A friend with three boys aged 11-18 years wrote to me about receiving nasty threats that stemmed from a soured business dealing. She was fearing for her children and wanted me to know about her predicament so that if should anything happened to her and husband, her boys could trust me.

I felt honoured to be counted upon as a trusted friend by this couple, more so because they stood by their principles. Her husband, John, resigned as a non-executive director because he didn’t agree with some management decisions on their public-listed company. Apparently that didn’t go down well and my friends had been getting late night nasty calls to their home and mobile phones.There was nothing else they could do after making numerous police reports about the threats.

Here is an excerpt of my email reply to her:

“For standing up to your principles and having your conscience clear are what make you and John the best members in our community and the best parents for your children. Try not to allow fear to overpower you both…when people are motivated by greed, they lose all judgement. They make mistakes and resort to nasty ways to “keep alive” - as they have wrongly perceived that they needed to do that for survival.

We are all motivated by the basic instinct to stay alive and to protect what is most dear to us. You and John and this man are reacting and responding the same way except that you are from the opposite ends.

My feelings are that to allow the wave to ride away. Keep the boys safe and tell them to take extra precautions when they move around at school or college - not instill fear but just be extra careful. Come home early and inform parents where they will be.

I know it is most challenging to try to keep a calm mind - but you could try to wake a bit earlier and sit in silence. Maybe just to contemplate on peace and safety for family members and the world as a whole. Imagine a white protective light surrounding your house and all family members. Invoking the blessings from the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin might also be helpful.

Your boys can come and talk with me anytime they want to. Take good care - when we stand by the truth, that in itself will protect us. May you and family be safe and protected always.”