Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine. It’s not their journey to make sense of. It’s yours.
Author | Photographer | CG Artist | Filmmaker
People have a nasty tendency to live with problems that they don’t take the time to define. It’s almost as if by refusing to acknowledge the source of a problem, they believe they can get away with not doing anything about it. And that’s how small issues often become big problems.
If you’re unhappy, unhealthy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied — and it isn’t clear why — stop avoiding the problem by refusing to define it.
Can you recall ever witnessing someone getting help or encouragement when they didn’t expect it? Can you picture the recipient’s response or imagine how it made them feel?
Pretty great, right?
You can be someone who gives help & encouragement to people who don’t expect it.
Related:
Sitting in my car eating lunch.
Windows are open.
Older man in a car next to mine is on a break from one of the nearby shops. He takes a last puff on his cigarette and tosses it out his window.
Rather than get angry, I simply say, “The ground is not an ashtray.” — He looks over at me. Probably as surprised as I was that I said anything — I continue, “A trash can would be a better place for that.”
He doesn’t say anything.
Just closes his window.
Gets out of his car.
Here it comes, I think. I’m about to get blasted. And then he walks back & picks up his cigarette butt where he flicked it.
And then he walks away.
2020 is full of surprises.
No matter what you do or what you create, it is almost inevitable that someone somewhere won’t like it — even if what you’re doing is generous, selfless, or kind.
Always remember that you don’t do what you do for your critics, you do it for the people who find value in it — even if it’s just one person (or yourself).
Criticism is common. Keep going.
Related:
People are often quick to project negative energy towards things they don’t like. Flipping a finger, getting angry, or tapping some keys makes it easy.
Sadly, people putting out positive energy to actively support the things they value & appreciate is far less common.
Be kind.
Related:
Excerpt from: Not taking serious things seriously (March 12)
People often don’t take things seriously until they suffer consequences of not taking things seriously.
Related:
Refuse to let others’ lack of empathy, kindness & compassion rob you of yours.
Maintain your integrity by refusing to lower your standards of decency to meet people on their level.
People are always under the influence of the example you set — so remember who want to be.
Related:
Your preferences are just that, *your* preferences. They are not a universal standard. Variety & options are a good thing.
Just because someone doesn’t share your affection or dislike for something doesn’t mean they deserve to be mocked or ridiculed because of it. And it doesn’t make them your enemy unless you choose to live like it does.
Differences should be appreciated, not used to further fragment a world already severely suffering from a lack of love, unity, and support at nearly all levels of human existence.
