Monday, October 29, 2012

Dress to be Taken Seriously

While on my way to church yesterday, I saw a guy drive into another church's parking lot wearing a t-shirt. I thought it was odd that he wore something so casual to worship the Lord. I kept thinking of a boy saying to a girl: if you don't want me to treat you like a hoochie, don't dress like one. That guy made me think of how we judge people based on their appearance. I also thought about how what a person wears dictates their behavior. Would that guy be as respectful in a t-shirt as he would if his shirt had buttons and was neatly pressed? 

A guy who's pants slouch under his behind will never get hired to work in an office. Maybe McDonald's will hire him but no other boss in their right mind ever will. I'd say that if he wants to get paid more he needs to take pride in how he looks and start by pulling up his pants.

I've seen girls wear tight (and revealing) clothes. Girls need to leave something to the imagination and respect themselves. They don't need to wear shirts that have straps so narrow that their bra straps show - it's just not attractive and people think of the girl as lower class. Something in my mind says it's wrong when I see girls wearing shirts that are so see-through (or non-existent) that their entire bra shows - the girl may think she looks good, but, believe me, when people see it they'll think she doesn't. If the trend is to be immodest, I hope some girls will have the guts to stand up for themselves and not follow it. I believe they don't want to wear something that later in life they'll regret.

Maybe some people think I say this because I'm conservative. It has nothing to do with that but respect, honor, decency, right and wrong. In today's world, everyone has their own version of what they think is best. No longer is there a standard that everyone lives by because some people say there shouldn't be one. (The standard is what's right and I stand for it.) I say that wearing inappropriate things is wrong - because people judge what we wear. If we want to be taken seriously, we need to look the part.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Doing What I Want

I do what I want during the day. If I want to go on the computer, or read, or do something else, I do it. I'm not confined to a chair and at the mercy of others. I may move slowly, but at least I have the freedom to do what I choose. Sometimes all I want to do is watch TV, but I don't do it every day. Other times, I go outside to the car, go somewhere with friends, or look at pretty things on rides. When I think about what I can do, I feel grateful that I have the mobility to do things.

Sometimes I read on Facebook that someone feels sorry for themselves. I know that some people struggle with depression too. I think people get down because something isn't happening the way they want. I believe that if they counted their blessings and realized what they have (even if it's not quite what they want,) they would feel better.

Today, I thought I'm like a baby. I just eat, drink, and sleep. Maybe I see that thought when I look at the the surface. But when I look below the surface and evaluate it, I realize it's not true. I do many more things than a baby; I just think that thought because I don't do what I once could. I do things differently now but that doesn't mean I do nothing. I do what I can, and don't sweat the small stuff.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I Love My Husband

If I didnt have a chonic illness I could manage to do 75% of the things that needed to be done; but I would need someone else to do the other 25%. My husband makes it 100%. He makes up for what I lack. He's logical, good with money and athletic. I need him and he needs me.

I notice things that he doesn't and make things look pretty. He's functional and I'm visual. As a single person, his house would run but it wouldn't look as nice as our's :)

He could do 75% too, but I make up for the things he lacks. For example, I have a kind of compassion that he doesn't. He's nice to people, but he's also honest and could hurt feelings. I say "don't say that, say this" when thinking something could be said better. 

He's logical and I'm emotional. He makes things work and I make them look good. We're different but we have things in common too. For example: we like things to smell nice; take the initiative to get things done; have similar humor; and strive to be the best at what we do.

I've learned a lot from him. I handle money better, don't give in to the people I once did, and no longer apologize for myself. I also believe he's learned from me. I'm glad he's in my life and when I say he's made me a better person, the above explains some things. I love him.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Show Kindness

Nobody's perfect and yet today's world expects perfection or a person gets smeared. Where's the forgiveness? Where's the mercy? Some lawyers tell people to get mad and not tolerate bad things, but when they do something wrong, they want mercy shown to them - don't they? I refuse to listen to people who tell me not to forgive; my lack of forgiveness will only make me bitter and angry.

I want to be someone who shocks people with my kindness. I like to do nice things for people and not only see happiness on their face but feel good inside. It's hard to forgive people who don't deserve it: especially when I feel mad and think it isn't fair! But when I let it go, it's over and can't fester within me. I don't want to be a part of the status quo of people who don't forgive. I choose to be nice because that's how I am.

Monday, October 01, 2012

Live The Golden Rule

It's easy to treat people nice when they treat me nice, but it's hard to be nice when they're mean. Some people say they live the golden rule and perhaps they do when someone's nice, but they retaliate and want revenge when someone's mean. (Suddenly they believe in 'an eye for an eye' instead of 'The Golden Rule.') When people get hurt, they want: 1) The people who hurt them to live the golden rule; and 2) The people who hurt them to be nice. It's hard to be loving when the other person isn't the same. When people act meanly, the first inclination is to be mean back. Perhaps it helpful for a person to ask themselves, "Is that how I want to be?" Maybe a follow-up question could be, "If I die tomorrow do I want people to consider me 'mean' or 'loving'? It might be helpful for them to realize that if they want to be considered loving, they need to be that way in ALL situations.

People don't automatically think nicely. Perhaps at first they think of revenge. But after they recognize their thought (and perhaps behavior,) they can choose differently. When their feelings get hurt, they might turn their pain over to the Lord and think 'Please help me deal with this. I don't want to be vengeful but loving.' (People have feelings that get hurt when someone hurts them.) Some people might think, 'This sucks a big fat hairy toe!' They may cry because of poor treatment. (It takes a lot of effort to be nice.) The important thing is that it's not helpful to retaliate. People need to be kind even when other's aren't.

I used to think be how you are in your heart. I want to rise above what I might think automatically to think the way I choose. Now I think be how you 'want to be' in your heart. I hope everyone will think that way too.