discretion is a better part of valor
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| peace. Let it begin...with me! |
How many times have you been the recipient of someone who just opened their mouth, blurting something out with no thought as to how YOU would take it? (Show of hands...) yes, so have I. Whether is was intentionally to my face or behind my back, it hurts just the same.
Then we have the people in the spotlight, be it a politician, news media, etc who make statements based on not really knowing all the facts, and the backlash is incredible! This past week, Rush Limbaugh ranted on-air because an 18 year old college student stood up and said that birth control pills need to be covered by insurance. Rush responded by calling her "a slut!" Nice. Whether or not you agree with the whole birth control /insurance issue is NOT the point here--the point here is that you just don't refer to people, publicly no less, that way! A state representative here in Minnesota referred to folks who are on food stamps as being no different than wild animals. Again, no matter how you feel about the food stamp program, people do have feelings and tact here would have made such a welcome difference.
When I worked with school age kids for six years, my motto to them always was, "think twice, speak once!" This was in reference to the many, many times I heard, "but Miss Diane...he SAID..." followed by "did NOT!" Did TOO!" It takes self control to stop and ask, "how will this be interpreted?" Put it a different way: if you were the recipient of what you are just about to say about someone else, how would YOU take it? Many times you would probably be appalled!
so if I called you a brownie point winning-- no account asswipe, is that not a good thing?
ReplyDeletewow, anonymous...what did she just say up there? You do have a lot to learn! Life is so short...can we all just get along? Remember...what goes around--comes around!!! isn't peace a better option?
ReplyDelete"if you can't say ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!"
ReplyDeleteDiane, the need to criticize simply belies a longing for recognition, appreciation, and validation. None of which, however, can be obtained through criticism.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's just a phase they're going through.
When you look at another's life, perhaps a life that has been fraught with travesty and injustice, you are not to feel sorry for the person. You are not to feel sorry for anyone. Do not mix up feeling sorry with compassion. The Great Spiritual Ones never demeaned anyone by feeling sorry for them. This is a great message for you, for, when you feel sorry for another, you are putting yourself in a higher place and the other in a lower place. Neither is a good place to be.
ReplyDeleteBy the same token, feel not sorry for yourself, for then you are mired in self-pity. That gets you nowhere.
Certainly, it is one thing to feel superior and quite another to be grateful for your good fortune.
Count your blessings, and cast blessings on everyone. Everyone. Everyone can use more blessings.
Every life has its travails. Every life has its blessings. Look for blessing, not only in your own life, but in the lives of others.
When you feel sorry for others, you are nailing them to the wall. Feel blessed, and not superior.
You have an influence on everyone around you, and you have an influence on everyone far from you. You don't have to be right next to others in order to have an influence on them.
Every influence you have also influences you. Whether intentioned or not, when you put someone down, you have lowered yourself.