The secret of "HALT"
"HALT" is a word that isn't slang these days, even if it has a great message for us.
It only depends, on how we look at it.
We can understand it as the meaning itself but also can think about it more consciously.
I heard this word first when I learned English. Of course, as an European, I learned British English.
At that time I studied in a German Border school, Burg Hohenfels, Salem, where it was really fun to live.
The school was on a hill. There was that beautiful, old castle. 100 students lived there and about 50 teachers.
No way to try to behave bad. We were caught red-handed. I still remember the English teacher who was from
Great Britain and had that very british accent and behavior, of course, and he hobbled. Mr Cole used to fidget
with his crutches as they were his extended arms.
One day Mr. Cole had a nice lesson for us. He asked us to explain the word HALT. That was easy for the most of us,
as many kids in my class were German. As the school was an International School and well known all over the world,
there were children from all over the world: from Chile, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Peru, United States,
Jamaica, Australia and many other countries. We learned to accept and honor all the cultures and religions and lived in a
very peaceful environment and community.
Halt has the same meaning in English and German language, but we learned from Mr. Cole a different interpretation, too.
"Every alphabetic character has a special meaning in the word "HALT", he said. "I tell you now a secret behind each of the
characters in this word what will help you in your life from today on. You never can make my words unheard after I spoke them
out loud."
Doesn't this sound interesting? We were at the age between 10 and 12 years old and were instructed in wisdom, I guess.
After 30 years I still remember his words.
Nowadays everybody talks about wisdom and spiritual teachings. But that day in 1979 this guy, Mr. Cole, gifted us something
very special.
"H" stands for hungry.
"A" stands for angry.
"L" stands for lonely.
"T" stand for tired.
"Whenever one of you feels any of H.A.L.T. please hold on and halt! If we feel hungry, we can't think the right way, so we have to eat
something to nourish ourselves. If we are angry, we may do or say something for what we feel sorry about later. So we could hold on for
a moment and think consciously, what it is, that makes us angry and we can try to make an arrangement. Then let go."
We were 16 students in the class and it was so quiet in the room, that we could have realized the wink of a mouse. We all listened curious.
"Lonely. If we feel lonely, we don't act as usual because this emotion affects us so deep inside, that we only see the glass half empty.
So what can we do? We can talk to a friend or to someone of our family. Here in the castle you guys all know how it feels, missing the
loved ones. In this community we live so close to each other, that it is easy to hug someone. Once in your lifetime it may happen, that
you'll feel lonely and the only thing I can give you on your way is, to keep in mind to nourish this emotion as well as you'd nourish your
body. The last character of the word HALT is "T". Whenever we feel tired our body asks us to rest. Many people don't listen to their
body. Better you learn as soon as possible, that your body is the only physical "thing" you "own". Better to keep it in a good mood and
accept it 100%. You are 24 hours a day within your body; lifelong. Many of us make mistakes when we're tired. Can you imagine
a truck driver who dozes off for only a few seconds, because he felt lonely in his truck, because he felt angry about the argument he had with
his wife, because he was hungry at the time when he left for work?"
We all imagined that this could cause a tragedy. Angry because hungry. Makes sense. Lonely because angry. Makes sense.
"You know, that I am your teacher, and I'm paid to teach the english language. Kids, please, try to imprint HALT into your memory. My grandfather
told me the meaning of these characters and I had to promise him not to keep this, but to share it as often as possible! My life would be another
if he'd have told me that when I was in your age and not after I was the truck driver who dozed off for a few seconds."
I still hear his voice in my ears, how he talked that day. There was something shiny in his eyes, something mysterious. He seemed at peace with himself.
Nowadays, that I teach and motivate people all over the world, to make peace with themselves, to forgive and live a conscious life with fulfillment,
now that I encourage to make friends with the self and the body, what is the home for this lifetime, I used to tell this story.
I share it as often as I can to gift the opportunity to imprint H.A.L.T. May you all listen to your body and supply its needs.
Your body and soul always tells you what it needs. Feel free to listen inside. The answer will be harmony and health.
With honest Love and Gratitude,
Yours Daisy Papp
Founder of SelfRecoding
www.selfrecoding.com
Tags: Lesson Harmony
