PROMISE YOURSELF

   

I read something this past week that I thought was very profound. It comes from The Optimist Creed which is included in a book by Christian Larsen published in 1912. The book is entitled Your Forces and How to Use Them. The creed begins with “Promise Yourself” and then lists 12 affirmations, but one in particular stood out for me. It goes: [Promise yourself:] “To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.”

            That’s huge because it sounds nearly impossible. And it sounds nearly impossible because criticizing others is a favorite pastime, along with being a defense mechanism. I remember hearing William Sloane Coffin once say that we are fond of putting other people down in order to raise ourselves up. I think he’s absolutely right! Yet it is a practice that is almost second nature to us in the type of society in which we live.

            Our society gives more respect to cynicism and negativity than it does to anything that smacks of the positive and of hope.  Sadly, the negative influences on us are strong and constant from every direction—TV, radio, newspapers and magazines, etc.  They are considered to be the more “intelligent” points of view, whereas the positive is mostly regarded as Pollyannaish and naive.

            The fact is that it is much easier and much less painful to look at the faults of other people than it is to take an honest look at ourselves and what we need to do to improve. In doing so, we feel much more powerful and righteous, but it doesn’t really help anybody, including ourselves.

            Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that other than the fact that here are a few other affirmations from that same source.  Promise yourself:

·        To be so strong so that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

·        To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

·        To make all your friends feel there is something in them.

·        To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Where I've Been, In Case You Were Wondering

     For those of you who may have thought I dropped off of the face of the earth, not true. I've been very busy this summer "recreating my life."  Ah, now, what does that mean? Well, for me it means that in this retirement status of mine (actually semi-retirement), I have reached a place in which I feel that it's time to change it up. I've been doing a lot of thinking with regards to how to do that and am gradually making it happen.
     Chris and I haven't done much in the way of taking a vacation this summer--though we did go to Maine for a few days in June. We also have gone to the beach a few times and will do so some more. We go to Island Beach State Park. It's a bit of a drive but it's worth it, in part because we and whoever is in the car with us get in free with my senior adult pass. But also we love the beach there itself--well kept and good facilities.
     As for me in recreating my life, several things have happened that were the impetus for it. I won't go into the intimate details thereof, but suffice it to say that they led to deep personal reflection. One of those areas had to do with my health and well-being. I've radically changed the way I eat. I grew up in a meat and potatoes household and continued to eat that way through most of my life. Fried foods,a regular diet of red meat, lots of dairy (most especially ice cream and butter) plus a whole host of other culinary delights have been an integral part of my menu. But I found some new culinary delights though not entirely giving up the others.
     In addition, I've also given up wine and any other form of alcoholic drink--not because of some moral judgment against it, because I still think it's fine for those who choose it. It's just that one day Chris and I were discussing medications I took for Atrial Fibrillation, and all of a sudden I blurted out that my reasons for taking them were simply "I want to live."
     I can't explain it, but maybe some of you will understand that saying that triggered something in me.  People can advise you a million times with their thoughts of what they think you should do. That's really not a very effective method for change. But when you suddenly come to a place of personal awakening, it's a very powerful moment. 
     Because I changed the way I was eating, I have reversed my heart disease and no longer take medications, I've lost weight, and I have an increased amount of energy. One of the big things that helped was that I joined the Wellness Club at Whole Foods where Chris works. They have all kinds of classes to attend that are both fun and informative. In addition to mostly following their plan, I added a daily walk of two to three miles on the towpath by the canal.
     Other things have changed for me and about me as well, all for the better I hope. Anyway, I'm back at the blogging ranch again and I promise that other posts will not be so long and not as self-involved.  This was just intended to connect with any of you who may have wondered whatever happened to me.
     Thanks for listening!  Peace!