A week ago, “Boston” hadn’t happened
Life changes in the blink of an eye.
And we just think that it can’t happen to us.
My son has run in a number of the Boston marathons over the years, so last week’s events came home to me a bit sharper than it might have otherwise.
But whether as an individual or a nation, we all are able to experi
ence the fear and anger that such an event causes, all in Technicolor with massive repetition from the media!
Is it good that we know all that is going on in the world, minute by minute?
Most of us see it over and over again through the “gifts” of technology, whether it is the television, the internet, the social media. And because it is mostly the catastrophic, the horrendous, and the depressing that we are bombarded with, we allow ourselves to become more upset, depressed, fearful, pessimistic and negative.
But what if we had a choice?
A choice as to what we watch and listen to,
a choice on how we interpret what we see and hear,
a choice to refrain from pre-judging,
a choice as to what we will remember,
a choice as to what we will learn.
Of course, we do have a choice!
A choice as to what we watch and listen to,
a choice on how we interpret what we see and hear,
a choice to refrain from pre-judging,
a choice as to what we will remember,
a choice as to what we will learn.
Watch and listen?
How much time do we spend watching and listening to the “news”?
What media channels and talking heads?
Interpret?
Numbers killed or hurt?
Numbers not killed or hurt?
Villainous purposes or misguided ideas?
Pre-judge (prejudice)?
Religious appraisal?
Racial considerations?
Remember?
The blood and gore?
The heroics of those who rushed to help?
The outpouring of support from those not even there?
Learn?
To be fearful and anxious?
To tell our loved ones we love them, today?
To enjoy each moment we are alive?
Just like we explored our sack of “potatoes” in last week’s blog (link),
we find that we can choose what burdens to carry with us, or not.
I believe that Life is Too Short to clutter it with regrets and fears.
I also believe that Life is Too Long to clutter it with regrets and fears!
The events of this last week have reminded me that I do believe that Life is Good. And so I need to treasure it moment by moment, connection by connection, opportunity by opportunity. And make those choices that support me.
I (we?) need to acknowledge that
yesterday is Back There,
tomorrow is Out There,
only today is Right Here!
And “right here” is where we can focus on where we are, those who are with us and what we can do to make this day wonderful.
Did you find any lessons to share from this last week’s events?
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6 Comments
Yes, it’s been an extraordinarily thought provoking week. WhileI do wish to have some awareness of the larger world’s events – the good, the bad, and the ugly – balance seems most needful. There’s that word again! Balance. The TV news had to be turned off.
I was most gratified to see the amazing responses from normal everyday folks as well as the professionals on the scene of the bombings. Now how to translate that to my life here in Carnation? I am cognizant that there are far, far more good, kind, helpful, responsive people than not. Let me be one of them. It’s a choice.
It is sobering to know that something, somehow changed a person’s mind about whether or not to hurt others, whether or not life is a good thing. And we saw the results. If anything is to change my mind, I want it to be towards the helping, the hopeful, the kind. I want my results to be different and serve the good. That’s a choice I can make when new information is presented to me from any source.
So today, I commit again to seeing the events in the world as moving us forward, and that my part in whatever is going on can be felt as a positive force.
Always, we have the choice to take the high road or not. And sometimes we just need a reminder of who we want to be to make the best choice. Thanks for sharing, Fay!
Good thoughts and we are always at choice.
Cecelia, It’s interesting how we often want to deny that we are at choice, just because we don’t want to be accountable for the choices we make!
More often than not I find myself anticipating tomorrow, next week, next month, etc…. and only sometimes realize I’m not appreciating the now. Nice way of bringing it into perspective, thanks!
Mark
Mark, glad to have your response! After all, we never really get “to” tomorrow as it is always TODAY!