|
When my mum passed away in Ayr, I had time of work to arrange affairs. It was done quicker that thought so when I came back to Brisbane, I still had several days leave. I ended up forgoing the days off and heading back to work.
There was a simple reason for that. I just did not think the time alone would do me any good. I wanted people around. I wanted to serve the way I knew. I felt that would (and it did) take my mind off my grief. Grieving was legitimate but there comes a time when it is counter productive. I have seen people withdraw as a result of unforeseen difficult circumstances, or the pursuing of lifestyles that were not good – lifestyles that caught up with a person (like what seems to happen to a number of celebrities. That is, success gives access to sex and drugs. The excessive life-style costs.) This ties into what I have been thinking about the last few days. The value of serving. One obvious benefit is that it takes the mind of excessively considering only oneself. There is nothing like serving another and ensuring their needs are met to snap a person out of self- pity. I will always recommend the caring for another as therapy. My experience is that in serving another my difficulties take on realistic proportions. I will never advocate not going through the necessary stages, but in my mind there can come a time that spending an un-necessary amount of time thinking about oneself is unhealthy. As most know we run a market several times a month. Our prices are ridiculously low. But there is a method to our madness. Not only do any proceeds go to our food pantry - what we do brings joy to many. What is generally out of reach is within reach. Instead of thinking “I can’t” many think “I can.” That mindset inspires optimism rather than negativity. It may be a cliché but that is so win/win. Everyone benefits. One of the most impactful benefits for me is the taking my mind off myself and serving others. I know it is healthy.
0 Comments
I was thinking yesterday of how important attitude is.
Yet when I looked it up it became clear to me that it is important to define what I have in mind when I use the word attitude. It became obvious that when I say attitude it can mean different things to different people. For example, it is often said that someone has an “attitude.” It is seen as a negative thing. Something that puts a distance between the one with the “attitude” and those they are addressing. It made me think that in so much a clear definition is important. Like the word “father”. I may use it based on a good experience. Others on the other hand may have had a very bad experience of father, and my using that word is like waving a red flag to a bull. So I have not changed my thinking but I realize that when I say the word “attitude” I am talking about an “open, teachable” thing. One that does not assume they all there is to know about something, but is willing to hear another out and learn things. It is funny that when I am taught something I deliberately come for a place of knowing nothing (sometimes that is real easy as I really do know nothing). But at other times I know enough to be able to do a certain task, but I deliberately do not let on as I find it is the best way to learn something new. It may be just one or two things, but it is a key for me to doing something better. So when I say “attitude” is the key, I think it is probably “teachable attitude” is the key. For me that matters a lot. Generally, I can pick up very quickly if someone is closed or open. Either way I know I can learn, but to me it is only with a “teachable attitude” anyone can learn something. Closed can only become open if there is a willingness to consider. Consideration can be at the time of being made aware of something, or it can be at a later time when something is though about. Either way progress can only be made when a thought is considered without prejudice. Maybe a conclusion has been reached a long time ago or maybe a conclusion is invited for the first time. Too me a “teachable attitude” considers a matter and draws its own conclusions based on the evidence at hand. While a closed attitude refuses to consider anything but what the person believes to be true based on nothing but having been told something and holding to that line. Having a “teachable attitude” may lead down an unpopular lane or to places previously unexplored (I think Galileo saying the earth revolved around the sun) but is always leads to personal freedom (despite when silenced) and there is never anything worthwhile to be gained by shunning it. It seems I ignore trends at my peril.
I have been touched only slightly by what appears to be happening. I heard someone say on the weekend we live in the best country in the world. I sorta agree with that statement particularly when I see what is happening. There is no doubt in my mind that I am seeing more because more have access to camera’s and immediate upload. But this is where the trends come in to me. It does not seem to me I am only seeing more because there is greater immediate access but because there is more happening. Disasters and difficulties have always happened, but the trend would seem to suggest it is happening more often. I am not one to wish doom and gloom on anyone but the trend seems to suggest it is happening more and more. I honestly do not think the ones who faced the great depression expected the stock market to crash but it did. The Ukranians did not expect war. but it happened. What got me thinking along these lines was the rickety foundation of hope. I have seen a share of difficulties in this land (flood, fires, economic woes, the crime rate), yet while devastating to participants, on the whole it seems this place does not experience as much of the difficulties being experienced worldwide. (the earthquake in Myanmar looks to have been a doozy) Yet the cost of living, crime rate, the attitude of some to suffering is to me a downward trend. While I may not have experienced the worst of what is going on I call it a “creeping malady” being experienced worldwide and here. Bad things have always happened but at the moment many bad things happening all at once. Unfortunately the trend appears to be downward. Ernest Hemmingway wrote about a guy going bankrupt who was asked how it happened. His response was “gradually then suddenly.” That to me is the trend I am seeing at the moment. Unless there is some sort of intervention gradually will become suddenly. All that was to say what I had in mind to say when I started writing this. It was all about the foundation of hope. We live at a height that makes us think we are immune to flooding. We have enough to maintain a decent lifestyle. We are getting rid of a big tree in our yard that caused us more stress than anything else during Alfred. Yet I know one unforeseen event can undo security. I reckon it matters big time that my security lies in something beyond the temporal. I am seeing all around the world the temporal change in an instant. |
RSS Feed