Victory is a Thought away

On that clear day I strolled along the parade route calling out “Get your flags and pin wheels here”. It was the Memorial day parade in Rochester and as a young teenager it was exciting to be working for the first time at a parade. I walked along with my budweiser box filled with flags, pinwheels and cupie dolls proud to have the oportunity to make some money and enjoy the parade. I had walked a good distance selling my goods when I felt a sharp pain in my back and heard a voice say “turn down that side street” when I looked back there was a group of six or seven  boys waiting for me to respond and do what I was told. Fear welled up inside me and I quickly had to make a decision as to what I was going to do. I decided to keep walking along the parade route. I felt another sharp pain in my back as he punched me again in the back with brass knuckles. Again the voice called out turn down the side street. I started walking faster and moved behind the crowd  soon I felt a hand reaching in my pocket to get my money and what was fear started turning to anger. I stopped and pivoted driving the corner of my budwieser box into the face of the culprit attempting to rob me. As I drove the box into his face I screamed get out of here and went from being pursued to pursuing a group of thugs who weren’t so tough after all. I went from fear to believing to victory. Victory was only a change of mind and an action. Victory is only a thought away.