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Old 09-06-2013, 05:43 AM   #34
NEDenise
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
Re: Good News / "Bad" News

Cathy,
My Sainted Mother used to tell me...

Don't worry about things you can't change.
Sort of her take on the serenity prayer I guess... but simpler and older, too.
I try my best to do that.

She also used to tell us to "offer it up" for the souls in purgatory... remember that one Catholic friends? My Mom was wise, but not infallible.
Well, since I don't think there is a Purgatory anymore...
it went the way of Limbo (the place for unbaptized babies, not the cool dancing game)...
and "buying Pagan Babies". (Thank God! How embarrassing and condescending!")

I guess I could "offer it up" for world peace or something else.
But really, I gotta say...
I have trouble believing that my loving God wants me to suffer,
let alone offer it to him as a gift. Ick!
What kind of wrapping paper do you even use for that?!
Are there "suffering gift bags" at the dollar store?

If, as I believe, God loves me even MORE than I love my children...
suffering is not something he wants for me.
I struggle with why it happens at all... but refer to earlier "spainin'" comment.
Parenting ain't easy...I'll grant Him/Her that...
but I don't think even God wants to deal with the monumentally angry tirade/rant/hissy fit when I get to heaven...
if that explanation for my suffering is "lacking" in any way! ")

The other thing I find so helpful is part of the "Fish Philosophy" (it you don't know what it is, Google it...it's worth the time)
The four 'precepts' of the philosophy (made up by some regular guys doing a tough, stinky job in an open air fish market!) are :

Be there (be FULLY present to whatever or whomever you are with at the moment - focus on the now)

Play (find the fun and humor in everyday things - these guys even made hauling smelly fish into a game)

Make their day (If you have a chance to give a genuine compliment, even to a total stranger... don't let it pass. If you know of a way to make someone in your life feel special, cherished, loved... do it!)

and the most powerful one of all...

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE (everybody has troubles... EVERYBODY...
and it's up to each of to decide us how we choose to deal with those challenges.
No one has a "good day" everyday...
but EVERYONE gets to choose their attitude EVERY minute of EVERY day.
That's so empowering to me.
As a control freak...
being able to choose, rather than taking what I get... appeals to me!
And many, many times I've caught myself choosing an attitude that was, shall we say...
unattractive...
unbecoming of a lady of my style, faith and intelligence.
When that happens, I give myself a mental slap on the back of the head
(A Gibbs Smack, NCIS fans!)
and choose a new attitude... a better, more attractive, not horrible to have to be around, attitude.)

Well, that certainly got long fast.
Sorry if it rambles... no time to proofread it now...
I'm off for my echo and Avastin!
Fingers crossed!
Denise
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