We judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves but our intentions. This one stuck with me hard when I first heard it some years ago. Relevant:
Loneliness is okay. This is a fundamental teaching in Buddhism. When I offer this to folks, they often say, you mean aloneness is okay. I never feel lonely anymore, I just feel alone. I say, no: I’m talking about loneliness: that awkward hard feeling when you don’t want to be alone, when you feel like something might be wrong for you. That is okay. Not just those times when you’re alone doing something great or feeling great.
Relationships are not for making us happy. You have to make you happy, through maitri, and then you can be a great, non-co-dependent partner to someone. Relationships are for serving our world, not lifelong picnics.
Related: “We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love.” ~Tom Robbins
You can have the best yummiest fanciest meal in the world, but if you aren’t present for it, you won’t taste it.
You can’t fix people. Sometimes trying only hurts them. That said, it’s nice to care, and try, but it’s not helpful to try unless you’re doing so out of genuine compassion, not “idiot compassion.” Also: “People don’t have to take the advice you give them even if they asked for it.”
Get some sleep.
“Please don’t drink and drive. Every day 29 people are killed in the United States involving an alcohol impaired driver. Do not let your choices take others lives away.”
Same goes for texting and driving.
“Using a cell phone while driving caused an estimated 1.5 million car accidents in the U.S. in 2018 according to the National Safety Council. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that cell phone use while driving kills 3-000 to 6,000 people every year.”
“A few nice words can go a very long way.” Say something kind to random folks, when so inspired, without expectation. If you’re unsure what to say, focus on simply being friendly, or offering assistance, instead of saying something specific about how they look or what they’re wearing, which can be offensive instead of complementary.
Failure is okay. Winners fail. Winners try again and again. So fail away. We all make mistakes.
Author: Waylon Lewis. A few random quotes, linked, via Wikipedia or Reddit.
Links: mindful resources on Elephant (read them).
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