ONE SEES MUD -- ONE SEES STARS

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‘Two men looked through the same bars.
One sees mud, and one sees stars.’
-- F. Langbridge

This made me think... the ‘one sees mud’ part of it.

Because life as I have learned is just like that. And we are presented with similar situations but from the same vantage point of strife. Our visions are narrowed down or restricted by our minds which seem to understand only those which touch our pain when it feels pain. In pain we see more pain. In struggles we see more struggling, in hurt more hurting, in grief more grief, in darkness even more darkness. It seems to lose its grasp of joy the reason why we stay longer than it should within the sorry void of misery, mess, muck, and mud of our lives.

And this line too made me think... ‘and one sees stars.’

On a clear evening sky the stars shine oh so brightly taking one’s breath away as it praises its Creator. You do too with a prayer of thanks in the heart. As a child I stood so much awed by its wonder and beauty. Mom would always say.... ‘Look to the stars when your heart feels burdened. And find rest.’ It works every time. But apart from taking Mom’s advice literally, I also learned to take it several steps farther and higher as I grew older. Life is a good teacher. Indeed.

Life is tough; it never makes it easy for anyone. We all go through challenges, big or small, at some point of our lives or another. It’s a constant. We continuously journey the hills and valleys of our lives regardless of our brilliance, talent, titles, and the presence or absence of money.

There must be something more than just the sense of survival to get through everything.

And this I have learned that if you listen well enough and look hard enough behind the temporal frills of our mundane lives you will find a tiny spark within. A flickering steady flame right there in your heart which holds itself bravely through the long weary day and night and it waits to be rekindled again and again with every opportunity that rises to do so.

‘Two men looked through the same bars. One sees mud, and one sees stars.’

Hope. Faith. Positivity. God.

Have an unbelievably blessed day, everyone! Blessings!

POSITIVITY EFFECT -- A BLESSING OF AGE

Thanks, Beverly. You have put out one most terrific fantastic amazing post I have ever seen here in fb. Thanks for this lovely share, dear friend. Keep 'em coming!

I think I'm going to repost the text below to be easily read. Can't read much of (original) light blue text; it's faint and bland and isn't eye-catching... so I'll darken it a bit. Because this is one piece of wisdom I think everybody must see and understand, men and women-young and old alike. So here it is again..........


  “Knowing what to overlook is one way older adults are typically wiser than young adults. With age comes what is known as "positivity effect". We become more interested in positive information, and our brains react less strongly to what negative information we do encounter.” ---- Meg Jay,

And some friends wonder why I don't get angry at things I should be angry with. Well, now we know that it depends on what things. I must admit that taking such an attitude has worked to reduce stress in huge measure over many things which could easily push my anger button. Of course there is such a thing as righteous anger, but let's reserve that for another post. Meantime, I'm good where I'm at... where life is like a garden of roses. Why roses? Just like the plant.....  The thorns are still there but the flowers now more vibrant and gorgeously beautiful. Lovely life!
 
POSITIVITY EFFECT --- that's a good thought and attitude, don't you think so too??

LIFE IS TOUGH BUT POSITIVE PEOPLE TOUGHER

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Saw this in last Sunday's paper and I think it's worthy to note.......

To quote:

"It's easy to interpret the comments of others as discouragement but that would only be one interpretation. Listen with an optimistic ear. Challenge yourself to find a positive take-away from everything you here."

Unquote.

Mom would always remind me long ago to be aware that "life is not perfect no matter how you try or want it to be. So to help you get through it in one piece, learn to steer your thoughts and attitude down the road of positivity."

Not always an easy task and I found that out as I began my own journey through life. The impressionable innocent gullible years are the hardest to pass through. Because everything thought, said, or done would and does matter... particularly when you think that it's you who is the object of deserved or undeserved attention. You react by being hurt, miserable, angry, embarrassed, shamed, bullied. But you never do anything about it, really. You simply become so busy feeling sorry for yourself or hating them.

And mom's words would ring through my head like a hard kick in the butt. Mothers have their ways, indeed. And so I got me my positivity. How? Learning and even so much more learning. Reading and even so much more reading. Thinking, feeling, observing, understanding, writing. Each being part of the other to create that which I aimed for.

Still not an easy task because life and people are as diverse as the books on my shelf and yet still interestingly so. And to get the most out of it is to see it with a serious and honest intent to enrich your life with it.

To enrich in the dictionary means ----- 'to improve or enhance the quality or value of'.  Don't you think that as quite a good step towards positivity?

'Life is tough but people tougher' .... a cliche but let's twixt it a bit with this -------- 'Life is tough but positive people tougher'.

Have a great day, people! God pours out blessings upon you all, your families, and your homes. Enjoy it!

COUNTING BLESSINGS - TRY IT

That must be hard to understand when your troubles mount like a huge tornado above your head. Exaggeration, of course, but it means only one thing – troubles suck. So I’m not going to heap on advice because that’s not what one needs when the going gets tough. Nor am I going to plug in that cliche ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’. We’re not going there this time; we’re going in another direction but still on the plane of troubles.

Unmistakeably trouble is on every person’s plate. No one is spared although we fight it with everything we’ve got. At times we succeed in licking it, but most times it stands there immovable like a rock. So why doesn’t it leave no matter how much we want it to-- despite the tons of prayers we throw up to God? Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know one thing from my own share or experience of it -- there’s something in there for us to learn.

This is how I understand it. Trouble, problem, struggle or whatever name it is called is not the ‘enemy’. It is a friend and like a good friend, it does everything in its power to jolt us to our right senses. It shakes us to our roots to make us see and confront our weaknesses, correct what may be corrected, and move ahead with renewed resolve and fresh new hope.

Troubles aren’t there to destroy or mess up life for us. We do that to ourselves using our fogged-up brains and wrong attitudes. Rather what it does is tell us that we need to stop-look-listen – because maybe something isn’t working anymore and may need to be changed. But we seem not to see that, instead we are quick to ‘point the finger’ at someone or something, except ourselves.

How 'bout we do things differently this time? How 'bout taking our eyes off our troubles for a bit? Let me engage you in some mental exercise. One for the heart too. So then, tick off ten things in your life that makes you happy... and I mean really happy. It's simple -- Just ten.

While you're thinking, let me show you my own list....

1. Smart, responsible, affectionate daughters
2. Adorable pets --- three dogs and one lazy fat cat
3. Writing or blogging
4. Friends, up real and too online
5. Home and house
6. Drawing and painting
7. God
8. Mini library in the living room stacked with good books
9. Tiny garden pots of blooming violets
10. CD player and a shelf of favorite music cd's

... there's more but I said ten only, didn't I? :-)

If you've done your list, observe that you will be smiling... somehow. Not only because you remembered the good times you had with each but because your heart has grown lighter – happier with every memory. The troubles you may have been feeling moments ago will then seem to be pushed far to the back – forgotten in the joys of the hour..

There’s a name to what you’re doing --- ‘counting your blessings’. If you look closely at the list you have ticked off, you will see that they are many—and if you break it down some more, it will double-up in number. See how it works? Your blessings are far more than your troubles. God made sure of that from the start.

So how then can one or two problems put you down – when you’ve got ten or twenty good things on your side working for you? Isn’t that more than enough to get you energized and recharged to get back on track again? Won’t that even spur you anew to more creative and aggressive solutions to your problems?

Doesn't that tell you that nothing much has been lost -- you still have you and your blessings. You still have God.And when you have triumphed or conquered at the end (we always do), you may even find yourself appreciating your troubles as blessings, too. Perhaps then-- that is the lesson and the reason for its existence in our lives.
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So shall we start counting blessings now? I’ll race you to it.

WINNING MEANS TURNING YOUR FACE TO THE SUN

“Winning is the result of having a winner’s mind and a winning positive ‘can-do’ attitude. Winning has everything to do with being in the right place at the right time as well as being ready to grab the opportunity and take the challenge to win. Winning takes determination and persistence. And as with most things in life, it takes practice to perfect, too.” ----Anon.

That’s lifted from an article in a magazine I was reading as my hair was being pampered, softened, and beautified by a wonderful affable beautician-friend. This was my quarterly visit to her shop and the package included a manicure and pedicure, too. Most women would do this monthly but monthly I can do by myself. The thing is coming here to the parlor is more therapeutic than simply punching holes in my wallet. I leave my cares and woes outside the parlor door and simply bask in superb pampering and pleasure inside. Temporary, still it’s a good option for a mini-vacation other than a big expensive trip to Boracay Island.

My beautician-friend as she works on my hair chirps away on the latest Hollywood juicy bit in her sing-song voice like Tweety, that lovable cartoon character. But I love this Tweety and I love my friend. I knew her since she first started in this business. It was nothing like this at all. Her first shop then was small and spare. She had only one person, a cousin, who helped her with her small base of regular customers. Some days I would catch her staring out the window with thoughts lost somewhere. I knew the bills were piling up and the challenges grew bigger as life became difficult.

But this petite lady had spunk; she knew what she wanted. A year ago, she held an office job, saved a portion of her pay each month, and against the advice of family and friends left it. Thus began her journey to a dream-- her own shop. She took out a loan and added it to her small fund. With determination, perseverance, and sensible money-management, she bit-by-bit put together what she now proudly calls her ‘Beauty Haven’.

My friend came out a winner. That’s the stuff winners are made of. Winners don’t sit around sulking or moping. Neither do they fear failure or think ‘I can’t do it’, ‘It’s impossible’. Winners try to make it happen and keep on trying until it does happen! Even when the odds seem huge and insurmountable, nothing will faze a winner permanently. My friend didn’t buckle down under that load.

Yet it’s okay, too, to stop, sit, think-- looking out the window like my friend did. One will need to do that – recharge, evaluate, energize. But go back into the fight one should with renewed strength, courage, and determination. There is no easy way to do it but through the struggle. Sleepless nights, furrowed brows, ulcer pangs, time-problems, people-problems, dearth of resources — those are but a few of the challenges down that road.

My friend knew yet doggedly pursued her dream working her skills to perfection with every trial and test. She made her dream happen! She prayed that she would. She’s a winner and a happy one. You see, winners are made not born. Don’t we all love success stories!
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Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun! :-)

KNOW YOURSELF

I found this in a book just recently. Wisdom right there in every line. So I'm sharing this with you. Listen well and listen with your heart.

To quote...

DON'T EVER DOUBT YOURSELF

You have so much to offer,
so much to give,
and so much you deserve to receive in return.
Don't ever doubt that.

Know yourself and all of your fine qualities.
Rejoice in all your marvelous strengths of mind and body.
Be glad for the virtues that are yours,
and pat yourself on the back
for all your many admirable achievements.

Keep positive.
Concentrate on that which makes you happy,
and build yourself up.
Stay nimble of heart, happy of thought,
healthy of mind, and well in being.

-Janet A. Sullivan
Unquote.

Don't let anyone make you feel small. You are so much more than you think you are. Your power is right there in you. It's not in external things although people will tell you it is. Agreed that money, power, position have their uses too but it waits for the right person to take it to even greater heights. It is a willing slave to a worthy master. It will definitely need someone worthy to work it to good use or serve a better purpose. And you have the power to do that. If you see something which you must do to improve your life, other people's lives, or make this world a better place (which we all pine for), then do it. Don't wait for someone to do the job for you.

Believe in yourself... believe in you.

A WORLD-ON-YOUR-SHOULDERS KIND OF DAY

Today is world-on-your-shoulders day. There’s problem to my left, and another to my right. Looking down a problem waits there for me too… and looking up a huge rock just waits to fall down on me hanging on a thread. So am stuck in the middle, can’t go anywhere.

Have you had that kind of day?

I guess every normal air breathing person goes through such a time. The feeling is like drowning with the waters up to your neck and rising. Or something like so dumbstruck and numb with anxiety and your feet feels glued to the ground; you’d like to run but your legs won’t cooperate.

Then you want to quit.

What -- Quit the world or living in it? Quit the thrill of facing a challenge? Quit the promise of a blessing at the end of the dark tunnel? Quit the opportunity and possibility for great achievement? Quit the potential to become a better person in winning over the struggle and strife? Quit knowing your GOD better? I can tick off dozens of reasons and things you would be losing by quitting.

Truth is, all that you need to do is…

Have faith. Believe in yourself. Believe on the ONE set of footprints on the sand when two of you are walking on it.

"Square your shoulders to the world… be not the kind to quit. It's not the load that weighs you down but the way you carry it." -Anonymous

BUILD UP or TEAR DOWN - YOUR CHOICE

Oh but there is so much we don't like about so many things -- in life, in people, in government, in structures and policies, etc. And we harp about them a lot, get so mad - irritated - disgusted - frustrated by them all. Well, some serious venting can serve a good purpose too you know ...

but only if the venting is aimed at
building up and not in tearing down.

DON'T WAIT TILL EVERYTHING IS JUST RIGHT

We always expect perfection, in ourselves, in others, in things. Anything which is not right or falling short of our expectations ruffles our peace and composure. Gee, that is a short-sighted way of looking at things or at life in general, don’t you think? “It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions” (Mark Victor Hansen) He is definitely right about that. Nothing is ever perfect, something will be lacking or will never be enough or be made differently from what we had hoped for. So are we going to just sit there and moan the situation or circumstance? Bang our heads against the wall or bang the other guy’s head on the wall for not doing it right? Hansen has an answer to that too… “Don’t wait until everything is just right. Get started now.” He’s referring to you – he says it’s time to get kicking ass – yours! He further added…”With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” Imperfections push you to become better! I’ve read this line somewhere though I don’t remember now --- ‘Excellence not perfection is what we’re all aiming for- isn’t it?’

CHANGING HOW YOU THINK - CHANGES THINGS

"You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions." -- Adlin Sinclair

When I get some bit of bad news, I immediately feel bad about it and behave like I was hit by a huge brick on the head. It eats me up and I begin to act the way I feel. But that isn’t always the smart or wise thing to do. It could be lots better of course, at least in my reaction towards it so that its negativity won’t have to affect or influence me or my day or my life to an extent. So have I learned? Yes, I have; to change the effect of bad news, I need to change my attitude towards it or my way of thinking. It’s somebody else’s bad news. All that I can give to it is sympathy understanding compassion and prayer. I could too do my bit to help alleviate the other person’s pain but there’s only so much that I can do or anyone can do, for that matter. Realizing that then releases me from having to wrestle with odd or unnecessary emotions which shouldn’t be there anyway. Because, truth is, the other person has to deal with the bad news himself his way. He alone will have to extract the lessons that he should be learning – that’s the reason why it’s there – solely for his learning. God meant it that way, you know. This business of living it’s all for the purpose of making ourselves grow – become better. There’s no sidetracking that Divine plan.

DREAM IT - PLAN IT - WORK IT

"You will recognize  your own path when you come upon it,  because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need."  -- Jerry Gillies

That about answers the question asked me so often when among the young hopefuls I’ve interviewed for a job before. They tell me that they have so many plans, so many dreams, and yet never seem to know which one is the right one for them. Confused and bewildered they keep on hammering at a wide range of choices believing that the right one will surface and show its face and that somehow things will break and they will hit gold – but maybe or maybe not. I’m not convinced with that method.

It’s not always smart to spread yourself thinly over a wide field of prospects. It’s like using up energy and shooting wild bullets with no specific target in sight. Besides it will wear you out faster and pretty soon you will find yourself dragging your feet from one place to another. That’s a candidate for frustration and disappointment and a waste of precious time and talent – one which you can’t afford to lose.

And I have seen other young people take on a well-thought out and planned approach. These boys and girls start out with a well-defined and definite sense of self and purpose; have equipped themselves with the necessary education and training, and studied their prospects sorting out those which they believe will be a sure fit. They don’t bother with anything which does not fill the criteria they have set down. In such a way they succeed to narrow down the choices to the best of the crop. Once this has been decided then and only then do they gear up for the pursuit and journey. Armed with a clearer vision of who they are, what they have and what they hope to achieve..... amazingly the required enthusiasm energy and imagination needed to see it through springs out or bursts forth in unexplained measure and further throughout the journey would gain even greater momentum as each time the goal becomes closer to one’s view and reach.

"Start believing now that we can be who we are." --- (Anon.)