When I lived in San Francisco
I learned to keep my head down
for when I made eye contact with someone,
I was often treated with lewd or aggressive behavior.
It puzzled me,
because coming most recently
from a small, spread out little town in desert Arizona,
people were generally friendly
and never acted unkindly towards me.
I mentioned this to a person who had been assigned to me as a contact
and she told me to never, never
look into the eyes of anyone on the street.
It was very difficult to do,
and I had to make a very conscious effort,
but I did.
Then I stopped taking walks.
I know that there is goodness in everyone
and in everything,
and fortunately
did not stay in the city after my duty was done.
I often think back to that time though,
and still feel a certain amount of consternation
over what had happened there.
Goodness can bloom
just as easily as hostility and hatred can raise their heads . . .
it just depends what feeds us
and how we respond or react.
I have not really tempered my behavior
where I live now,
but I have changed my expectations.
If someone accepts the goodness in my casual smile,
then I smile inside,
and if they don’t
I let it go
(most of the time).
Now,
if that happens,
I sometimes say to myself,
“that person
must be having a bad day.”
And I’m okay
and wish them a better day tomorrow
in my heart.
It’s the best I can do.
Not everyone is going to like me
or be happy that I smiled at them . . .
I am simply the sonder of other people’s lives,
as Valerie pointed out.
I acknowledge that there is goodness in those who reject the smile . . .
I’m just not the person who sees it,
and that’s all right.
I just imagine them hugging their child
or nurturing a plant
somewhere else.
Out of my sight. ♥
Today I acknowledge that my daughter worked very hard to find a job and found the perfect fit. She is a Behavioral Health Tech for a small Treatment center and she is being recognized for her CNA skills with better pay. I am very proud of her ✨💕
I would like to say thank you to all of you who expressed concern and comforted me after my fall last Saturday. I reread your responses last night and felt warmed and comforted, just as I had when you first responded to me. So I am acknowledging the good in everyone here. You have been so kind and reassuring to me in your responses. I’d like to also thank those of you who silently sent good wishes. Thank you to all of you.
I have been resting this last week. The fall took more out of me than I realized. It has been good to rest and take care of myself.
Sending heartfelt love to all. ♥️♥️♥️ Mary
To keep my mind and heart open for all I may encounter, doing my best to keep myself from judging, from assuming and letting go of possible fear, and instead staying present and aware with an open heart. To stay vulnerable is sometimes really difficult to handle, while in the same time, being open / able to hold both own vulnerability and nevertheless perceiving the goodness in others in balance is allowing for forgiveness and peace.
Your first sentence says that which I could not find words for. Thank you Ose. ♥️
“To keep my mind and heart open for all I may encounter,
doing my best to keep myself from judging, from assuming and letting go of possible fear,
and instead staying present and aware with an open heart.”
Thank you for your kind reply, dear Mary. If the entry is of little help, that would be really fine. To me, this is what I had to overcome in order to be able to really meet the goodness in others and I am more than happy that life allows it now where for deacdes, I stayed withdrawn or fixed in flight, fight, or freeze. I could say it was due to strong antisocial imprints, but it met as well even stronger fears and delusions of threat and isolation deep inside myself, for which there was unexpected help appearing one day and for which I will be forever grateful. From that day onward, I slowly learned to see the goodness in others, and to trust in His Love which is truly residing in each of us, however hidden it might be sometimes. Thank you for your being here, sharing your wisdom, dear friend since long.
This question brings to mind a certain person who has hurt me in the past, but is trying their best to be a better person. I will acknowledge the good in them today while keeping in mind the patterns of the past so as to protect myself and my family. This is an important balance that I need to find. I hope that the person can truly become someone who is trustworthy and reliable.
Yes, sometimes, protection is needed and I wish for you and your family to be safe and well and that this person you think of will be able to unfold into the human being with shared values, so that one day, protection might not be necessary any more. From own experience, protection has been in the same time my very prison, where I could not perceive the doors or how to open them. May Peace be with you and your family, dear Emmaleah.
Brother David’s quote, “The challenge before us is this: to treasure and preserve the independence given to us and learn to integrate it in an all-embracing interdependence.” answers the today’s question for me.
To better acknowledge the good in others today, I’ll aim to focus on facts when thinking about the opposite side instead of myths that my mind has told me. To me, this is not just today’s insight, but part of my practice on the journey of a human services professional, which is to look for the good (strengths) in my clients. Happy weekend to all of you!
My Ngoc, it’s very tempting to focus on myths our minds tell us about the opposite side with human biases taking over. Luckily, this is one upside to introversion. Buddy systems are commonplace in the US. A slogan that helps me look beyond that is “People over possies.” I came up with that last year when you were in Vietnam. Again, possies are yes men.
I can better acknowledge the good in others first by assuming the good in others. That can be a risk, I know. But Hebrew scripture tells us that everything was pronounced good at the time of creation, whether you think of that literally or by way of myth. So I choose to assume there is good in us all. Therefore, I can acknowledge that goodness in whatever way seems appropriate at the time – a mere greeting, a word of appreciation for a job they are doing, a compliment, or simply acting in a respectful way towards them.
Katrina, I got Hebrews for my verse of the day today. It’s Hebrews 49 “There remains, then, a sabbath rest for the people of god.” Being well rested makes it easier to see the good in people. When we’re overtired, our minds are cluttered up.
The word better trips me up. I need to be aware that this is true. My words and actions will reveal that. If they are better each day… Great but let me just do it.
I can remind myself the idea of sonder. The idea that everyone is living their own life with their own set of battles and hardships. I can also remind myself of the humanity in people, as sometimes even though we are looking right at a human, it is hard to remember sometimes that we are all only humans experiencing this thing called life for the first time.
What an interesting expressed concept,
dear Valerie . . .
I know this to be true,
but did not know
there was actually a name for it . . .
comforting,
in a way.
Thank you. ♥
I’ve been reading in the 40-day bible challenge of “Being With Him” and “Being Like Him.” It’s continued to help me see god’s image in people making it easier to look past differences to co-exist and communicate with my root people.
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I must begin assuming positive intent. Or, at least not negative intent. Especially for the people I love.
Thank you for this,
dear Ryan. ♥
That’s a good place to start, Ryan. My husband and I had to get past this in order to make our relationship strong.
When I lived in San Francisco
I learned to keep my head down
for when I made eye contact with someone,
I was often treated with lewd or aggressive behavior.
It puzzled me,
because coming most recently
from a small, spread out little town in desert Arizona,
people were generally friendly
and never acted unkindly towards me.
I mentioned this to a person who had been assigned to me as a contact
and she told me to never, never
look into the eyes of anyone on the street.
It was very difficult to do,
and I had to make a very conscious effort,
but I did.
Then I stopped taking walks.
I know that there is goodness in everyone
and in everything,
and fortunately
did not stay in the city after my duty was done.
I often think back to that time though,
and still feel a certain amount of consternation
over what had happened there.
Goodness can bloom
just as easily as hostility and hatred can raise their heads . . .
it just depends what feeds us
and how we respond or react.
I have not really tempered my behavior
where I live now,
but I have changed my expectations.
If someone accepts the goodness in my casual smile,
then I smile inside,
and if they don’t
I let it go
(most of the time).
Now,
if that happens,
I sometimes say to myself,
“that person
must be having a bad day.”
And I’m okay
and wish them a better day tomorrow
in my heart.
It’s the best I can do.
Not everyone is going to like me
or be happy that I smiled at them . . .
I am simply the sonder of other people’s lives,
as Valerie pointed out.
I acknowledge that there is goodness in those who reject the smile . . .
I’m just not the person who sees it,
and that’s all right.
I just imagine them hugging their child
or nurturing a plant
somewhere else.
Out of my sight. ♥
That does happen on occasion to me, dear Sparrow. I figure the same. Pre-occupied rather than sour.
🙂
Today I acknowledge that my daughter worked very hard to find a job and found the perfect fit. She is a Behavioral Health Tech for a small Treatment center and she is being recognized for her CNA skills with better pay. I am very proud of her ✨💕
How wonderful, Robin Ann.
Don’t you just love a child’s success, Robin Ann?♥️
Congratulations to your daughter! 🎉
As I am too, Robin Ann. Pass on my congrats to your wonderful daughter.
Bravo,
dear Robin Ann! 🙂
I would like to say thank you to all of you who expressed concern and comforted me after my fall last Saturday. I reread your responses last night and felt warmed and comforted, just as I had when you first responded to me. So I am acknowledging the good in everyone here. You have been so kind and reassuring to me in your responses. I’d like to also thank those of you who silently sent good wishes. Thank you to all of you.
I have been resting this last week. The fall took more out of me than I realized. It has been good to rest and take care of myself.
Sending heartfelt love to all. ♥️♥️♥️ Mary
From my heart, wishing you to be fully well again soon, dear Mary. Take good care. You will be in my prayers.
Thank you, Ose. I am doing better.
Sending more healing wishes Mary
Thank you, Robin Ann. I am healing.
To keep my mind and heart open for all I may encounter, doing my best to keep myself from judging, from assuming and letting go of possible fear, and instead staying present and aware with an open heart. To stay vulnerable is sometimes really difficult to handle, while in the same time, being open / able to hold both own vulnerability and nevertheless perceiving the goodness in others in balance is allowing for forgiveness and peace.
Thank you Ose for that reflection.
Your reflection,
dear Ose,
is so open-hearted,
that I feel
that even I
would find friendship
in your circle. ♥
Thank you for sharing here, dear Sparrow. Your highly sensitive being and kind replies touch my heart deeply. A warm embrace, if I may.
((( ♥ )))
Your first sentence says that which I could not find words for. Thank you Ose. ♥️
“To keep my mind and heart open for all I may encounter,
doing my best to keep myself from judging, from assuming and letting go of possible fear,
and instead staying present and aware with an open heart.”
♥️♥️♥️
Thank you for your kind reply, dear Mary. If the entry is of little help, that would be really fine. To me, this is what I had to overcome in order to be able to really meet the goodness in others and I am more than happy that life allows it now where for deacdes, I stayed withdrawn or fixed in flight, fight, or freeze. I could say it was due to strong antisocial imprints, but it met as well even stronger fears and delusions of threat and isolation deep inside myself, for which there was unexpected help appearing one day and for which I will be forever grateful. From that day onward, I slowly learned to see the goodness in others, and to trust in His Love which is truly residing in each of us, however hidden it might be sometimes. Thank you for your being here, sharing your wisdom, dear friend since long.
I am grateful you are here, dear and longtime friend.
This question brings to mind a certain person who has hurt me in the past, but is trying their best to be a better person. I will acknowledge the good in them today while keeping in mind the patterns of the past so as to protect myself and my family. This is an important balance that I need to find. I hope that the person can truly become someone who is trustworthy and reliable.
Yes, sometimes, protection is needed and I wish for you and your family to be safe and well and that this person you think of will be able to unfold into the human being with shared values, so that one day, protection might not be necessary any more. From own experience, protection has been in the same time my very prison, where I could not perceive the doors or how to open them. May Peace be with you and your family, dear Emmaleah.
No judging. Be love. Be kind.
Happy Spring Everyone…🌷🌸🪻
Let the Light Shine.✨
🕊️🩷
Smile and know others want to be happy just like me ! No separation!
Great observation, Antoinette. Thank you.
Brother David’s quote, “The challenge before us is this: to treasure and preserve the independence given to us and learn to integrate it in an all-embracing interdependence.” answers the today’s question for me.
The quote from Brother David,
dear Carol Ann,
answers the question
in a way I never would have thought of . . .
thank you for bringing it here. ♥
Set my intention to acknowledge the good in others. Then I’ll naturally be better at it.
To better acknowledge the good in others today, I’ll aim to focus on facts when thinking about the opposite side instead of myths that my mind has told me. To me, this is not just today’s insight, but part of my practice on the journey of a human services professional, which is to look for the good (strengths) in my clients. Happy weekend to all of you!
And a happy weekend to you Ngoc!
My Ngoc, it’s very tempting to focus on myths our minds tell us about the opposite side with human biases taking over. Luckily, this is one upside to introversion. Buddy systems are commonplace in the US. A slogan that helps me look beyond that is “People over possies.” I came up with that last year when you were in Vietnam. Again, possies are yes men.
I can better acknowledge the good in others first by assuming the good in others. That can be a risk, I know. But Hebrew scripture tells us that everything was pronounced good at the time of creation, whether you think of that literally or by way of myth. So I choose to assume there is good in us all. Therefore, I can acknowledge that goodness in whatever way seems appropriate at the time – a mere greeting, a word of appreciation for a job they are doing, a compliment, or simply acting in a respectful way towards them.
Thank you, Katrina
Katrina, I got Hebrews for my verse of the day today. It’s Hebrews 49 “There remains, then, a sabbath rest for the people of god.” Being well rested makes it easier to see the good in people. When we’re overtired, our minds are cluttered up.
The word better trips me up. I need to be aware that this is true. My words and actions will reveal that. If they are better each day… Great but let me just do it.
I can remind myself the idea of sonder. The idea that everyone is living their own life with their own set of battles and hardships. I can also remind myself of the humanity in people, as sometimes even though we are looking right at a human, it is hard to remember sometimes that we are all only humans experiencing this thing called life for the first time.
What an interesting expressed concept,
dear Valerie . . .
I know this to be true,
but did not know
there was actually a name for it . . .
comforting,
in a way.
Thank you. ♥
I’ve been reading in the 40-day bible challenge of “Being With Him” and “Being Like Him.” It’s continued to help me see god’s image in people making it easier to look past differences to co-exist and communicate with my root people.