Good fortune defined…

Day to day life can be many things for people.  I know people who every day are kind of in a perpetual shrug-your-shoulders “eh” saying mode.  (And I don’t mean “eh” in the Canadian way of confirming a question.  Short “e” not long “A”.)  Every day to them is mundane, routine… one in the same.  I also know people who fill every extra space around their employment with things to do.  Life is a bit of an opportunity afforded to them that should be utilized and filled.  Some people define themselves by their work and what they do… others by everything but.  How they rank any given day can hang contingent on where there sense of ‘being’ comes from.  There are others that can make any given event, occurrence, or fear of an occurrence into life altering mind blowing stuff.  Novels I tell you… about a ruined pedicure.

So what shapes people’s attitudes about work, play, crisis, etc.?  I’m fairly certain it must be in some way connected to perspective and priorities… and a little bit to what is manageable for people.

If you are overwhelmed by real crisis, is it not easier to worry about the aforementioned pedicure?  I’m beginning to think that if your biggest obstacle in life is your overwhelming fear, it would give one a sense of control to worry about something that is not so dang huge.

I’m trying to learn to be more tolerant overall.  It’s been an ongoing conscious effort for years in my life.  My mother was compassionate in a way that is hard to explain to someone who never saw her generosity.. not just of her time, but of her heart.  She loved people… all kinds… profoundly.

Me… I have spent the majority of my life thinking most people were idiots.  My only saving grace now is that I no longer feel inclined to say that I felt that way the VAST majority of my life.  Balance is coming to me.. one day at a time.

I didn’t start this posting to write about empathy although it is clear it plays a part for me personally, in accepting people and how they approach life with a less critical view.

I have watched those I care about struggle and worry about things that are maybe not SO monumental… and I have witnessed some others I care about tackle true life crisis with great strength, grace and perseverance.  More and more it is easier for me to see that really if I could wish people anything from whatever star in sky or power that be, it would just be some strength, and perspective as life seems easier for those who have those gifts already.

For those of us who don’t… we should try pretending we do for a while… one of mom’s friends assures me that if one pretends something long enough it becomes true.

I’m going to pretend I’m really physically fit for a few weeks and see how that goes.  Then I’m going to blame her if it doesn’t work and pretend I’m not responsible for all the baking and eating I’ve been doing all week.

Or I could just put this cookie down and go for a walk before it starts raining again and my job starts demanding my attention.

OH the decisions….

chomp.

Says me.