Post by gary on Aug 19, 2013 1:51:11 GMT 1
Hey guys!
I hope you are all doing well! I haven't been about here much recently because my life has been a bit hectic this past while, but it's all good
I just want to share some thoughts with you this evening. The town where I live has over the years always had a bit of a raw deal. There has been a lot of violence in the past, there is quite a bit of social deprivation compared to other areas (the highest unemployment figures in the country at one stage) and just a lot of generally negative stuff. This has unfortunately led to a bit of a negative feeling about the place, to the point where young people are feeling like there is no hope here and they are all moving away to Australia or Canada in their droves to find work and 'a better life.'
This past month or so there have been a few amazing things that have happened (which I won't go into because you might not understand the importance of them if you don't live here) which have completely transformed the vibe around my hometown, to the point where negativity has almost completely been replaced by positivity.
The effect of this is so amazing to see. In the past there used to be a lot of mistrust and hatred between Catholic and Protestant people here, but recently this has all changed. An unbelievable amount of work has been going on at grassroots community level to break down barriers, and the fruits of that labour are now showing. People are so much more at ease with who they are and who their neighbours are, and as a result they are so much happier. The fact that everyone is happier means there is so much more optimism, so much more trust, kindness, compassion, love, appreciation - it's truly amazing.
I'm not really sure what the point of this story is, but I guess I just want to say that a positive mental outlook breeds positivity and everything that brings with it - love, patience, kindness, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, generosity and anything else that entails. And from looking at the past we can now see that a negative outlook on life breeds disillusion, mistrust, selfishness, anger, impatience, hate, fear and generally just things that hold you back from growing as a person, from reaching your potential and from living your life to the full.
Things aren't set in stone, Your life isn't worthless. Your life isn't miserable. Your life doesn't have to be torture. Your life can be whatever you want it to be, it just depends on the choices you make and the attitude you adopt.
I'm not saying you can change everything overnight, far from it. Bad stuff will still happen, you will still experience suffering. But you don't have to let it consume you and take over who you are. Just let it come and go as it does, but if you dont get hung up on it you can also then start appreciating all the good stuff that surrounds you.
(I dont know if it's co-incidence or not, but the Dalai Lama was here in town for a few days just as all this good stuff started happening
)
Peace and love to you all.
I hope you are all doing well! I haven't been about here much recently because my life has been a bit hectic this past while, but it's all good
I just want to share some thoughts with you this evening. The town where I live has over the years always had a bit of a raw deal. There has been a lot of violence in the past, there is quite a bit of social deprivation compared to other areas (the highest unemployment figures in the country at one stage) and just a lot of generally negative stuff. This has unfortunately led to a bit of a negative feeling about the place, to the point where young people are feeling like there is no hope here and they are all moving away to Australia or Canada in their droves to find work and 'a better life.'
This past month or so there have been a few amazing things that have happened (which I won't go into because you might not understand the importance of them if you don't live here) which have completely transformed the vibe around my hometown, to the point where negativity has almost completely been replaced by positivity.
The effect of this is so amazing to see. In the past there used to be a lot of mistrust and hatred between Catholic and Protestant people here, but recently this has all changed. An unbelievable amount of work has been going on at grassroots community level to break down barriers, and the fruits of that labour are now showing. People are so much more at ease with who they are and who their neighbours are, and as a result they are so much happier. The fact that everyone is happier means there is so much more optimism, so much more trust, kindness, compassion, love, appreciation - it's truly amazing.
I'm not really sure what the point of this story is, but I guess I just want to say that a positive mental outlook breeds positivity and everything that brings with it - love, patience, kindness, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, generosity and anything else that entails. And from looking at the past we can now see that a negative outlook on life breeds disillusion, mistrust, selfishness, anger, impatience, hate, fear and generally just things that hold you back from growing as a person, from reaching your potential and from living your life to the full.
Things aren't set in stone, Your life isn't worthless. Your life isn't miserable. Your life doesn't have to be torture. Your life can be whatever you want it to be, it just depends on the choices you make and the attitude you adopt.
I'm not saying you can change everything overnight, far from it. Bad stuff will still happen, you will still experience suffering. But you don't have to let it consume you and take over who you are. Just let it come and go as it does, but if you dont get hung up on it you can also then start appreciating all the good stuff that surrounds you.
(I dont know if it's co-incidence or not, but the Dalai Lama was here in town for a few days just as all this good stuff started happening
)Peace and love to you all.
