January 4, 2016
Always The Write Time
Author, Editing, Grief, Happiness, Publishing, Uncategorized, Writing
amends, assumption, bitterness, blame, forgiveness, goodwill, ownership, promises, reconciliation, regret, responsibility, validation
Over the past several weeks, I’ve initiated a concerted effort to make amends with people I’ve hurt, owning up to my wrongs—taking ownership for unkind words and broken promises (see ‘Turn the page to begin anew’). Perhaps you are convinced someone close to you betrayed you and, without seeking any kind of validation, you succumbed to rash assumptions and drastic measures. Then, too late, you realized your erroneous thinking. It really doesn’t matter who was to blame because, in the end, it takes at least two. And love refuses to demand its own way. Consequently, all you can do is accept your personal role in the situation and ensure that your actions, moving forward, coincide with your words. In time the door to reconciliation might open but, until then, I suggest you offer up forgiveness and goodwill. When we accept responsibility, it doesn’t expunge our wrongs, yet it does free our hearts and minds from bitterness and regret.
Is there a wrong you need to right today?
Image courtesy of cbenjasuwan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
May 16, 2015
Always The Write Time
Author, Editing, Grief, Happiness, Publishing, Writing
acceptance, agreeing to disagree, assumption, compromise, differences, respect, solution, understanding
We will never agree with everything someone thinks or feels or stands for. But that doesn’t mean we can’t strive for understanding and acceptance of our differences. Recently, I made the mistake of assuming a friend of mine and I were on the same page in regard to a certain situation. Although my friend—I’ll call her Paige—said “yes” to my take on things, I later learned that did not mean she agreed with me. In my post, “Agreeing to disagree,” I cover our dissimilarities and how they color our interactions with others, oftentimes casting us in circles or up against brick walls. Instead of agreeing to disagree, however, I’d prefer to achieve common ground—the middle-of-the-road compromise where both parties have a say and, although it might not be a perfect solution, each can live with the outcome. Give and take is a healthy part of any relationship, as long as everyone’s voice is heard and mutual respect is offered.
How do you achieve common ground?
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
May 9, 2015
Always The Write Time
Author, Editing, Grief, Happiness, Writing
ambition, assumption, breath, complicated, cyberspace, hope, hot Yoga, let go, monkey mind, pray, regret, rehash, restless, unsettled, worry
Ever get accused of thinking too much? Making assumptions? Complicating things? I’ve heard it said that men’s minds organize thoughts into neat compartments, or boxes, while women’s minds navigate the tangled and vast circuitry of cyberspace. Yet, I take it a step further with “monkey mind.” Unsettled, restless. It only stops jumping around during yoga practice and while I’m sleeping, although I beg to differ with the latter. In the mornings, I awaken tired and cranky. Without ambition. It could be a few health issues I’m dealing with, but mostly it’s a mind that won’t stay still. It worries and plans, it regrets and rehashes, it hopes and prays, it bargains and posits assorted scenarios; it begs me to make changes that my heart, when I’m conscious, refuses to acquiesce. In my post, From the inside out, I talk about how to focus on breath to tame the chatter. But I also think there comes a time to simply let go.
How do you tame a monkey mind?
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August 1, 2012
Always The Write Time
Author, Editing, Nontraditional College Graduate, Publishing, scribes @ ASU, Uncategorized, Writing
assumption, hypothetical, illustration, irrelevant, practical, reasoning, sap, The Wedding Planner
[Image credit: Kookkai_nak]
Have you ever made a decision based on an assumption (see Looks can be deceiving), but then later discover you didn’t have all of the information at your disposal? And to add insult to injury (a common idiom that doesn’t help matters), it’s really a moot point — of no practical importance; irrelevant — because regardless of your assumptive reasoning, it was still the right choice to make. Okay, did all of that make sense? Perhaps a hypothetical illustration will help. Consider the couple in the movie The Wedding Planner. Mary falls in love with Steve, but the timing is all wrong. Why? He’s engaged to be married to one of her clients. Consequently, when she discovers this, she keeps her feelings to herself because loving Steve is a moot point. I won’t ruin the ending for those of you who haven’t seen it (it’s an oldie but goodie) but, suffice it to say, I’m a sap for happy endings.
Is your life filled with a moot point or two?
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