Daily Mood Quotes - January 5, 2012

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 231 – January 5, 2012

“Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.”

~Dalai Lama

I like the Dalai Lama's quotes because they are true, regardless of what religion you may follow or faith you may ascribe too. I have always said, the truth is the truth no matter its source. You can't run from it, you can't hide it and you can't bury it under religious dogma. Although many have tried, the truth always has a way of coming to the surface.

How many of us consider ourselves to be a compassionate person? I'm sure many of us delude ourselves on this one. It is very easy to say you're a compassionate person, but actions speak louder than words. Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compassion) describes compassion as, “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” It's not only an action, its a feeling too, the urge to “help.” But yet, in our world, many of us turn too easily away from those who have been stricken with misfortune and make statements like “better them than me,” or “glad its not me,” or “It's not my problem,” or “it must be their own fault;” which by the way seems to be the insidious position of most GOP candidates and a rabid minority that haven't had life collapse around them. The erroneous belief is; “they must of done something wrong to deserve the misfortune in their lives.” Well gee whiz kids, bad things happen to good people all the time. Ask the people in Joplin, Missouri; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; drought victims in Texas, or the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Sometimes, you can do everything right and for the right reason and still have everything go horribly wrong. Been there, done that; its just that simple. The thing is, nobody is immune to suffering tragedy, or loss in their lives. From the best of us to the worst of us, that is a constant of the human condition. Compassion for those who have fallen on hard times, regardless of causality is essential, if we are to continue as a civilization.

Here's what I mean: If you look across the span of history at major human contributions, things that have really made the world a better place, you will find that there have been as many, if not more positive contributions from children of adversity, than there have been from children of privilege. It has often been acts of compassion which have provided those children of adversity with the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of all of mankind. I will bet (if I were a betting woman) that if you were to sum it all up and graph it out (which I will not attempt to do), that simple small acts of compassion have spawned more great achievements and leaps in wisdom and knowledge, than all the icy facts and figures accumulated in the world. So, when you reach out to somebody with compassion, you stand a good chance of not only helping them, but yourself and all of mankind, because you never know where that next great contribution will be coming from.

I realized we live in a judgmental age. We spoke recently about the “me” versus the “we” and peoples need to find some manner of ascendency over other people, not for the sake a being a better person, but for the sake of being better than...That is not a good thing, the thinking here is all backward. The world is just too small and there are far too many people for that mindset to continue. There will always be somebody better and there will always be somebody who needs a hand-up (compassion) to make a go of it. Jayler Bardem said, “I think we are living in selfish times. I'm the first one to say that I'm the most selfish. We live in the so-called “first world,” and we may be first in a lot of things like technology, but we are behind in empathy.” There isn't a big leap between empathy and compassion. Empathy is the feeling, compassion is the impulse to reach out. You need both. Unless of course you wish to wind up like Mr. Potter (played by Lionel Barrymore) in It's a Wonderful Life, when George Bailey (James Stewart) said to Mr. Potter, “People were human beings... But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!”

I came across a quote by an unknown author that I feel applies today, “it is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” I am no psychologist for sure but, I think maybe it's possible people are dispassionate and non-empathic because they're so afraid of somebody taking advantage of them, that they have forgotten that it is the exception, not the rule; no matter what we may hear on the evening news, or online. A little investigation and common sense is all that's needed to discern between the two. I believe that fear (the original evil) has driven us into ourselves and away from our fundamental humanity. To me is the saddest thing and the first step on the dysfunctional road to making the world a more bitter, not a better place. My father in-law once said (I'm paraphrasing) “You'll find more answers by looking outside than by staring at what's in your closet.” And so it is. Compassion is always a step in a better direction.

How will you demonstrate, feel compassion today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - December 11, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 219 – December 11, 2011

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gee whizz, I really hate to wax political, its such an unseemly mess and there are way too many blogs dedicated to polarized sides of any political issue. But, I must tell you that I have been distantly following the Republican Presidential primary, with indifference and a healthy dose of skepticism. I know that historically these things are at very best a popularity contest, won by the candidate who is willing to bend the lowest and pander to the fears and greed of socially disconnected, special interest groups. For the past thirty years, the Republican party has progressively distanced itself from anything that remotely resembles the genuine will or needs of the people of the Unites States of America. Ostensively, the party's leaders have been focused almost exclusively on the narrow financial interest of a small group of self-serving, ideologists (I would say idiots, but...) that have bastardized the American ideal and transplanted it with a twisted, mono-partisan and greed driven perspective. I hasten to remind, that when Mr. Gingrich was Speaker of the House, the split between parties became a gaping chasm. His rhetoric is corrosive, destructive and completely ignorant. If you don't believe me, check this out. If it sounds a bit harsh I can't really apologize, because it isn't nearly as harsh as the viewpoints expressed by him.

The following recent statements are from the front running Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich.

"Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works so they literally have no habit of showing up on Monday. They have no habit of staying all day. They have no habit of 'I do this and you give me cash,' unless it's illegal."

“I think that we’ve had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs, and who were historically part of the Arab community,” said Gingrich. “And they had a chance to go many places, and for a variety of political reasons we have sustained this war against Israel now since the 1940s, and it’s tragic.”

Ummm. “Stupid is as stupid does” as Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks in the movie Forrest Gump) would so eloquently profess. It really needs no further explanation, or comment. However, I say what's on my mind (it is a daily mood quote), so here it goes. First of all, no child rich or poor, aspires to poverty, for that matter I suspect neither do their parents. He has blithely disrespected and turned a blind eye to millions, not thousands, but millions (if not billions globally), of working poor; the honest, hardworking people who have not had the advantages, that I might add, where given to him to start their lives. Need examples? What about the children of working single moms who have two, or sometimes three jobs and yet still struggle to make ends meet? What about the children of split shift working fathers who may work sixty hours a week and are not paid a fair and equitable wage for their efforts because of the inequities of the system? What about those, through no fault of their own, are unemployed and can't find work? Does he know how fast savings evaporate, when you are unemployed and trying to keep a roof over your head, while trying to feed those “poor” children? Poor can come at you fast and hard, without mercy. But, I guess he wouldn't know that having almost his entire life paid for, from his teen years on. And, I might add, for the most part, paid for by the tax money wrenched away from the “poor” people he just spit on.

Dalai Lama said, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace” well, these two statements demonstrate true slavery to ignorance. Is this really the best America has to offer for Presidential candidates? Are you freakin' kidding me (thanks Mike C.)? What kind of peace can an idiot like this make? What I find so surprising is that Mr. Gingrich has a PhD and taught History and Geography at West Georgia College in the 1970's. Apparently, he learned nothing but how to twist the arms of political contributors and manipulate the easily swayed. I think a quote from Maya Angelou would be appropriate here, “My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors." I think that says it best.

To end my little rant: In my opinion, Newt Gingrich is a political prostitute, pandering for money to advance his campaign's “war fund.” He'll say or do anything, without thought to the consequences, to achieve his goals. Do you honestly think the rest of the world's memory is as failing as our attention deprived voters? Can you image what would happen, if he spoke like that at the United Nations? He does not represent the nation. Nor should he ever... Mr. Gingrich, shame on you and your ignorance.

Will you think before you speak today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - September 16, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 136 – September 16, 2011

Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.

~Dalai Lama

This morning, I heard on a local radio show that pets (dogs, cats, snakes) were running wild around the city. It seems like the population of abandoned animals has recently just bloomed. Families that can no longer take care of their pets are apparently just letting their animals go. That includes exotic animals that don't belong here, like cougars, panthers, poisonous snakes and even an alligator. What in the world are these types of animals doing within the city limits in the first place? People live here, children play here... Don't they understand the hazards of letting these dangerous animals just run rampant through the city? Maybe the bigger question should be; how can people raise these animals then just “let them go,” possibly causing harm to their neighbors and their community? If you have ever seem what a pack of feral dogs can do to a deer, you would think twice about letting your kids outside, EVER. They don't fear humans like wild animals and they don't discriminate.

I am a pet owner, two dogs and a cat (our guinea pig passed away last March, she will not be replaced, she was one-of-a-kind and is deeply missed). An even though we have had our fair share of hard times, the thought to just let our animals run free has never crossed our minds. Our pets are a part of our family and have been for years. When they are sick, we take care of them, when they want to play, we throw the toy and they fetch (except the cat, she turns up her noise and walks away), when they die, we hold a private funeral service and share our greatest memory of the animal. They are a part of the family. Maybe that makes us different, but at least we are being different with dignity.

I should say that much of the story on the radio revolved around a recent coyote (the animal – Canis latrans) sighting in a populated area. That's a different thing all together. Invasive species, like coyotes, will always expand their range where there is opportunity. I read a story recently about global warming that stated that tropical species are expanding their range toward the poles at an alarming rate. Well, so be that. But to set your poodle, or house cat out to be coyote chow and invite them into your neighborhood by doing so, is just reprehensible. That's where the problem begins. These former pet owners fundamentally fail in three areas of responsibility. The first is to their animal; a domestic animal depends on their owners for care and in return gives loyalty and affection. Secondly; to their community. I use that term loosely, as so many of us don't even know the names of our next door neighbors. It's a civic duty to care for your animal and if you can't, to responsibly hand it over to an animal care agency. Its just plain cruel to “let them be free” when they have no experience in the “wild.” And thirdly to the world in which we live; feral animals can destroy local populations of naturally occurring animals and upset the ecology of parks, wild areas and even sub divisions. All because the pet owners chose to dump their “problems” on society instead of doing the right thing.

In the movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, we got a dog's eye view of what a dog goes through when they are “abandoned”. Shadow (Don Ameche), Sassy (Sally Field) and Chance (Michael J. Fox), belonged to a family that went on vacation and fearing they had been “abandoned” by their owners, they went off on a quest to find their family. This brought back painful memories for Chance as he tells his story, “I was abandoned when I was very young. I lived on the streets scrounging for food sleeping wherever I could; that seemed like fun at first, but pretty soon, it landed me behind bars. But I don't like to talk about that.” The point is, when we walk away from our pets who are one responsibility, we actually abandon a multitude of responsibilities. That's how you know when something is not right, the problems multiply. It's chaos theory, the single choice that is made, isn't just a single choice. That single choice often has far reaching consequences, beyond just one own personal life.

I wrote about this today because it made me upset to hear the stories of abandoned animals. I have written about my dog Chester in this blog, world's goofiest dog. Remember my husband's glasses? Still, he made a mistake, just like kids, spouses, partners, friends and family. You don't abandoned them.

How will you choose “responsibility” today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - July 2, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 59 – July 2, 2011

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

~Dalai Lama

Yesterday, my husband went to the grocery store and while waiting in line at the customer service counter, a older woman came up behind him and with a frustrated tone she impatiently asked, “Does anyone work here?” My husband replied with enthusiasm, “Yes, and they're the best people you'll ever know.”

The store (national chain) we regularly shop is very down to earth, with friendly employees, a clean store and the shoppers are usually great people too. Across the street was a locally owned grocer, whose patrons were generally well-to-do. Unfortunately, I did not find the kind of customer service, friendly employees, friendly environment or nice shoppers there. Plus, their prices were ridiculously high. I quickly went back to what I liked in a grocery store. Several years ago, the national chain we shop at bought that local grocery chain.

Recently, the well-to-do grocery store was closed and all those patrons began shopping, and some employees began working, at the same grocery store I do. What a change!! It seems as if chaos and confusion took reign, as the hoard descended upon our happy little store. I would of never thought that the clash of cultures inside my own little suburb would be so dramatic. The employees of our store have to make due with the hours and resources they had before, in addition to handling nearly triple the customer load, while training the employees of the other store. To quote Charlie Brown, “Good grief!” You can almost taste the anxiety, hostility and stress in the air the minute you walked into the store. The shopping experience is no longer as enjoyable. My heart goes out to the employees of our store, because they continue to smile and do their jobs with the same professionalism, in-spite of the number of new grumpy, snooty, displeased customers yelling at them regularly. It seems as if the customers from across of the street are determined to be angry about the change and for the life of me I can't understand why. The selection is better, the aisles are wider, the store is far cleaner. Plus, the employees are top notch. What's not to like, change? It's ridiculous and a bit sad. Change happens.

If this little cultural change in my little town can be so difficult and dramatic, it makes me wonder how ignorant we are about global cultural differences and change? My guess is very ignorant.

Anyway, my husband and I are determined to continue to make our shopping experience a quality one. We refuse to let their misery (the grumpy snoots) rub off on us. Even if that means picking up knocked down products in the aisles and taking an alternate route around oblivious mad chatters, who block the lanes. I am reminded of The Hideous Zippleback as described by Gobber (Craig Ferguson) to Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) in the movie How to Train your Dragon. “Today is about teamwork! The Hideous Zippleback is extra tricky. One head breathes gas, the other head lights it. Your job is to know which is which!” The point is that if we generate “a good attitude”, maybe it will rub off on our new found shopping neighbors before there negativity has a chance to take root in our store and burn us all. I sure hope it does.

What “good attitude” will you pass along today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading