Look in the Mirror

    Pretend you have a mirror you can look at once in awhile to see how others see you. I have come to the realization that a lot of people would change the way they acted if they could see themselves in the mirror....
    While eating dinner in a diner the other night I had a view of the entire room. In that room was a wide variety of people. No one thinks they are being noticed as they relax over dinner with their friends or family. But I noticed the looks and habits of all the people sitting around me. I noticed that the couple at the table next-door was annoyed by the loud group of teenagers next to them. The teenagers were perky, cute, athletes obviously having a team dinner together all in neatly matching warm-up suits. The couple across from us was a father and daughter. The father was slouching and had on a dirty sweatshirt from work, and the daughter was disheveled and slouching. The father's cell phone rang, so he answered it during dinner and had a conversation, while the daughter bent down over her soup and slurped it absentmindedly. Across the other way the hostess lead a young boy and a distinguished lady in wheel-chair through to a table. The young boy then helped the older lady into her chair. The older lady and her presumed grandson had a very nice dinner together engaged in conversation the whole time. I saw families and couples of various shapes and forms and didn't really remember things about them....
    The funny thing was, that, as my husband and I were leaving the diner, the old woman in the wheelchair stopped me and said, "What kind of sandwich was that you were eating? It looked so good." I told her and we spoke for a minute before I left. She was very nice. But afterwards I realized that as much as I notice other people - they are noticing me! And so it is in the world. It is safe to assume that everywhere you go, people are observing the presentation you make by your everyday habits. So, check yourself in the mirror every once in awhile to see what others see!

Smiles

    I found this on a blog called Ikini's Blog, written in 2007. I thought it was so pretty that I am re-posting it.  I'm not sure they are words to actually live by, but, they are definitely words to consider!

         Don't go for looks; they can deceive.
         Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.
         Go for someone who makes you smile,
         because it takes only a smile to
         make a dark day seem bright.
         Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Role Models:

    Try to think of the perfect role model, either for your own life or for your kids. Who would that be?... Would you choose a celebrity? (Doubtful - even if they are great singers or athletes, their lives are frought with drama) Would you choose a great leader? (Doubtful because we have come to realize that great leaders have burdensome egos.) Would you choose some fantastic intellectual? Maybe... A super-successful businessperson? A pioneer in their field?...
    Or would you choose a regular person who lives a regular life and never fails to disappoint you? A person who never tries to be the star and never asked for any recognition because they do what they do just because they like it. They are just a reliable constant.
    I think that is my ultimate choice for a good role model.
I'm glad that all the big shining stars exist, but I would not want to be married to one, or to be their child.... To me their contributions are beautiful sacrifices!

Feeling Powerless

   This is the feeling to avoid - the feeling that creates the most fear, anger, and insecurity in people. Even children and animals react to feelings of being lost.... All adults need to feel useful and have a sense of direction in their life. They need to know how their lives make a difference. If they don't know this, it will cause some damage.
   I've known people who over-compensated for lack of control by being obsessively-compulsively organized, others who became neurotic, some who became controlling or angry, or some who gave up and went through life without accomplishing anything.
   Teens learning to be adults, adults in difficult stages of life (job changes,  kids moving on, divorces, growing old, sickness) These stages can leave one suddenly powerless. People need to be reminded how they are important, or fear, anger or paralysis can hurt even more.