The Divine Slap of the Big Fish

The Divine Slap of the Big Fish 

By Deirdre Hughes

What I love most about life? Are the moments that are exceptionally worthy of the Slap. I like to call it The Divine Slap of the Big Fish. 

Inspired by a skit created and performed by the ever-delightful Monty Python team, The Fish Slapping Dance features a lanky John Cleese, standing to attention, with a juxtaposed Michael Palin, both clad in summer safari suits (because why not?).For those of you yet to view this little gem, I shan’t disclose any more details. But I’ll leave a hint: it involves fish, dancing and slapping. The Youtube link is here: 

I adore this skit for 2 reasons:

1. It's really funny. What’s not to love about beautifully orchestrated silliness? 

2. It screams to me as the perfect metaphor for the journey of life. All 20 seconds of it! 

The analogy being that life confidently has us dancing to our own tune of innocence and curiosity from the get-go. Then, when contrast comes-a-calling, we’re lovingly whacked in the face with the big fish. Tossed into a murky canal of self-doubt, bruised ego, guilt, confusion, sadness and/or loss.

But what falls down, must rise up! The slap of the big fish also delivers profound revelations. Learnings. Truths. Insights. It seems you have to have the slap to slap out of it! It just so happens I received a divine slap as recently as Easter Sunday. 

A page I follow on FB revealed that it was that day (Easter Sunday) in 1975 the first episode of The Good Life aired on tele in the UK. The relevance of this shall be explained. However, I feel it appropriate to add some background info for context. 

Ever since I can remember I loved to watch episodes of The Good Life (a BBC Comedy TV Series). It was a family favourite. For those of you who’ve never seen it. It depicts two married couples, living as next-door neighbours, as dear friends, in a well-to-do, English suburb. The lead character, Tom Good (played by Richard Briers, may he rest in peace), freshly 40 years of age, abandons the 9 to 5 “rat race” to embark on a lifestyle of self-sufficiency, with his wife, in their suburban home. It’s a lot of fun as relationships are stretched to the limits. Each character in their own right, a pure delight.  It also presents social themes more pertinent to the current day than ever! My affection for the show and the comfort it affords me is reliably soothing. It is a time capsule of my childhood. The character of Tom Good, with his humour and irreverence, also reminds me a lot of my dad.

The series was released on DVD in the early 2000’s. I bought it in the blink of an eye. Imagine my delight to find there were episodes I’d never seen (tingles!). Almost every evening I’d watch a few episodes. I’d also continue to watch them most nights in bed before drifting off to sleep. This habit has stayed with me for nearly 20 years! It was only recently I began to ask myself “why is this show still my go-to binge/obsession at age 50?”.

The answer presented itself in no time (and created even more questions - but that’s a whole other blog). I discovered watching The Good Life whilst falling asleep makes me feel safe. The equivalent of a mother's good night kiss. It reminds me of where I’m from and restores that sense of security I was blessed to feel as a kid. That magical time when all I had to worry about was how many Wheetbix could fill my brekky bowl and when to set out on my next roller-skating adventure. Tough gig!  

So what does this have to do with the divine slap? For some time now I’ve been fascinated by the law of attraction. I was made aware of it by a friend on or around the time The Secret was released. Like most people I had a vision board up faster than you could say staple gun. It sparked immediate intrigue into my own personal history, development and growth. One by one modern spiritual bigwigs became known to me. Abraham-Hicks, Dr Wayne Dyer, Dr Joe Dispenza - to name just a few. Soaking up all I could of their version of explaining the same theme. Most recently I stumbled upon a young man named Jake Ducey. His wide-eyed keenness and energy is endearing. For whatever reason, it is this guy with whom I’ve experienced major resonance on the topic of the law of attraction. He is a prolific Youtuber and his content is generous. Thanks to him, I’m beginning to grasp the fact that as everything is energy, circumstances in life are delivered as a reflection of our thinking. Our state of mind via our attitudes, beliefs and perceptions. The electricity of thought stimulates the magnetic nature of the correlating emotion. Thus drawing in life experience through to the senses. There are zillions of potential versions of ourselves which exist in the ‘quantum field’, ripe for the plucking, provided our frequency of vibration is a match. For years I’ve always “heard” this. However, it seems I’ve only just begun to listen.

Jake Ducey continues to explain it is the subconscious mind operating our daily actions and experiences, thus our choices. Until we notice or pull ourselves up with awareness it can be quite tricky to reveal what limiting beliefs we may possess. In fact, it’s exhausting! However, by means of consistency and repetition, we can reverse programming that does not serve us and replace it with a more constructive mindset thus allowing us to tap into that quantum field of potential. When Jake suggested repetition is the best method to change my programming I felt something crack above my head. Clarity. I just got slapped by the big fish! 

Like a deep hypnotic mantra before sleep. Nearly every night, for 20 years, I’ve been soaking in The Good Life! Which ostensibly may seem harmless (and also perceived as a ridiculous notion). As the name of the series suggests, it’s a Good Life! But when it comes to beliefs surrounding money, aspects of the Goods’ financial situation and their marital relationship, even “quitting the rat race” are eerily similar to my own life. I even met Felicity Kendall (the actress who played Barbara Good) during my employment at a local radio station. It was one of the most enchanting experiences I’ve ever had. This encounter alone proved to me life can bring so much magic. More so, it was hugely apparent to me my encounter with this lovely person, was no accident. The universe had been engaging co-operative components to bring us together. Even being employed by the radio station played a big part in this orchestration. Since then I’ve accepted that as the law of attraction is a fundamental player and governing law, every single momentary experience in my life, the good the bad and the ugly,  is a creation of my frequency of vibration. Faaark.  

Of course, there is nothing particularly awful about any of this. I have no regrets about the journey thus far. It’s just so thrilling to be woken up. This insight has simply reinforced to me the importance of intention and to be clear on what you want. Because it is absolutely possible. If I stay focused and consistent in my efforts joyfully, with anticipation and patience, I can have it all. 

I still adore The Good Life. It’s packed with fun and important themes that I’ll forever appreciate. And if I ever want to visit memory lane I know where to go. It’s as entertaining as ever. From an era I feel blessed to have experienced growing up. However. That’s it. It’s an old photo album. Nothing more. My soul comfort now stems from the excitement and anticipation of my future. Not being locked into a past hamster wheel. I'm learning to be in the present is where my creative ability thrives. I lull myself to sleep using my imagination. My own hypnotic mantra of how I’d like my life to play out.  

Now THAT’S  A Good Life. 

Thanks again so much for taking the time to read this. I would love to know if you have a go to binge-worthy tv or film favey? What makes you keep going back to it?