To be (humble) or not to be (humble), that is the question.

Rabindranath Tagore

I came out alone on my way to my tryst. But who is this that follows me in the silent dark?
I move aside to avoid his presence but I escape him not.
He makes the dust rise from the earth with his swagger; he adds his loud voice to every word that I utter.
He is my own little self, my lord, he knows no shame; but I am ashamed to come to thy door in his company.

This is a wonderful piece of text by famous Indian Guru Rabindranath Tagore. It's quite simple in its message and beautifully put but I don't necessarily agree with the final sentiment. Yes, being humble is a worthy trait to behold but who ever made something happen or changed a thing by walking softly and without poking their head out above the crowd?

My Spirit Helpers try their best to teach me to be humble and sometimes I listen, and clearly sometimes I don't. When it comes to my “gifts”, I find it's different, I take a more humble approach and not on purpose, it just comes that way. I don't take what I do for granted and I always do my best to be as good as I can. It is true, I am confident when I know I am able to do something, bring through dead friend or relative for someone, heal a prolapsed back or a baby with colic. But my confidence is not arrogance and being confident doesn't mean I am Mr Anti-humble. Yet, time and again, I get the same message from my Helpers – practice humble.

So, even though “humble” isn't the first thing that springs to mind when I think about myself, I do work on it. There is no class Humble 101 I can take, there is no Idiots Guide to being humble, unfortunately it is simply an ongoing process. The real kicker here is that just when you think you are humble, you have to start again because the simple thought “I am humble” comes from the ego and means you still have a long way to go. Bollocks :-/

OK, so I understand why my Helpers want me to work on this, it makes it easier for them to communicate with me, I become a more open channel. I can also see the benefits of taking a humble approach to things, a lack of ego is generally quite an attractive thing in someone. BUT. . . hold on just one God-damned minute. . . I am not Mahatma Ghandi, neither am I His Holiness The Dalai Lahma, I definitely don't wear a loin-cloth (unless it's fancy-dress) and no one asks me for my help saving the world (that's probably a good thing). I am Simon Milton-Jones, a Healer and Medium living in Mid-Norway and I take pride in what I do! When I do a good job, provide a great reading or relieve someone of their pain, I am proud and why shouldn't I be?!

Like 99.999% of other people, when I know I have done something great, I feel three meters tall and I want the full depth and sound of my voice to be heard. I feel like the dust could rise from the earth when I walk (I don't swagger – leave that to John Wayne) and I assure you, I will not, not, not stand in shame when it comes to the things I am passionate about!

So, to be (humble) or not to be (humble), that is the question . . .

I find myself with a dichotomy, a puzzle, do I follow my Helpers and do my best to always be humble or do I stay true to myself and remain far more gregarious, colourful and “out-there”? I don't know but I am sure my path to enlightenment does not lie simply with one or the other. If I were humble all the time, I would drive my Wife, Eva, crazy in a very short period and tell me one person who was ever humble when it came to their divorce?