"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya AngelouI know that next year, next week, heck, even tomorrow, the words on this blog will be forgotten. and that no one, not even me, will remember what I did last Saturday, but feelings are deep. I'm sure you can all remember the first time your husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend/partner told you you were beautiful. The first time your parents told you how disappointed they were in you for finding out you stole that candy bar from the store. The first time your coach told you you were the best on the team that day, or your teacher said she was really proud of you for how hard you worked on an assignment. You remember the first time you saw your favorite artist in concert (i cried when i saw nsync. i couldnt BELIEVE i was in the same room as them, ha) Or perhaps the first time a puppy licked your face (unless you're my friend, Jordan, and you dont like animals, haha) Although I may not recall how it was said, how it was done, I remember, CLEARLY, how i FELT through all of these situations.
This quote goes hand in hand with
my new years resolution. Keeping a positive attitude, no matter what. My
book that goes with my resolution, talks about how we can think all the things we'd like to in our head. we can gossip to ourselves. we can think critically of others, to ourselves. we can complain all we want, to ourselves. but when we lash out at others, put others down, speak condescendingly to others, it's making them feel bad. and it's going to leave a lasting impression. However, the more we dont SPEAK that negativity, the less we think it! This
resolution has been so hard, and so far, I have failed at it, miserably, (i mean, i watch the Bachelor and would can go that entire show without criticizing) but I have NOTICED myself noticing how much say that is a complaint/gossip/criticism . And just noticing it, makes me stop doing it so much. That sounds confusing i think, but it makes sense in my own head right now, and i write this blog not only for you to read, but for me to come back to as a reference.
Anyway, I write this with the hopes that next time you're about to say or do something, that may or may not be in character, think of how it's going to make the other person FEEL. the people around you feel. And, is it an important enough of an issue to make them feel that way? I also write this to keep myself in check. I find that if I take this long to write about something and think about how im going to write it, it's easier to remember for my own good.
Think before you speak. Think before you act. Because there is nothing worse, that I can think of, than someone recalling you for making them feel like less of a person, especially when it's unnecessary.
ps- i realize this post is WAY deep for my usual blogging style. this was just something that was weighing on me pretty heavy today. back to our regularly scheduled programming on sunday :)
