I’ve heard it said “most of us get enough exercise running (our mouths), jumping (to conclusions), flying (off the handle), dodging (responsibility) and pushing (our luck).
In so doing we become blinded to the reality of “the power of positive thinking,” upon which foundation all other positives must be built. Positive thinking must precede positive living, the examples of which are becoming harder to find with time and technology.
That is why I am still reeling from the living example set by one such perpetually positive thinking (and subsequent living) individual whose life and service were celebrated over the past weekend. How remarkable to find in this mercenary self-centered stage of mankind’s maturity, a man who has lived for 90 years in this world and not become another victim of the world. As one presenter at the celebration emphatically elaborated, it takes a similarly strong positive woman behind the man to accomplish it.
Weak threads in the fabric of life include ingratitude and being unappreciative of one’s innumerable blessings and freedoms–especially to make choices, often including opportunities to overcome bad ones which we all make at some point.
With all of its faults this American nation offers more opportunity as a whole than any of the others, far its superior in age. As I often remind others (and especially myself), There is nothing that can ever happen to us (good or bad) that will ever be as important as our attitude toward it. This is what determines whether it makes or breaks us.
For some strange reason we tend to dwell on weaknesses and shortcomings—especially those of others–while weakening ourselves more through the process. We are also guilty of ignoring the many things we all have in common that should unite us, while magnifying our few differences instead—through which we can be (and are) so easily divided and pit against one another—individually, academically, genetically culturally, politically, religiously corporately and in every conceivable manner.
We are fully aware that there is strength in unity yet we allow the negative influences of ego, foolish pride, jealousy and envy, etc., rob us of the power of positive thinking–and ultimately positive, progressively peaceful living—from the individual family to the world family of mankind! But no structure is built from the top down but from a strong foundation up.
Any one of us could give a list of things we feel that others take for granted. Not always so obvious are the multiple things, blessings, opportunities and especially people that we ourselves may take for granted. To take youth, conveniences, health, life and the luxuries of family, friends and loved ones for granted is to foolishly pretend that they will always be there. They won’t.
Therefore, let us strive to increase our power of positive thinking and: “So live, that when thy summons comes to join that innumerable caravan, which moves to that mysterious realm where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death, thou go not like a quarry-slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave as one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.” ~ Thanatopsis
