What If?

Bringing a Treat to a Friend

     I wonder, what if everyone decided--I mean absolutely everyone--to spend the next 24 hours committed to doing, saying, and thinking positive things.  No backbiting, no fault-finding, no criticizing, no unkind jokes, remarks or thoughts.  What if everyone spent that 24 hours looking for the good in others, overlooking faults, helping a neighbor or friend, volunteering for an hour, cleaning up someone else's mess without complaining, bringing someone a treat, saying "thank you",  letting someone else go first in traffic or at the supermarket.  I wonder how those actions would change the world and the level of happiness we all experience? While we can't create that kind of positive wave worldwide, we can practice it in our own life, and influence our own home, friends and workplace. 

     Negative perspectives seem so much a part of our culture.  You can't scan down your Facebook page without seeing someone complaining about the president of our country. I can't say that I'm a fan, either, but I wonder, wouldn't it be in the best interest of all of us if we prayed for him instead, or redirected our negative energy to pray for those who might be able to facilitate the changes we want?  There are positive ways to approach negative situations, and loving ways to consider people with whom we disagree.  We are, after all, all God's children.  He loves our enemies--"flawed" as they are--as much as He loves us.

     Closer to home, it's also difficult to find a 4-way stop where everyone is amicable about who should go next.  We're in such a hurry that we've somehow come to believe we are "entitled" to skip ahead in line, or be waited on right now.  Everyone should think like we think, act like we act, believe as we believe, and if they don't, surely, there is something wrong with them!  

     Doesn't it relax and uplift you when someone breaks that chain of negativity by smiling, acting courteously, stepping aside so you can go first, holding a door open for you, saying "thank you" for a kindness you've extended, treats you like you really matter?  Surely we can all find ample reasons for taking offense, finding fault, or being irritable.  It's our most basic nature to be selfish.  But what if, for just one day, we could all set that basic nature aside and rise to a higher state of awareness, love, and gratitude?

      On the blog, How to Raise Your Vibration, writer Sabrina Reber talks about the power we each possess to influence the people and the world around us.  In a post dated June 15, 2011, she talks about her belief that so much negative energy and criticism is projected to our national leaders that we actually inhibit their ability to do their jobs as effectively as they might.  She says, "WE aren't using our energy/power of intention/love/positivity to help our leaders fulfill what WE want. We spend too much of our energy focusing on what we don't want."  

     Because she was such a loving, peaceable person, Mother Teresa was once asked why she never attended anti-war demonstrations.  She said, "I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."   Like I said, there are positive ways to approach negative situations.

      So, I'm going to make a bold suggestion:  for the next 24 hours think positively; refrain from criticism; find a positive way to think about some negative situation; perform some loving act of kindness; smile at someone; say thank-you every opportunity you get; look for the good in others.   It won't cure all the ills in the world, but it will make your little corner of creation a happier, more loving place.  You will be ever grateful you did.  I promise!

TODAY'S  AWESOME  BLESSING:  I've been reading about the life of Mother Teresa--that alone is a wonderful blessing.  In addition, I found this quotation.  She said, "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."   This reminded me of the value of our small but positive efforts. We can't all be super stars, but we can all do simple things that improve the quality of life and bless the people around us!

Missionary of Charity holding child: Digital Photography School; 17-images-of-poverty
Bringing a Treat to a Friend: public domain photo