Daily Mood Quote - September 1, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 121 – September 1, 2011

A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.

~Moliere

As another wise man once told me “just walk away and disengage, it's not worth it.” Some people just enjoy picking fights and there is nothing that can be done. The best way to avoid such a fight, or argument is to be aware that these folks exist and stay clear when you can. Imagine the time you will save and things you will accomplish by not wasting your time engaging in an unnecessary, often immature situation. In my opinion the first rule of self defense is: “The best way to win a fight is to not be there when it happens.” That is simply taking personal responsibility for awareness of your environment. I could not find reliable statistics for “unnecessary” human conflict. So, I wonder how high the percentage is for people who create unnecessary and unhealthy conflict, just because they are looking for a fight? I wonder if it's in the 90% plus range.

There was a time in my life, when I too was angry. Angry about the way I was raised, the lies I was told about who I am (still don't know this information) and the way I was treated. But, I grew up and more importantly, I forgave those who were responsible for making me feel the way I did and moved on. A long time ago a trainer (I was in boot camp) read a quote to me, that would have a tremendous influence in my view of the world. The quote was by Eleanor Roosevelt, a former first lady, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” These words where also spoken by Joe (played by Hector Elizondo) in the movie The Princess Diaries, to Mia (Anne Hathaway) when her friend Lilly (Heather Matarazzo) tried to make her feel bad about her new hairdo and new found self-worth. I never saw that trainer again after she uttered those words to me and I never had the chance to say thank you. Those words changed my life forever.

I have experienced many situations where it would be easy to let an angry, or selfish person intent on conflict to get what they want. That is, to drag me, or someone I care about, into a unnecessary confrontation, be it verbal or physical. I felt that rush of adrenaline, along with the flush face and it was hard to side-step the aggression. But, I continuously refer back to Eleanor Roosevelt's quote and make the mental choice to not engage. Yes, it is a choice!!

In the movie Michael, Michael (played by John Travolta) has a conversation the Frank Quinlan (William Hurt) that went like this:

Michael: Remember what John and Paul said.
Frank Quinlan: The apostles?
Michael: No, the Beatles. All you need is love.

I feel you also need forgiveness and a little common sense doesn't hurt either. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.” Yesterday I read a sign it said, "Peace, Love and Cupcakes..." What do you think?

What “image” will you project today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.