What if I didn’t need things to make me happy? What if I could find my happiness in this moment, with those near me, and in the circumstances that I find myself? The things we want bring us a temporary euphoria when we acquire them. The happiness they give us is short lived and we move on to the next thing. When I become happy with who I am, where I am, and with those around me, I’ve found something special and priceless.
what if
What if I stopped to think before reacting?
What if I stopped to think before reacting? That’s another tough one for me. I can blame it on my DNA and say I’ve come from a long line of reactors (LOL – if you’ve ever been to an Italian family Sunday dinner, you’ll know what I mean). Or, I could slam the brakes and stop before I react. We each receive thousands of stimuli each day. We react to the stimuli. Most of our reactions go unnoticed. There are times when our reactions are strong and out of proportion to the stimuli. When we slow the process down, we can hit the pause button on our reaction, let our emotions even out, and then make an appropriate response. How long should we pause? As long as it takes to return to a sense of peace and determine an appropriate response.
What if tomorrow promised to be better than today?
What if tomorrow promised to be better than today? How would you feel? Me? I’d be so excited, I’d be singing off key at the top of my voice and believing I sounded like Sinatra. What if I act like tomorrow was going to be better than today and stepped out in faith that it was about to happen? Everything changes. My attitude scale tips toward the positive. I bring more energy to my work. And, my mood is infectious to those around me.
What if I spent my waking hours awake?
What if I spent my waking hours awake? That sounds confusing. After all, when I am awake, I am awake. One can figuratively sleep walk through a day unaware of people and events around him/her. When we are awake we are in tune with the people and events surrounding us. Being awake is dangerous because it brings us into greater awareness of the plight of those who surround us. Do we dare walk away once we know we can help? Do we dare ignore a situation where we can bring good. Being awake is for those with a courageous heart.
What if I gave thanks for my food each time I ate?
“Before eating, always take time to thank the food”.(Arapaho wisdom). What if I gave thanks for my food each time I ate? Each meal is a gift. It is the product of farmers or ranchers. The workers on the farms and ranches. It is brought to us by men and women driving trucks. It’s processed, checked for safety, and packaged. Our food comes to our markets where we shop. There are thousands of people who have a hand in each of our meals. Without them, we’d go hungry. Yes, it is good to give thanks for the food and all who made each meal possible.
What if I took stock of my friends, what would I discover?
““When you have an ass for a friend, expect nothing but kicks (Indian proverb).” What if I took stock of my friends, what would I discover? Would I discover I have friends I can count on? Would my friends encourage me to go after my dreams? Do my friends hold me back. Do I come away from meeting with friends with a negative feeling? The kinds of friends we have make all the difference in our lives. Choose wisely and be a good friend in return.
What if I started doing the things I’ve been afraid to do?
What if I started doing the things I’ve been afraid to do? Fear holds us back. We make our fears real by creating an ending that hasn’t happened. When we buy into our false fears we become paralyzed to act. It’s not so much as facing a fear as it is in facing ourselves. Look in the mirror and give the man or woman who is looking back at you permission to act. When we act against our fears, we become stronger and more confident. It’s no big deal if one fails, failure is only fatal when we quit trying. Try and try again.
What If I Chose Not to Respond?
What if I chose not to respond to a disrespectful remark? That’s a tough one, for sure. Yet if I choose to respond I am throwing more wood on the fire. I don’t think anyone needs to stand still for disrespectful remarks. There is a simple way to do deal with it. Say nothing, turn, and walk away. Let the angry person swirl around in his/her personal pot of angry stew. When the situation calms down, it is important engage with the person who made the disrespectful remark.and say something like, “I felt disrespected yesterday. If there is a problem, I’d like to hear it in respectful words and discuss it civily.” Nothing more is needed. You’ll find out quickly if reconciliation is possible or if it is time to move on.
What If I Didn’t Know the Day I Was Born?
What if I didn’t know the day I was born, what would be my estimate of my age? Our age is a number. Sometimes we let that number tell how to act, what to wear, when to go to bed, and what to eat. I’ve known people who refused to let the number tell them what to do. A friend decided at the age of 69 to go to law school. She earned her law degree and worked for the poor. Another friend completed a triathlon at the age of 75. Conversely, I’ve known people in their 30’s and 40’s who were old. Age is real, but it doesn’t have to dictate how we live our lives. Living life to the fullest is a great goal for each of our days.
What If taking Responsibility Were Commonplace
What if taking responsibility were commonplace? Taking responsibility is easier said than done. It’s easy to point fingers at others and say, “He/she should take responsibility.” Responsibility begins when I own it. When I take responsibility, for better or worse, for my actions or duties in relationship to myself and to others. Responsibility means I recognize what is required of me as a man/woman and act accordingly. When society values responsibility families are stronger, neighborhoods are healthier and safer, and doing what’s right triumphs over self interest.
