Sara, Book 1 by Esther And Jerry Hicks Page A

faucet.
    “Who puts the appreciation in the faucet, Solomon? Where does it come from?”
    It has always been there, Sara. It’s just naturally there.
    “Well, then, why aren’t more people spraying it around?”
    Well, because most people have disconnected from the faucet, Sara. Not intentionally, but they just don’t understand how to stay connected.
    “Okay, then, Solomon, are you saying that I can hook up to it anytime that I want to and I can spray it around, anyplace, anytime, on anything I want to?”
    That’s right, Sara. And wherever you spray your hose of appreciation, you will begin to notice very obvious changes.
    “Wow!” Sara whispered, mentally trying to size up the magnitude of what she had just learned. “Solomon, this is like magic!”
    It seems like magic at first, Sara, but in time it begins to feel very natural. Feeling good—and then being a catalyst to help others feel good—is the most natural thing you will ever do!
    Sara gathered her book bag and her discarded jacket, getting ready to tell Solomon good-bye for this day.
    Just remember, Sara, your work is to stay hooked to the faucet.
    Sara stopped and turned back to Solomon, realizing, suddenly, that this may not be as easy or as magical as Solomon had made it sound at first.
    “Is there a trick to that, Solomon, to stay hooked to the faucet?”
    It may take a little practice at first. You’ll get better and better at it. For the next few days, just think about something, and then pay attention to how you feel. You’ll notice, Sara, that when you’re appreciating or basking or applauding or seeing positive aspects, you’ll feel wonderful, and that means you’re hooked to the faucet. But when you’re blaming or criticizing or finding fault, you won’t feel good. And that means you’re unhooked, at least for the time you’re feeling bad. Have fun with this, Sara. And with those last words, Solomon was gone.
    Sara felt such exhilaration as she walked home that day. She had already enjoyed Solomon’s game of appreciation, but the idea of appreciating with the intent of hooking to this wonderful faucet excited her even more. Somehow it gave Sara more reason to appreciate.
    Sara rounded the corner for the last stretch of her walk home and saw Old Aunt Zoie moving very slowly up her walkway. All winter long, Sara hadn’t seen her at all, and she was surprised to see her outside. Aunt Zoie didn’t see Sara, so Sara didn’t call out to her, not wanting to startle her, and also, not wanting to get involved in the long conversation that was probable. Aunt Zoie talked very slowly, and over the years, Sara had learned to avoid the frustration of seeing her groping for words to express her thoughts. It was as if her mind worked so much faster than her mouth that she would get all mixed up about where she was within the thought. When Sara tried to help by putting a word in here and there, it only irritated Aunt Zoie. So Sara had decided that avoidance was the best solution — although that never really felt right either. Sara felt sad as she watched this poor old woman hobbling up her stairs. She was holding on to the railing with all of her strength, taking one step at a time, very slowly moving up a set of four or five stairs onto her front porch.

    I hope I’m not like that when I’m old, Sara thought. And then Sara remembered her last talk with Solomon. The faucet! I’ll shower her with the faucet! First, I connect to the faucet, and then I flow it all over her. But the feeling wasn’t there. Okay, I’ll try again. Still, no feeling of being hooked up. Sara felt instant frustration. “But Solomon,” she pleaded, “this is really important. Aunt Zoie needs to be sprayed.” No reply from Solomon. “Solomon, where are you?” Sara shouted out loud, not even realizing Aunt Zoie had now noticed her and was standing at the top of the stairs watching her.
    “Who are you talking to?” Aunt Zoie barked.
    Sara was startled and