Parking Ticket Pivot

I went for a beach walk yesterday afternoon on Sullivan's Island,  It started to rain as I was getting back to my car.  When I turned on my wipers, they revealed a bright orange envelope with a $50 parking ticket inside.  My initial emotional reaction was, not surprisingly, annoyance and frustration.  Especially over the nature of the violation -- one of my tires was just barely touching the street pavement!  A high crime!

I've been a student for many years now of Abraham-Hicks, the Seth books, and similar teachings that emphasize the idea that we each create our own reality.  So, it did not take me long to pivot and pose the question to myself: "How did I create this parking ticket?"

The answer came to me so quickly that I laughed inside and smiled.  I realized that I had been harboring some pent-up resentment against the Town of Sullivan's Island for several months.  In 2018, one of the agents in my real estate company listed an ocean-front property on Sullivan's Island for sale.  After my agent installed one of our company signs, the Town sent me a violation notice, advising me that my company had not registered for a business license with the Town.  To resolve the violation, I ended up paying the Town about $600 in business license fees.  At the time, I saw this as a petty shakedown, since the scope of our business activity on the island was so minimal.

When I arrived yesterday at Sullivan's, I drove past several real estate signs and the following thought went through my head: "I hope all of you guys are paying your business license fees!"  The resentment about the $600 was still very active within me.  Then I went for my beach walk.

So, how did I create the parking ticket?  I created it within my own thoughts and beliefs.  The Universe was attuned to my very active belief that the Town of Sullivan's Island is a petty place where you get nickeled and dimed.  And the Universe created a physical object (parking ticket) that was a perfect match to my vibration.  It perfectly captured the essence of my feeling tone toward the Town.

So, now, I'm thankful for the ticket.  $50 is not a big deal.  And the ticket provided me with a big opportunity to consciously change my thoughts and feelings about Sullivan's Island.  The ticket reminded me that it does not serve me to harbor resentment toward any person or any town.  Especially when Sullivan's Island offers me an abundance of other focal points for my attention that serve me better.  I lived on the island for my first 3 years in Charleston and have great memories of my time out there.  I remembered the bonfire parties that I hosted out on the beach during those years.  I also recalled the moment that I proposed to my wife on the island, under the street lamps near Stella Maris church.  As I shifted my thoughts to these positive memories about Sullivan's Island, I could viscerally feel my vibration rising.   So, I'm thankful for the parking ticket because the resentment that was unconsciously residing within me has been transformed into appreciation of a wonderful place.