A good deed can be forgotten in less than 5 minutes. On the other hand, the memory of a bad deed may never be forgotten. It’s unfortunate, but bad news travels fast. Now that technology allows global access to anyone at anytime, it travels even faster than the speed of light. The world has always had an inexplicable fascination with extreme fortune and misfortune. We love to devote our attention to the lifestyles of the rich and famous as well as the senseless and centless.
As much as we love to hear rags to riches stories, we seem to be more intrigued by the drama of riches to rags. Jealousy and envy are the main elements responsible for that. Witnessing someone lose their earthly treasures should be disheartening but instead there are usually more sentiments resembling that’s what they get. Think about how many times you’ve heard about a celebrity whose home was in foreclosure and thought, how in the world does one squander all their money? Your next thought was probably along the lines of, why would they spend that much on a house in the first place? Yet, if your neighbor’s home is foreclosed upon, there is immediate empathy which generates acts of charity and hospitality. No thoughts are given to how they may have mismanaged their money or if they overextended themselves to begin with by purchasing that particular home.
We tend to see ourselves as doing the most sensible things. According to our thinking, anyone who has less than us is not doing enough while those who have more are doing too much. People who are on our same level are viewed as “okay,” in our eyes. So, when an affluent person loses what they have, we figure they were doing too much anyway. The part we neglect to recognize is that anyone who experiences misfortune is someone’s neighbor. They are also someone’s son or daughter, and possibly someone’s parent.
Money and time do not know anyone personally. This means you can manage your money and your time in any manner you wish so that they work toward the improving your life. In this world, especially in America
The preceding paragraphs were a lengthy introduction to the age-old concept of privileged information, or selective secrecy. The Internet, coupled with the increased capabilities of cellular phones, has dramatically expanded our access to everyone’s business. In light of these innovations, the popularity of sites to share personal information has spread like wildfires. The more we hear other people’s news, the more we are desensitized to what is really transpiring. We are allowing our time to be diverted from achieving our goals. We often know more about what someone 3000 miles away is doing than what’s happening in our own homes. The abundance of this information is perpetuated by our hunger to receive it, and share it.
At times it is necessary to share what ails you in order to secure a remedy. The rest of the time it is not, so keep it to yourself. When someone starts to complain about turmoil in their life, refrain from fueling it by agreeing or interjecting with your own tribulations. Instead, offer words of encouragement or even a solution to their problem. Help them to change their perspective. If they still wish to complain, let them find another outlet. When people post negative comments on a blog or social networking site, erase it immediately if it is within your power, or simply ignore it. Negativity needs fertilizer to grow. Stop feeding it and it will wither away and die. Spread the good news of your existence and accomplishments. Promote positivity and meaningful momentum. The world can be a better place but it’s up to all of us to make it so.
Linwood R. Butler, Jr.
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It's very unfortunate during these times that we like to see people rather than succeed. No one's life is perfect. We may have had obstacles to overcome, but the thing is not to give up. What does success mean to you? Is it money, fame, family? I define success as being happy and having someone to share that happiness with. It's not about having the biggest house to me. I rather have a home filled with love. I often read the news and see how people who didn't get their high school diploma or GED. I love to see when these individuals make a decision to change that aspect and seek that one thing they have always wanted and go after it. That brings a tear to my eye. Country singer Gretchen Wilson just recently received her GED. She wanted to set an example for her daughter to let her know how important education is to us in our society. She has success as a singer, but she didn't feel complete without that GED. That is success to her. We can all encourage someone everyday. We can make a difference in everyone's life, you can help someone who may be at their lowest point, by saying a kind word or just listening. Sometimes people just need to vent. I try to do something nice for someone everyday and I hope this catches on like a forest fire.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Wood!
ReplyDeleteWhy are we thirsty for unfavorable information?
Spreading the Good News is “True Sense” in a world full of entropy! IF people only run their personal lives as they somewhat try to do when engaged in employment. In the same spirit you speak about spreading the good news, people do this fundamentally on the job because it is … expected. It’s a process of ethical treatment and consideration of fellow colleagues. It’s not always perfect but the structure is there to give considerations for solid and fair treatment of our brotherens.
Good news and bad news are they reported the same? Is it fair? Same verses Fair is a dilemma in decision making especially in union environments or in households with multi-children dwellings.
In the same spirit of spreading the good news, in our personal lives, why is it people do not give the same considerations, the same treatment of solving and resolving issues with individuals in whom they share relation with? Is the emotional factor the variable? Why do people treat perfect strangers seemingly better than their mother, brother, sister, brother, cousins, etc.? Same, fair, or Better?
Just think about the considerations we give others verses our own flesh and blood. Are we as patient? Is pay the variable? Meaning we have to “put on a happy face” thus “dealing with ‘the man’ “on the job in order to stay employed. Whereas in our personal lives we let our emotions, pride, prejudices, biases, get in the way of truly resolving issues. Is the answer to treat personal situations like a business decision? By doing this, one might apply common sense to decision making in comparison to relationship based on what is perceived to be morally correct? Such as loaning money to a member of a family who promises to remit payment when no level of repayment is fathomable.
We must review our situadeness level regarding relationship management! This should be a course in high school for the reason that there are courses on finance, home cooking, English, Math, religion, etc. But none on maintaining relationships. People continue to struggle with conscious decision making through life. There is nothing that prepares people for marriage. Four meetings with a preacher in two weekends prior to saying, “I Do”!!! Ha!!! This is a made relationship that ends 70% in divorce. That spells failure. People lasts longer on jobs than in relationships. People have to be taught, just like to read. There is reading, then there is critically reading. People tend to communicate effectively in work atmospheres, how can this be transferred to home life? Is it possible? It is. Maintain the characteristics and improvements and communication will be increased, therefore, better results, win –win outcomes.
Again, do you treat people the same, fair, or just? Tough question. One question. For example, If you were in charge and your mother committed an fire-able act, would you terminate her? Depending on how an individual answers that question will offer some direction in their thought process. The process is called Emotional Intelligence;
• Self Awareness,
• Self Management,
• Relationship Management, and
• Relationship Awareness
Spreading the good news has a lot to do in how one interprets the world and situations thereof. Sensory experiences and education are leaders of this wave. Spreading means learning and relating information whether favorable or unfavorable. They are all learning experiences because people cannot make all the mistakes individually. Yes, I agree, favorable news travels at a snails’ trot, while unfavorable stories hits like lighting! Same or Fair? The world runs on entropy and until the interest of the interpreters’ changes, it will continue to be so. Interpreters need to mandate the relevance, thus this will change the tide and bad news will then, and only then, fall on deaf ears.
To get relationships, the world right, we must infact ensure we are pure at heart, fair, and concise.