My van has taken on a couple of new passengers, Indecisive Izzy and my new friend Darryl, and we are out on the road again. We are on our way back to the “Ordinary World”.

It’s starting to feel as if the speed of my van is slowing down on its own and even pushing against some invisible force. I am feeling more and more nervous about bringing my assembly of subversive emotions back to my “Ordinary World”. My body is rigid, but I’m fidgety inside. What I call “nervy”. My mind is trying to picture how to re-integrate these wretched emotions into my fresh and new “Ordinary World”. But I’ve got nothing. I’m not exactly frozen, but definitely blank. Like a deer caught in headlights. I desperately feel the need to not react with exasperation when I have to deal with the personal business of my everyday life. Especially when my kids tap me for instructions all the time about how to manage the personal business of their everyday lives.

Feeling numb and indecisive, I ask my new travel mate, “Darryl, which way do you want to go?” He offered that we just drive for a while and not think about the destination. He said, “Maybe we’ll find someplace that just feels like we are supposed to be there.” Then he asked me why I am bringing these dark and troublesome emotions back with me. I explain that I feel it’s because they will always be on reserve, in my mind. I am trying to accept  them as I move forward but keep them in check . They don’t intimidate me anymore. Well, not as much. I can throw shit back in their faces now without hesitation. They know I will, too!
“What about you, Darryl?” Darryl then shares the story of his journey with me. He says he is also feeling nervous about returning to the “Ordinary World”. He had a strong mentor and genie supporting him. He thought he was good to go but he learned something about his genie that rocked the foundation of their relationship. Darryl explains, “This is why I’m traveling alone for now.” Then he adds, “You may not like your lot of emotions in this van with you, but at least they are honest about who they are.” I let that sink in and ponder, “Then what do I do with them?” “I don’t want to keep struggling with them. When they are present and sucking out my energy, there is no room for positive emotions.” Darryl suggested, “I know where we can go! I have a friend near here who might just give us the inspiration needed to connect us to the answers we seek. His name is Kermit.” I agree and say “Alright, sounds good”.  Darryl then offered, “I’ve got a song we can listen to on the way. Kermit sings it. I think you’ll find it might help you with your current dilemma.” The song “Rainbow Connection” * plays…

“Who said that every wish

Would be heard and answered

When wished on the morning star?

Somebody thought of that

And someone believed it

Look what it’s done so far

What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing

And what do we think we might see?

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me”

“That was just what I needed to hear! Thank you.” We arrive at a split in the road. “Which way do we go?” I asked. My menagerie of emotions start voicing, “Where are we now?”, “Why are we here?” and some other tactless complaints. We follow the road  to the right. It narrows and ends at a clearing in the trees. There’s a small meadow and a creek, and a “welcome” sign. We all got out of the van. Doubtful Dan and Indecisive Izzy off load Apathetic Annie in her dog crate and set her on the ground where the rest of us are standing and looking around. In the distance, beyond the meadow, we see a shadow of a figure moving toward us.

It’s Kermit. He walks quietly up to us. He and Darryl give each other a warm hug. I am filled with wonderment as I observe them greeting each other. There is something special about Kermit that jumps out to me right away. Beyond the fact that he is a frog that is. A talking frog.  Kermit extended both of his arms with his hands open to greet me. He took both of my hands in his and said, “I’ve been expecting you.” “You have?” I think.  “Yes. People come here when they feel bleak or need to shed some gloom”, Kermit explained. I look over at Darryl for confirmation. He nods “yes” with his warm smile. He then takes off his backpack and sits on the log in front of us. It is then that my bunch of emotional bandits all seem to show some restraint. They are calm, quiet. Not acting up! Astonishingly, they move away from me and start walking around the meadow. They look so peaceful. Apathetic Annie, still locked in her crate, is clinging to the grated crate door. She looks so pacified and desperate to break free. Kermit comes to my side and whispers, “I’m sure she’ll behave now. Why not let her out?”  I look out on all of my negative emotions, freely moving about, not clinging to me. I am dumbstruck by this apparent detachment. I look down at Annie. Her eyes look at me with longing. I look back at Kermit and agree to let Annie out and let her go. I give Kermit the key to her crate and he unlocks it and opens the door. She timidly steps out and scurries away to join the other negative emotions.

I’m not quite sure what to think. These emotions have been with me, dominating my life for so long. Kermit then said to me, “You can leave them here. I’ll watch out for them. They may slip and try to bother you again, but I think now that you are free from them you’ll find it’s easier to find the positive emotions you need to now champion for you.” Darryl caught my eye and he nodded in agreement with Kermit.
I look at both of them and profess “But I still feel some fear about letting my kids go.” Darryl adds with encouragement, “That’s because you haven’t really connected to the positive emotions you need with you.” Kermit agrees and also adds, “You’ll find them where you bring your wishes, your visions. That’s the rainbow connection!” Weeping and feeling some hope, I thank them both and admit that it’s time for me to move on.  Darryl stands up and walks over to give me a hug. He let me know that he will be staying at Kermit’s for a bit before resuming his journey.  “Well then, I guess it’s time for me to go.”  I wave goodbye to them both and get in my van. But just before I drive away, I lower my window and look out to see my troublemaking negative emotions sitting peacefully by the creek. I wave goodbye to them as I slowly drive away. They acknowledge me, but they do not engage me. “That’s it, I guess. My mind is a clean slate? Ready to adopt some new, positive emotions? I see hope in the distance. No, really! I see Hope and stop to offer her a ride. She swiftly and joyfully gets in the van, then smiles at me and gestures for me to continue driving.
My life is anew.

* “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie” was written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher.