Take some time this evening to reflect on your day. Use a notepad to record your reflections. Don’t make it complicated. Here’s what to do. Start at the beginning of your day and slowly, in your mind, replay the day as if you were watching a video. Anytime you come to an event that causes an emotion or stress make a note on your notepad. Use a few words like happy, got a call from my friend. Or, angry, reading an online article about a political event/person I don’t like. When you finish, look at your notepad and pull out the happy events. How can you make more of those happen. And, how can you reduce the events than cause negative emotions within you. You have the power within you to make your day a happier one.
Chances are, if you go to a public pool, you run the risk of swimming in other people’s pee. But does that make the act of swimming any safer? And should you also add to the mix by urinating in the open water? Or are you better off finding the nearest restroom? A 2019 survey by Sachs Media Group also found that about 51% of Americans use swimming pools as “communal bathtubs” by swimming as a substitute for showering or swimming without a shower after exercise or yard work. And 40% of Americans admit they’ve peed in the pool as an adult — so you can imagine the number of adults who don’t admit to doing the dirty deed.
Joe: “I like to meet my girlfriend at 12:59.”
Pete: “Why’s that, Joe?”
Joe: “I like one to one time.”
Tis So Much Joy! Tis So much Joy!
Emily Dickinson
Life is but Life! And Death, but Death!
Bliss is, but Bliss, and Breath but Breath!
And if indeed I fail,
At least, to know the worst, is sweet!
Defeat means nothing but Defeat,
No drearier, can befall!
And if I gain! Oh Gun at Sea!
Oh Bells, that in the Steeples be!
At first, repeat it slow!
For Heaven is a different thing,
Conjectured, and waked sudden in —
And might extinguish me!
Joseph Campbell speaks of perfection in Reflections on the Art of Living. He says, “A human being in action cannot represent perfection. You always represent one side of a duality that is itself perfection. The moment you take action, you are imperfect. You have decided to act that way instead of that other way. That’s why people think they are perfect and so ridiculous. They’re in a bad position with respect to themselves. P 135
Note: People who believe they are perfect scare me. They have the right answers to everything. There’s no room for discourse. Yet, I find perfectionists to be the unhappiest of all people I meet. They are always striving for something that is beyond their grasp. When we accept ourselves and others as imperfect beings, we can become more compassionate to ourselves and each other.
It’s tough to be quiet when you think the other person is wrong or nuts. It’s easy to argue with this person and attempt to put him/her in his/her place. No matter the “rightness” of your argument, you lose if your attempt is the change the way the other person thinks. You see this played out on all the political talk shows. It doesn’t matter which perspective they promote, they’re right in their minds. If you want to feel better, roll with it. You don’t have to agree. You can ask questions in a gentle way that may help them reflect on their position. In any event, you will not lose a friend because of an argument over political issues. And, you’ll sleep better.
