The Beasties inside

There is an old Cherokee story regarding two wolves that live inside every person. One is evil and hungers for all forms of wickedness. The other is pure and hungers for all forms of greatness. Every moment we come across new ideas, new people, new opportunities, and new heartache. We have two choices. We can feed the pure wolf or the evil wolf.

We see it in moments where people take out their anger at the world and shoot up a baseball field. We see it in moments where people use their arrogance and greed to take advantage of the poor. We see it in moments where a community comes together to provide for a cancer patient. We see it in moments where a person chooses to protect a community that has chosen to harm him or her.

None of these moments happen over night. They build up as you feed one wolf or the other. The one that is stronger has more control and devours the food that you meant to give to the other wolf. We see that in the rise of anti-depressant medication and anti-anxiety. People live in fear of the “what if” and when it stops them from progressing that feeds the evil wolf.

I know this because I know how it feels to feed the good wolf. I know how it feels to inspire others to run and not give up. I know how it feels to graduate high school and college. I also know how it feels to let anxiety and depression take hold over my life and drag me into mediocrity.

I am choosing to feed the good wolf now. Everyday brings its own challenges but I know that I can overcome them because I have done it before. Do not allow the evil wolf to steal your life away. Fight it! Fight ignorance, arrogance, hatred, greed, envy, vanity, and all other wicked thing that seeks to tell you that you would be so much better if only you did this one thing. If only you skimmed a little off the top or cut that corner. Do not give in!

My name is Joseph and I am deciding to feed the good wolf today.

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