I feel very fortunate that I have not only been able to discover my Green Zone but also be able to live in it. I still remember those days when I lived in my Yellow Zone and visited the Red Zone frequently. Those were the days when I felt quite frustrated, angry and unhappy even resentful and bitter.

I used to be angry with

…myself

…my mother

…my motherland

…my community

and

…my culture.

I was resentful that I was born at the wrong place and at the wrong time. I was bitter that I had no choice but to live in my traditional, conservative and religious suffocating environment for more than twenty years. I was unhappy because I saw no hope of resolving my conflicts with my community and my country.

The only option I saw was to leave my home and homeland and discover a new homeland where I could feel free to create a new lifestyle of my own liking. So I moved to Canada, studied psychiatry and became a psychotherapist and a writer.

Over the years my anger and resentment have subsided and my bitterness has dissolved. I discovered my Green Zone Philosophy and by practicing it started living a healthy, happy and peaceful lifestyle. But that transition was a slow process. I was like the turtle of the mythological folktale, which was slow and steady but finally won the race. I remember the times when I used to visit my Green Zone for short periods of time and go back to my Yellow Zone. But then I started spending more and more time and then finally started living in my Green Zone. Now when I am pushed to the Red Zone by stressful environments, I have learned to drive through and come back to my Green Zone rather than parking in the Red Zone.

I am well aware that it is not humanly possible for all of us to be always living in the Green Zone, as we can be surrounded by Red Zone People and situations from time to time, but we all need to learn ways to cope with them to the best of our abilities. I feel fortunate that I have been able to create a Green Island in the Red Sea of the twentieth century world that we all live in. If I have to meet a Red Zone Person or enter a Red Zone System in my professional or social lives, I have learned to wear an Emotional Raincoat so that I am least affected by the toxicity of the environment.

Every morning when I wake up, I look in the mirror, kiss myself and say, “I will try my best to create a happy, healthy and peaceful Green Zone Day. Maybe this is the last day of my life.” Then I plan my day which usually include,

…going to work

…socializing with family and friends

and

…doing some creative work by reading and writing.

At the end of the day when I go to bed, I ask myself, “Did I spend a Green Zone Day?” and when I find the answer “Yes”, I feel relaxed and happy. I am glad to be able to

…serve a few people and help them with their emotional problems

…have fun with my dear ones

and

…create a few lines.

Before I go to sleep, I say to myself, “If I die tonight I don’t want to be angry with anyone. I forgive the people who have wronged me. They have to deal with their own conscience. As far as my own life is concerned I feel proud that I did the best I could.” After saying that it does not take me long to fall asleep hoping that if I die I will have a peaceful death.

The next day when I wake up I feel pleased that life has offered me another opportunity to:

…live a little more

…learn a little more

…love a little more

…dream a little more

…create a little more

…serve a little more

and

make this world a better place to live. Living in the Green Zone has been a wonderful experience for me.

In the last few years I have tried to resolve and dissolve my conflicts with my dear ones, so that  my significant relationships are in the Green Zone. I love socializing with them as we bring out the best in each other and I can be my natural self in their company. I am also lucky to be able to create my Green Zone family, work and social environments and enjoy working and socializing with people I respect. If any problem arises I feel confident that I would be able to resolve or dissolve the conflicts.

So at the age of fifty-two, I am able to have a Green Zone Lifestyle in which I am able to live, learn, love, dream, create and serve everyday and lead a happy, healthy and peaceful lifestyle. I create my Green Zone Day everyday and I hope I keep on creating it till the day I die.

Dr. K. Sohail