1999-2019: Celebrating 20 Years of Ripples
Ripples #1053: Cactus Sitting
July 29, 2019
PEBBLE
Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may be given a cactus, but you don’t have to sit on it.
-Joyce Meyer, shared by Diane in Marshfield, WI
BOULDER
Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.
-Irving Berlin, shared by Jeanne in Waupun, WI
PONDER
So is there a cactus in your life right now? Some thorny, uncomfortable situation that is making things uncomfortable, difficult or just plain blechy? If there is, I’m sorry you’re stuck with it right now. I hope there is a way to minimize the discomfort and I hope that things clear up soon.
Remember that you don’t have to have a sunny outlook on things if that doesn’t feel right. If things are poopy, it is ok to stand up and scream, “THINGS ARE REALLY POOPY RIGHT NOW!” Just remember that even when you don’t get to choose what happens next, you do have a say in how you respond. You can choose to be less or more optimistic to suit your taste.
I’ll also add that you don’t have to choose between being caustically pessimistic and cloyingly positive. There is a middle road that looks something like, “Eh, this situation stinks but hey it’ll be over eventually.” The key is to choose mindfully and wisely.
Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy
P.S. I’m wrapping up my downtime and I’ll be online next week!
