Daily Mood Quotes - December 8, 2011

 Daily Mood Quote

Day 216 - December 8, 2011

Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

~ Thomas Jefferson

I believe that somehow the concept of why this particular holiday season exists has been completely lost in the tidal wave of consumerism and mass marketing that has enveloped our nation. Everywhere I have been over the last three days I have seen and noted more miserable faces and impatient people than I could have ever imagined. They are on the roads and sidewalks, in the stores and even at holiday events. I have to ask, where did patience and good cheer go? I understand that we all have busy lives and there are expectations of us to be here, or there, to do this, or that and many have very foolishly embraced the concept of “I'll rest when I'm dead” as a mantra for modern living, but “in the course of human events (Yes, I borrowed that from the Declaration of Independence),” we have unwittingly transformed a season of thanks into a season of anger and angst. The problem is that it isn't just the normal family holiday infighting, or other small squabbles, that is causing this angst; that's just life. Its the guy in the Escalade SUV behind you, waving his fist furiously and tailgating all the way into the store's parking lot, then running by you into the store, or the shopper with carts full of gifts (you know they are gifts, because no 40 year old needs a Pillow Pet), who while cursing, plows over an older lady who might be moving a bit slower than light speed. I have personally witnessed both in the past two days.

Granted, I have been a bit distracted myself with my father's frail condition and the weight of the holidays bearing down, but gee whiz, I'm convinced things have gotten completely off track in regards to the Christmas season. I see lots of holiday “action,” with little or no holiday spirit out there. It misses the point completely. Its sad and more than a bit disconcerting. Its like giving somebody an ultra lousy birthday party, by doing everything completely opposite of their wishes. Do you think this is what Jesus of Nazareth had in mind when he said “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you (NIV)”? Doesn’t make sense does it? Yet, invariably from the end of November to the end of December it seems as if otherwise decent people embrace the foulest and lowest of behaviors; all to get the deal, get the gift and shove in line ahead of the other guy...for Christmas!!! It really baffles me. 

There have been people giving Christmas gifts for two thousand years and in some way shape or form, they will be presumably doing so for the rest of human history. Who do they think they are getting “ahead of” and how does that relate to the meaning of the holiday? I really don't think the three wise men raced each other to get “there” first, but what do I know. All I know is that it seems like a really crappy way to celebrate anything, let alone a birthday. And for the record, I do not hold the “organized churches” to blame here. There is something else that drives this schizophrenic social behavior and it/they may be found cowering around the feet of Charles Dickens' “Christmas Present” apparition (the story is as relevant today as it was when written). They are the twin specters of "want" and "ignorance" and they have been silently, yet virulently with us all these long centuries, since before any organized religion, before the Nazarene walked on earth and before Dickens' story. I believe, they are artifacts of our early evolution that have hung around like viral DNA and have found ways to undermine and ruin humanity's best attempts at civilization. We need an antidote for our own baser psychologies. “Want:” is anything we don’t have and believe will somehow make things “better,” or equal to someone, or something else. “What a crock! (thanks Three Men and a Baby).” “Ignorance:” she soothes the mind and tells us “it's okay, what you don't know can't hurt you.” But in fact ignorance is a congenital liar who cannot tell a truth. They are both vestigial functions that creeped into our brain structure, when we as a species, began to pull ourselves out of the mud. It is one thing to be motivated, we need that, but the stop switch isn't working yet. And, we can't process everything all the time, there is just too much, but a door to tightly shut keeps both light and sustenance out.

So, with that said, I can't say I have an answer. But, I suspect that author James Allen may have had at least a clue when he combed through history and said. “The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” So, where is the tranquility gene?

How will you “be calm” today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - September 25, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 145 – September 25, 2011

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”

~Willie Nelson

This morning I woke up feeling “blah.” These days don't happen very often, but they do happen. Let's face it, women have days of “blah.” I have often wondered if these days are built into our DNA, I'm not a scientist, so I don't know. I just know that when they happen, perception can be out-of-whack. The key to prevent a blah day from turning into a bad day is finding something positive, in the moments the blah feelings are the strongest. If you can't find the positive, find the funny, that works too.

For me today, I found this positive quote. Willie Nelson was one of the first country singer's I ever listened too. Many years ago, my husband introduced his music to me with his song, “On the road again” and somehow this song came on the radio every time my husband picked me up for a date. Hey, I found the positive in my “blah” moment. When I reach into my memories, I remember the wonderful times my husband and I had when we were dating, the feeling of falling in love, how everything was brighter, and the road ahead of us seemed to be ours for the taking. The road is still ours for the taking, but we don't move as fast as we once did, not because we don't want too, but because we see things differently. Still very much in love and keeping the positive (even during difficult and sometimes dark times), we continue to travel along the road of life... He's not just my husband, he's my best friend too.

My husband says men also have “blah” days and finding something to look forward too takes a little work, but it's worth it. Once you do that, then bit by bit, the day begins to feel a little better as it progresses. I guess everyone has those days, not just women. I apologize for the assumption. So, for the blah, bad and difficult days, I will refer to what Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) said in A Beautiful Mind, “I need to believe, that something extraordinary is possible.” Staying positive, finding the positive, even when you don't really feel like it, is the key. And, if you can't find the positive, find the funny. I recommend www.jeffdunham.com there's some “good, good, goooood” funny there! I love Peanut, he's the best.

How will you change a negative into a positive today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quote - September 17, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 137 – September 17, 2011

Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.

~Wayne Dyer

Last night, I was watching the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. I know, I watch this a lot but personally I feel staying aware on current events and affairs is important. Anyway, it makes for great family dinner conversation. One of the stories was about bullying. It is considered a national epidemic. One in four children are being bullied and nationally 160,000 a day are scared to go to school, or miss school all together due to bullying.

CBS aired a program last evening called “Words can kill” and many of the things the kids said about how they felt about being bullied I understood. You see I was bullied in elementary school. I went to a parochial school that carried kindergarten through eighth grade and in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade, I can't remember a single thing that was enjoyable about those years. I hated school, I hated the kids, but more importantly I hated myself because I began to believe all the things the kids were saying about me. In the sixth grade a horrible thing happened to me that changed the course of my life and relationships that still has a very small impact on me today. Time heals all wounds, but some wounds take a long time to heal. Anyway after this horrible thing happened, I considered suicide myself. Imagine an eleven year old thinking about taking their own life, because they believe that's the best way to handle problems. You see school bullying wasn't the only thing I was dealing with, my home life was pretty tumultuous as well. I had no escape, no safe haven, I believed (mind of an eleven year old), things would be better if I were gone. No one knew how tortured I was, because I couldn't tell anyone, not even my parents. I genuinely believed no one cared. I was alone, like many other bullied kids probably felt and possibly feel today.

The turning point in my life was a teacher, (so often this is the case) my six grade science teacher. I missed the extra credit question (I'll never forget this), “Which comes first thunder or lightening?” I put thunder, I was wrong and became very upset with myself and when we were released for lunch, my teacher asked me to stay behind. He knew I was upset and wanted to know why. I told him, “Because I got it wrong, I never get anything right. I'm stupid.” He vigorously disagreed with me, he told me, “You tried and trying is the key, no one else even tried the question. You took a chance, that's how you grow, you learn. You can survive anything if you believe you can, you just can't stop trying. Believe in yourself.” As I look back on that now, I realize he may have known I was being bullied and that my home life was not very supportive. He moved the course of my life into a different direction and I never considered being “gone” again. I realized that what those kids did to me wasn't any worse than what I was receiving at home, and what I was receiving at home wasn't any worse than what I was receiving at school. I had survived so far; so I can survive this, I will survive this, and I did. I left home at eighteen.

Dave Pelzer said, “when you please others in hope of being accepted you lose your self-worth in the process.” Last night's program, “Words can Kill” I saw a lot of kids wanting to be accepted; but instead the harder they tired, the more they were rejected. One young boy inferred that if your not an athlete, then your weird. Not really a good reason to be bullied. Everybody has different gifts, some play in band, some do drama, some write, some sing, everybody is different. It's those differences that make up the tapestry of our world. We all know my favorite quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” When children give that kind of “power” to their peers, they are taking an awful risk. Let's not kid ourselves, there is a natural tendency to try and assert dominance and get to the “head of the pack”, or be a pack member in adolescent behavior. If your out, well then your out. It's built into the DNA and this tendency will only decrease as civilization, parenting skills and growth move forward in time (Unfortunately, sooooo many of us never get past that adolescent mindset). “High school never ends” (thank you Bowling for Soup). Its how young people perceive that “outness” that makes all the difference. As parents we need to teach them to first never let others have that “power” over their decisions. If they do momentarily surrender it, then they must take back the power and take back their lives. Parents also need to teach children that the “different” gifts are important, not only for them, but also for the world in which we live. Middle school and high school last only a short while and if you can survive that... the world opens up. Because, those gifts are what drives innovation, exploration, and creativity. The world need those things more than ever.

We've lost too many young kids to bullying, time for a change. Let's “step-up and step-in” and be proactive instead of reactive. Parents, Teachers, School Districts, Siblings, and Bystanders...

How will you demonstrate “self-worth”today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading