Why is exercising integrity a big load off of your shoulders? In today’s Thursday Thought quote, Zig Zigler explains.
Tag Archive for fear
Escape into an Elevator
I’m not a fan of elevator music, but I may become one. I thought it was my imagination that the car next to me, stations being shuffled, or just wandering by people with headphones screaming were all tuned into the same music somehow, even though it was many different genres. Nope, according to the Journal of Popular Music. They studied the lyrics of over 6000 songs from the Billboard Top 100 (500 songs) for the last 60 years, through 2016. What they found was that lyrics have become less happy and joyful and increasingly more filled with disgust, anger, sadness, and fear.
Most of us listen to music for entertainment, not to produce ill feelings.
In our current world, where politicians lie and call each other names, where leaders manipulate our beliefs, where brother is purposely turned against brother–show me to the nearest elevator!
I Get the Caravan
I’ve been watching those 3000, then 5000, then 7000 migrants in the caravan from Honduras through Mexico toward the U.S. I’ve heard the statements–none of which have been observed or proven–about the group containing criminals, gang-members, and mid-Eastern terrorists. As I look into their faces on the news I put myself in their midst.
Since I’ve been widowed I’ve been urged to move into a smaller home or apartment in a more affordable area. I think about it and realize I would be giving up all that I’m familiar and comfortable with, like my friends, local family, my church, the city I grew up in, and neighbors who support me. I’d move to an area where I’d have to learn to navigate new roads and find the best shopping. I’d face people with different attitudes towards us senior citizens and/or disabled. My new location would require new ways of doing things, new challenges for me to adapt to. In short, it would likely take a long, uncomfortable while to become “home.”
I believe that these souls who are walking thousands of miles carrying a few meager belongings and their children are just what they say they are. I believe they are giving up their homes and all they held dear to escape violence, danger, death, and poverty that never ended despite their hard work. I believe they’re looking for a better life where fear and uncertainty is not a daily occurrence. I believe they are willing to work hard to give their children a chance to survive and grow into productive adults.
I’d be leaving behind so much less than they are, taking a far less of a chance than they are, working a lot less hard than they will have to work to achieve their new life.
And I have a real choice, while they do not. I get it.
Funny Things You Hear on Take Your Child to Work Day
What’s your reaction to today’s Take Your Child to Work Day? The kid loves it, and it’s great parent-child bonding. But how do people react? Read on. (Taken from Take Your Child To Work Day’ Quotes: 10 Funny Sayings You Can Share At The Office.)
“Sorry, but your child told your boss what you really think.”
“I actually look forward to Take Your Daughter to Work Day. I’m not great with kids, but I want to get better. Because I’m getting married. So I put on a bunch of extra candy on my desk so the kids will come talk to me. Like the witch in ‘Hansel and Gretel.’” — Pam Beasley from “The Office”
“I like kids, but this not a kids environment. This is like HBO, no limits. Who knows what I’m going to say, crazy stuff, and it is R-rated, it is not rated G. I am like Eddie Murphy in ‘Raw,’ and they are trying to make me into Eddie Murphy in ‘Daddy Daycare.’ Both great movies, but still.” — Michael Scott from “The Office”
“Now that I’ve seen you explain your job to your child, I realize how little you actually do.”
“Take your child to work day is a wonderful opportunity to pull the fire alarm and blame the children.”
“I noticed on take your kids to work day that your child was actually better at your job than you are.”
“I’m bringing my kids to work so they can see why I’m such a bitch when I get home.”
“Taking my kid to work will only further reinforce my fear that I can be easily replaced by a six year old.”
“Today our office will be overrun by smaller and even whinier versions of ourselves.”
“I refuse to take my kids to work because they’re so much more talented on those computer things than I am.”
The Real America
Sixteen years ago we proved that we are America strong, America compassionate, America resilient, America united, America tough, America protective.
A group of fanatics set about to bring us to our knees in fear. But instead of creating terror, they unleashed the American spirit.
God HAS blessed America–through its people.
An Equalizing Thought
Today’s Thursday Thought is an equalizer. Instead of putting people on pedestals or ignoring them as beneath us, we’re reminded that, essentially, we’re all traveling the same road.
They’re Free–And We Need Them
For the last many days we’ve been living in a world with events that fill us with fear, distrust, anxiety, and all sorts of emotions that separate us from each other as we crawl into our shells seeking safety. To counter this, I want to start your week with a reminder that we’re all in this together and we’ll get through it together. To do that, we must reach out to each other. That’s what the man in this video does. It makes me want to reach out and hug each of you and everyone else I meet.
Thoughtful Thursday: Nelson Mandala
From a man who helped form history:
“There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a program that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources, those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease.” — Nelson Mandela
Boston Bombers: You Got to Us
You proved something to us. We’re mourning our 3 dead and 176 injured. And those of us who weren’t there when your bombs went off are watching news coverage of the medically trained marathon volunteers as they rush in to tend the wounded, as well as the many other runners and spectators putting their fear aside to help however they can. We’re learning of the two soldiers just back from Afghanistan who rushed in to put pressure on wounds, then ran to the hospital to give blood. We‘re hearing about the many faiths who are organizing an interfaith prayer service for the victims. We see law enforcement agencies from all levels of government working together to aid victims and find clues to who did this terrible deed. We’re finding out about people from as far as California, at our nation’s other coast, mobilizing to offer assistance in Boston. We’re listening to government leaders from the President on down speaking with determination, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Yes, you got to us. You got to our spirits and hearts, to the soul of America. You brought us even closer together as a nation, as a united people. You brought out our compassion, not our fear. You emphasized our oneness, not our divisions. You caused us to focus on what is right and good, not on what is selfish, jingoistic, or evil.
I doubt that that was your intention.