Never say never

[Image credit: graur razvan ionut]

Never say never is something I’ve been known to say on occasion.  And I’ve learned that whether I say it or not does not dictate if I repeat something I said I’d never say or do something I said I’d never do or eat or participate in or whatever it is.  Whenever my mom heard me say this phrase she’d say, never is a long time, Christine.  I suppose there are some principles we know in our heart of hearts that we would never compromise.  But to say “never” also limits possibilities for growth and expansion of our horizons.  As for me, I am going to make a sincere effort never to say never again.  Although if I do that, then I’m already failing at this edict.  So, instead, I’ll try to leave it open-ended and open-minded.  Because we never know what life circumstances we’ll face one day that may blow our lofty statements right out of the water.

Do you regularly say never or not so much?

Judge not, lest you be judged … or something like that

[Image credit: ntwowe]

You never really understand a person until you consider things
from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin
 and walk around in it. ~ Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

I’ve been reading a lot lately about people judging others.  The topics vary from controversial subjects such as how long a woman should breast-feed to the legalization of gay marriage.  Even my extended family has been under the microscope, judged by people who have not walked in their shoes.  That’s the point here.  Unless we are without fault or lacking our own “stuff” we lug around with us daily (whether visible or not), I don’t believe we have a right to cast judgment on our fellow wo/man.  And without having climbed inside their skin and walked around in it, we cannot possibly know what it’s like to be them, day in and day out.  I haven’t always been as open-minded.  But if I want to be treated the same way, then it stands to reason I should keep my opinions to myself unless speaking out would keep someone from obvious harm.  At any rate, I think we could all use a lot less judgment and a lot more love.

Are you guilty of judging or loving?