Category: Memory

In the English language we have many sayings, some of which have a similar saying in other cultures and languages.

“Browned Off” has a meaning that one has had enough of a situation, the situation has gone on too long, that one is “fed up“.

Perhaps you have been talking to someone and they continually tell you the same story time and time again, they will not shut up, you become fed-up of hearing the same thing, you become bored, upset, you switch off.

Perhaps you ask someone to do something, and no matter how much they promise to do that thing, to pay an invoice, get or make a drink, organise or produce something, they fail to honour that promise, but you keep asking, asking, negotiating, and they fail to deliver, saying “next week”, “soon” etc.

You get fed-up or “Browned Off” of asking, and you stop asking. 

Perhaps you retaliate by not asking them to do anything again, you stop even working, and they wonder why.

This morning I had that experience.

I woke up on a bright Sunday morning, on the last day of a course I am giving in Istanbul.

The previous night I had learned that the clocks were to go back one hour, so that meant I could have an extra hours sleep, which I badly needed.  Trouble was the staff in the company that currently organises my training in Turkey, did not learn of this extra hour, and thus opened the offices at eight (8am). Pity they have no understanding what is happening in the world around, their environment.

I love a shower first thing in the morning. It washes away the body smells, the sweat that we generate during sleep.

As I stand in the shower, with the water flowing down my body, I practice Hara, Mustapha, Antonio, Fred, re-enforcing my power, like a rock, a statue, an oak tree.

Standing there, I also imagine all the Poo Poo that has happened to me the previous day, my bad thoughts and feelings. I give them a colour, black, orange, yellow, whatever, and I imagine these feelings, thoughts being washed away with the shower water, seeing the colour, the feelings washing away, down the body, and as the water swirls down the plug or drain hole, I let those thoughts, feelings, all the Poo Poo vanish.

I looked at the water as it began to run from the tape, and it had a light brown tinge to it, which is nothing if there has been some maintenance work, just run the water for a while.

The more I looked at the water coming from the tape in the bath, the browner it got. It went from a light brown , darker and darker, until it was the colour of mud, and this had been after five minutes. I had turned the tap on with full flow, too much for the water to drain out off the plug, so the bath began to fill up, and I noticed brown deposits beginning to build up.

Five minutes later it was still coming out of the tap dark brown, so for ten minutes I stood there waiting for my shower. It paid off, because the brown liquid started to clear, to get lighter, until it became clear like crystal.

Now I could have my refreshing shower, to clear away the Poo Poo that had built-up. I thought as I got into the shower, what a horrid experience the brown water had been, but at least the rest of the hotel guests will not have to experience it, as I had cured the problem.

I stood there cleansing myself, and looked down into the bath, and noticed a brown ring running around were the water had been.

Poo Poo happens, and it will leave it’s mark on our life experiences, our memories. But we can deal with it. I am ready for a great day for the participants. 

I feel better.

Now I wait for a new day to run, just like the marathon starting here on Sunday, in the empty streets of Istanbul.