Turning Away From Hate (OneWord: MINDFUL #1)

Thanks to the principal at the school where I teach, I was introduced to "One Word That Will Change Your Life." After much consideration, I picked my word and spent many hours practicing it as I illustrated it:

In the few weeks since I drew the word, MINDFUL, I have reflected on it - meditated over it - daily. I allow myself to "rearrange" what I consider to be thinking errors on my behalf - to find my weaknesses and tear them down so that I may, with thoughtful purpose, renovate my paradigms.

Here is one:

I came across this quote on a friend's Facebook Page. I thought of all the times I've been hurt, the times I've seen people doing this to each other - either openly or surreptitiously. I thought about the  hard feelings I've clung to for years - for people I care nothing about - and how I feel when I speak poorly of them or even when they just drift into my mind. 

So I unwound those those bindings of ill will and allowed those feelings to scatter to the wind.

 It takes more character and strength to forgive...to let go...to just plain not make a person you don't like or who's done you wrong, a negative issue in your life. When you allow someone to make you angry, or when you harbor ill feelings for a person, you are giving that person control over you...you are making them matter MORE to you - when most likely you desire the opposite.

We are all human...and, individually, we are all doing the best we can. Unfortunately, we don't all fit together like pieces in a puzzle. Ours lives, ideas, values, and whatnot are full of fuzzy, ripped, and jagged edges that blend, overlap, and poke each other. What I mean is that we aren't all meant to be friends, we aren't all meant to get along, and sometimes blood is drawn (literally and figuratively) along the way.

All you can do is be the best and most loving version of yourself. Let your words and actions not cause hurt...even when you hurt...even when you are angry, sad, or afraid. Slinging bad thoughts, tossing hurtful words, and throwing jabby things only perpetuates and feeds those bad feelings - it doesn't rid you of them - it INCREASES them. You hold within yourself the immense power to stop it. To end it. That shows the greatest strength and character above anything else.

It took me a long time and a lot of hurt to embrace this. It was worth it, because the lesson is mine and is now a part of who I am becoming.