He’s Just Had Coffee

Kim Boykin:

My husband and I spent last summer at my family’s cabin in Grand Lake, Colorado, at the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park. In town one day, I picked up a pamphlet on living in bear country, and the suggestions for “What to Do if You Meet a Bear” sounded a lot like meditation instructions.

What to Do if You Meet a Thought

There are no definite rules about what to do if you meet a thought. Thought attacks are rare compared to the number of close encounters. However, if you do meet a thought before it has time to leave the area, here are some suggestions. Remember: Every situation is different with respect to the thought, the terrain, the people, and their activity.

• STAY CALM: If you see a thought and it hasn’t seen you, calmly leave the area.
• STOP: Back away slowly while facing the thought. Give the thought plenty of room to escape. Wild thoughts rarely attack people unless they feel threatened or provoked.
• SPEAK SOFTLY: This may reassure the thought that no harm is meant it.
• If a thought stands upright or moves closer it may be trying to detect smells in the air. This isn’t a sign of aggression. Once a thought identifies you, it may leave the area or it may try to intimidate you by charging within a few feet before it withdraws.
• Don’t run or make any sudden movements. Running is likely to prompt the thought to give chase and you can’t outrun a thought.