THE GENIE WITHIN

When he was just a boy, the old man heard a story of a woman who found a corked bottle on the beach. When she pulled the cork from the bottle, she imagined a genie came out. The genie granted

the woman all her wishes. The old man spent his life searching

for his own bottle with a genie in it. He combed the beaches of

every continent. Because of his obsession, he never made lasting

relationships or held a job for long. He was an unhappy man.

One day on a beach near his home, he found the bottle he

had been looking for. For a reason unknown to him, he felt

there was a genie inside. Corks in other bottles were hard to

pull out, but this one slipped out easily. Out of nowhere a genie

appeared. The genie said to the old man, “I am here to grant

you whatever you want.”

“Whatever I want?” replied the old man.

“Well,” said the genie, “almost anything. Since you are

old and have never been in politics, it’s unlikely that you can

become President of the United States, nor do I think it wise to

wish for a spot on the Olympic basketball team. And I do not

think you want anything taken at someone else’s expense. So,

no, not everything. Still, more than you have dreamed of.

Certainly enough to make you happy and peaceful.”

The old man was ecstatic but then he became angry. “Why

has it taken me so long to find you? I could have accomplished

so much had I found you when I was young.”

“Ah, master,” said the genie, “but I have been with you all along. I was not in that bottle. I have been with you and granting your wishes all of your life. Remember when you were

six and you wished your father would pay more attention to

you? You cut your finger. That was no accident. Your father

washed the cut and held you. Remember? There was the time

you took the CPA exam. You kept telling me you were not smart

enough to be a CPA and that you were not worthy to make as

much money as a CPA. Remember how you froze during the

exam? You got your wish.”

“Because you were not aware I was granting wishes,” continued his genie, “your wishes often hurt you. Sometimes the wishes were not even yours. They came from parents, teachers, friends, and, yes, often from TV ads.”

“I am glad you found me. Now you will make wishes that are

thoughtful and good.

Now we can work together. Together we can stay healthy, find

peace, and enjoy the richness of life."