I'm intrigued by a sign in my neigborhood. It's one of those signs with changeable letters, like high schools have.  It's in front of the Meinecke Brake shop at a not-very-nice intersection highlighted by a Pizza Hut Wing Stop, a check cashing store and a CVS Pharamcy.  The sign says, "Your life is shaped by your thoughts."  It's been there quite awhile now.  I'm surprised -- in this economy -- it hasn't been changed to "Brake Special 4 just $34.95" or "Tuesdays is Ladiez Day for Oil Changes," like most other auto shops have.  This gets me thinking about the owner or whoever is responsible for putting up that message.  He must be cool to work for.  It makes me think perhaps I chose the wrong profession and I should be changing brake pads and having metaphysical discussions with the boss.  I know it's condescending of me to question a sign like this at this shop, in this blue collar neighborhood.  It just strikes me as an ironic location as most of the time, this intersection is punctuated by people who don't look too happy or content with their lives: overweight mothers in a halter top and shorts, pushing a baby stroller followed by three toddlers, homeless men yelling at bus stops, and other assorted characters usually only seen on Spanish-speaking talk shows.
So I guess the sign is needed.  It certainly is reassuring to me.  It makes me think that enlightenment is not strictly a high-end luxury -- a thing only reserved for poeple who live in Sedona or shop in Whole Foods.
"Your life is shaped by your thoughts."  Of course I've seen that message throughout my life and in  different variations.  My problem is I always get it mixed up and think, "My thoughts are shaped by my life,"
which is something entirely different.  Coincidentally, my car needs an oil change.  I should go there tomorrow, meet this guru and thank him for improving the 'hood.