Cheer Up Charlie

I spend a great deal of time with children, and the thing that I find fascinating about them, is that they are mirrors. Your attitude is reflected in them. If you are negative or if you criticize something, they absorb that negativity. Generally, children are pretty positive and they are willing to dream and to hope that all will go well. I have known kids that are unhappy with a task, and if you tell them that they shouldn't be unhappy, that they should look at the task a different way, they generally do. It's a delightful kind of attitude malleability.

Adults, not so much. I have a person in my life who is extremely negative. There is never a chance missed in which this person doesn't freely offer criticism. In fact, he often tries to incite others to join in with unkind words and opinions. Mind you, this is a person who is not really productive in my presence in any way. He doesn't make things, or do things to contribute, that I ever witness. It's amazing that he sees others in such a critical, limited way, yet is unable to realistically see himself.

It's not that I'm the most positive person in the world. In fact, I'm pretty sarcastic and dark. But, deep inside, I experience joy and wonder on a daily basis. So, today, after being soaked by criticism, I took a walk with my dog. In the neighbor's book drop box, I found this little blue-gray horse. It exactly matches the weird color of my desk. This strangely delighted me. Then I played a podcast starring my college friend, Rick. I love Rick, because he also experiences joy and wonder daily. Always has, and always will. So, I'm leaving you with three cheery quotes, and with a link to Rick's podcast.

"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
                                                                                    W.B. Yeats

"Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: thus your time on earth is filled with glory."
                                                                                     Betty Smith from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

"When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall--think of it, ALWAYS."
                                                                                     Mahatma Gandhi



http://www.radiolab.org/story/explorers-club-sugar-egg/