I’m a big believer that you create your own reality by the thoughts and images you surround yourself with. You construct your own world view and through your thoughts and actions, you communicate it to the rest of us.
So I’m SO curious about something that I recently saw in a parking lot. Hanging from the rear view mirror of a car was a sign with a 1950’s style woman holding a tomato. And the sign said:
You say tomato and I says f#*%ck you.
Now that’s an interesting world view.
Some of you might say, Laurel lighten up. It’s meant as a joke. Yeah I get that might have been the motive. And here’s something else to consider:
How much time does someone spend in the car? How often are they looking at a sign that in essence says “It’s all about me buddy”?
No wonder we have such difficulty getting along with each other – locally and globally. How many people saw that sign and for a moment their energy shifted and they thought “yuck”. For how many people did it reinforce their own view that the world is a me-first place?
It’s often the little things that make a BIG difference.
Even the stuff we put on our bumper stickers, wear on our t-shirts and hang from our rear view mirrors. You get to communicate your world view all the time.
Let me know…
If you were going to hang a sign with your world view slogan on it, what would it say?
There’s a new radio station in Edmonton with this slogan:
Life’s good. Sing along!
Now they are a jazz/pop/retro station that is easy to sing along to, particularly if you are of a certain vintage, myself included.
But I think they are on to something bigger.
Life IS good if that’s your outlook.
Life’s good no matter what is happening. And singing along with life is a darn good way to go through your day. Oh sure, you can do the chorus of “Woe is Me” by Poor Little Whiny Guy but that’s not a tune you can dance to.
Mondays are quote day at loving the chaos so here’s another one from Zen Buddhist teacher Taissen Deshimaru:
If you are not happy here and now, you never will be.
Sounds like it could be the lyrics to a song.
Leave a comment and let us know…
What’s your personal theme song?
There is a great deal of unmapped country within us.
George Eliot
How much time do you make for personal reflection?
It is better to wear out than rust out.
Richard Cumberland
Where do you need to take some action?
Multi-tasking is either the backbone of civilization as we know it, or the scourge of our very souls.”
So says journalist Heidi Stevens in a recent article describing the multi-tasking mania of an Illinois mother.
I’d say it’s not either/or. It’s both.
Somewhere along the line we got the idea that multi-tasking is a good thing. We even began revering people who seemed to be able to do ten things all at once. We began the mantra that multi-tasking is a necessary evil.
Nonsense.
We aren’t designed to give our focus to multiple things at the same time. Oh, sure walking and chewing gum are fine. But when it comes to trying to do something of importance along with one or more other tasks, all that happens is that we do none of them particularly well.
That’s how we find ourselves in a culture that loves mediocrity.
You can not have a meaningful conversation with someone while you are checking your email.
You can not drive safely while texting or putting on your make-up.
You can not listen to how your kids’ or partner’s day went while you’re watching TV.
How do you spend your time?
One of the reasons why people think they don’t have enough time is that they shove too many unimportant things into one time slot. They don’t give their mindful attention to the task at hand, especially the really important things like connecting with loved ones.
Fold laundry and watch TV – sure.
Expect someone to share what’s really happening in their world while your attention is diverted – not a chance.
I’d suggest that it’s better to do fewer things well than a bunch of things half heartedly.
Take a stand for single tasking – especially where it matters.
Are you too busy to stop and hear the music?
That’s the question the Washington Post was trying to answer when it tried a little experiment. They set up world class musician Joshua Bell in a subway station at rush hour and then sat back to watch whether any one would take notice.
Take a few minutes to read the whole story and watch some of the video.
Do you take time to notice the beauty that crosses your path each day?
Are you so focused on your to-do list that you fail to see life’s unexpected treasures?
What are you missing?
It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.
Eugene Ionesco
What question do you need to be asking today?
Go slowly, breathe deeply and smile.
Thich Nhat Hahn
What’s your best advice?
