Tag Archives: Family

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Saith Me… Toxic People

We often have to mingle with people who share common interests but who may not be the most agreeable to us or to our sensibilities.

However, some people are toxic in nature and those who support them and continue to mingle with them often times become toxic by association.

Toxicity should never be something we feel obliged to ingest.

Many people seem to think that it is being immature to distance one’s self from toxic personalities and toxic behaviors.

The real immaturity is found in those who make excuses for the toxic.

We should remember that it takes very little poison to ruin the well from which we all drink. Therefore, we all need to be conscientious stewards of the well.

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Saith Me… Simply A Cloud

I do not need you understand my pain.

I need you to understand that I work every day to rise above it and to prevent it from leading me into the depths of despair.

I need you to understand that there are days when I succeed in my efforts – magnificently succeed!

I need you to understand that there are days when I stumble, falter, and succumb; when fear overshadows my focus and clouds my skies.

I need you to understand that on these days, my countenance and my behavior do not reflect on my perseverance, my hope, and my joy.

On these days, I need you to understand, there is simply a cloud or two in my otherwise light filled life.

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Saith Me… Levity

Levity at the expense of another person’s feelings is still bullying. Especially when that levity depreciates the value of those feelings. 

When levity is generated with the full understanding that someone else is hurting, then the levity is grossly inappropriate and unkind. Levity created in a vacuum of unawareness may be less inappropriate and less unkind, but it’s not less hurtful.

We may not always avoid hurting others, but should we not at least try to limit doing harm?

In our imperfect state, we all make mistakes and we all find ourselves guilty of less-than-kind behavior or speech, but we do not need to revel in our imperfection.

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Saith Me… Seek Solutions

Seek solutions before settling for excuses.

solutions

Solutions may not always be cure-alls, but they often are just enough to make a rough situation more bearable.

In my house, the common solution comes from simple advice.

  • Get up and move…
  • Drink a glass of water…
  • Drink a glass of juice…
  • Do something creative…
  • Get some fresh air…

Certainly the ills and woes of life are not eradicated by such simple suggestions, but they are often lessened.

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Saith Me… Reflections on Change

Do we really need to burn down the house in order to get out of the kitchen? 

 

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During a discussion with my children about the varied political theater which has dominated the news during the last 12 months, this rhetorical question emerged. Throughout history, a desire for change has often led to radicalization rather than the reasoned thought needed for change to be successful. Sometimes the radical voices drown out reasoned ones and disaster occurs. Other times the reasoned voices prevail.

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Saith Me… Consistency, Clarity, and Conviction

Consistency results from clarity of information and conviction in concept.

Remaining open-minded and accepting new information is vital, but it should not lead to self-doubt. Rather, it should assist in clarification and confidence.

Conviction in concept does not mean that the concept is inherently flawless or even relatively correct. What it does mean is that there is a determination to seek more clarity of information and thereby to grow. Even if the growth comes from having a concept proven flawed or fundamentally incorrect.

The journey to greater knowledge is not enhanced by wavering or waffling. It is enhanced by consistent action and the accumulation of information. Clarity and conviction lead to consistency.

Consistency Clarity Conviction

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Turning the Other Cheek vs. Turning a Blind Eye

Where is the accountability in this statement?

No one can offend you unless you choose to be offended. 

A person may choose to remain offended, in essence to remain a victim of someone else’s offense, but they did not necessarily choose to be offended in the first place. Whether the offender intentionally or unintentionally caused offense, they should be held accountable for their actions.

Turning the other cheek and turning a blind eye are not one and the same.

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Saith Me… Exhaustion

First I laughed so hard it hurt,

Then later I cried the tears of healing,

Finally, I slept.