Well, the Best Buy / Comcast / Samsung saga has continued. Friday, August 22, 2025, at 8:30 am a Samsung repair person confirmed his arrival between 10 and 12 by text message. I turned the TV on. At 11:49 it began flickering…. at 12:05 I received a text message saying he would arrive in 25 minutes. Of course, it did not flicker even once while he was here. He did a factory reset and told me to keep an eye on it. If it did it again he would come back and replace the board.
An hour later, it was flickering again….
Last evening we were with friends. As I gave that update, the husband said I was too nice. I needed to tell them what to do in no uncertain terms. I shared how profoundly served I have been by the people who are the workers in the systems that are undeniably broken. The systems have failed, but working in those systems are good people doing their best to do good. Case in point was our trip on Saturday to Best Buy so we could spend the dollars generated by the purchases we have made. We were able to get a pro pressure washer that retails for $319 plus a $39 surge protector for only $25.
The gentleman who helped us is the general manager of the Benton Harbor Best Buy. The woman who was so kind to me in July when the TV first began flickering was there as well. I thanked them both and updated them on our process with Comcast and Samsung. This all brings to mind a famous parable, often attributed to Cherokee or other Indigenous American peoples, about a battle between two wolves within every person.
An elder tells his grandson about a great battle happening inside every person, describing it as a fight between two wolves. The first wolf is evil, representing out of control unpleasant emotions like anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, and ego. The second wolf is good, representing pleasant emotions like joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, and faith.
The grandson, worried about the ongoing conflict, asks, “Which wolf will win?”
Grandfather replies, “The one you feed.”
The parable’s core message is that you control which part of your nature grows stronger by choosing where you put your energy and attention. By focusing on positive, productive, and beneficial thoughts and actions, you “feed” the good wolf and help it thrive. Conversely, dwelling on negativity and harmful actions strengthens the evil wolf.
Some versions of the story offer a more nuanced approach, suggesting that both wolves are necessary. In this interpretation, if you only feed the good wolf, the evil one will hide and wait for you to be weak or distracted. By acknowledging and managing both, you can use the traits like tenacity and strategic thinking guided by wisdom and compassion. This approach teaches that peace comes from finding a balance between your opposing inner forces, not by trying to destroy one.
This morning as we were enjoying a bike ride a friend was speaking about personal belonging that have been given to her from the estate of loved ones. She was wondering about the morality of keeping or dispersing these items. We spent some time pondering the preference of the item. Might it prefer to be where it was appreciated, useful, and valued rather than simply possessed out of a desire to not hurt someone’s feelings. We were able to see the value beyond a simple right or wrong action.
Another friend is reading a book about Shadow Work that had belonged to her late husband. Ah, yes, best to be aware that light casts shadow. Now this reminds me of the “say only” story. The man whose son was injured by a horse and the father’s measured responses to a series of events involving his horse and son. As others would jump to saying it was a blessing or a curse, he would carefully maintain a “say only” attitude.
Say only the Samsung “Service Quick” repair is scheduled now for tomorrow, Monday, August 25, 2025. It has been one month since the first flickering occurred.
Best fact about wolves:
Contrary to popular belief, alpha males do not take the first bite of their catch. Instead, the pack usually lets the hungriest one eat first. Humans can learn how to foster teamwork, confidence, and trust in our instincts in the workplace.
