He’s the same man, Sara; you’re just noticing different things.
    “I don’t think I’m noticing different things; I think he’s doing different things.”
    Like what, Sara?
    “Well, like he smiles a lot more than he used to. And sometimes he whistles before the bell rings. He never used to do that. He even winked at me! And he’s been telling better stories in class, making the class laugh more. Solomon, he just seems a whole lot happier than he used to.”
    Well, Sara. It sounds like your teacher may have joined your chain-of-joy.
    Sara was stunned. Was Solomon actually trying to give Sara the credit for Mr. Jorgensen’s change in behavior?
    “Solomon, are you saying that I made Mr. Jorgensen happier?”
    Well, it’s not only your doing, Sara, because Mr. Jorgensen truly wants to be happy. But you did help him to remember that he wants to be happy. And you did help him to remember why he decided to become a teacher to begin with.
    “But Solomon, I haven’t talked to Mr. Jorgensen about any of that. How could I have helped him to remember that?”
    You did all of that, Sara, with your appreciation of Mr. Jorgensen. You see, anytime you hold someone, or something, as your object of attention, and at the same time, you’re feeling that wonderful feeling of appreciation—you add to their state of Well-being. You shower them with your appreciation.
    “Like spraying them with the garden hose?” Sara giggled, pleased with her own silly analogy.
    Yes, Sara. it’s very much like that. But before you can actually spray them, you have to hook your hose to the faucet and turn it on. And that is what the appreciation does. Whenever you’re feeling appreciation or love, whenever you’re seeing something positive about someone or something, you’re hooked to the