Friday, January 14, 2011

Life is a rose ...


Sometimes I feel blessed to live among such perfect people. Every single day I'm reminded how perfect people are, or at the very least, how perfect they think they are. I'm sure you know them -- people who aren't afraid to speak their mind and express their every thought and opinion, no matter who's feelings they stomp on in the process. I think we have the Internet to thank for this. In the olden days, we had to actually talk to people using our mouths. Imagine that. Now it's just a click-click here and a click-click there and we can tell the whole wide world exactly how we feel ... no-holds-barred.

I try not to discuss religion or politics with people, except for my family and closest friends. Those are things I feel strongly about and it's not my desire to tick anyone off with what I believe in just because they might have differing views. That's just me, but I certainly don't categorize myself perfect in any way, shape, or form. I'm the farthest thing from perfect and would be the first to tell you that. But sometimes when I read what people write on the Internet or listen to them on the news, I have to wonder how it's so easy for some people to toss out their 2-cents so freely. I suppose it's a weakness for me because I'm just not that bold.

I'm not pointing fingers. I'm talking about people in general. I think about my grandparents and how they lived in a time where there were certain things you simply didn't say or talk about. Some things need to be talked about, I realize, but sometimes it wouldn't hurt to keep our mouths shut. If someone asks for my advice, I'll give it to them, but will make an effort not to insult them in the process. A long time ago some Jewish guy said, "He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." Regardless of anyone's religious beliefs or even non-beliefs, it's still good advice today.

I don't know why I'm posting this. Maybe I'm tired. Or maybe I'm at a stage in my life where I'm feeling small and humble in this world. Life is precious. We take it for granted and it can be taken away in the blink of an eye. I don't know about you, but for me it gets old listening to people spew their opinions about others they don't even know. I've always said, "There are three sides to every story -- his, hers, and the truth." We've become a society that finds it all too easy to express our opinions without having to walk in another person's shoes. The Internet allows us to hide like cowards in anonymity. Keep in mind that I'm not lecturing anyone. I'm simply trying to remind myself to think before I speak. Even a simple rose bud has thorns before it blooms. Words hurt. I need to choose mine more carefully.

6 comments:

  1. True words spoken.

    Nancy

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  2. Funny you should post this...
    I wish we had better self-censorship in this day and age when anything goes and everyone's entitled to their opinion AND to share it as loudly and as obnoxiously as they'd like.

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  3. Thanks, Nancy and thanks Green Girl for the "self-censorship" remark. That's the term I was looking for this morning. I'm not saying people can't speak their minds and I certainly don't believe in creating new laws over this, but it would be a nicer world if people thought more before they spoke.

    Someone posted on FB today a quote from Dr. Seuess saying, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." I agree with that to a point, but I doubt he meant it to mean "Say whatever you want no matter who it hurts." either. I could be wrong, but he was from a different generation, so I doubt that's what he meant. And if so, then I guess some of us just don't matter to some people. That's sad.

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  4. Well said, Rena.

    I'm appalled at some of the stuff I see on blogs, Twitter and Facebook, especially the comments that attack individuals. I don't get it.

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  5. Well said. It's very hard to keep my religious and political opinions to myself sometimes. ON the internet things last forever. I try not to do damage. I wish other people would remember that when posting.

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