I loved the idea of living by delight vs. worry. A good reminder.
Karin
My friend’s daughter wanted an “A” in algebra. And because her teacher had a schoolwide reputation for being tough, she knew it was going to be a struggle.
Night after night, my friend and her husband watched their eighth-grader struggle with her math homework. They listened to her practice the powers of 10 and, amazed, saw her studying diligently for tests. This was serious business, no question about it.
One day, my friend walked in on her daughter smiling beatifically from the couch.
“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked. “You sure look happy.”
Her daughter smiled up at her. “I’m practicing delight,” she said.
My friend was baffled. Was this the religious practice of some cult? A theater exercise? Some misunderstanding of a class assignment? “What do you mean?” she finally asked.
Her daughter continued to smile. “This is the way I’m going to look when Ms. B. tells me I got an A in algebra. I’m practicing delight.”
My friend was charmed, as was I when she told me this story. How often, I thought, do I practice the opposite of what this young girl chose? By worrying, or what one good friend calls “catastrophizing” – imagining the worst. By rationalizing my anticipated failures or disappointments, making excuses for my record in advance of its actuality, I practice despair, disappointment, and sorrow.
How much more fun to practice delight. At worst, we would lift our spirits for a time. At best, we might master the face of joy.
If it isn’t a religious practice, it ought to be! Susi Gregg Fowler in The Christian Science Monitor
Related Posts -
Mean girls One of my girls got in the car crying yesterday. Mean girls. Mean girls. Don't know if she contributed some or not, but she is sweetly sensitive which sometimes makes you a target. She went... - Neil Morris Fragrances, Part 3 Dark Season Perfume is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion. It heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure. Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel I think it is safe to say that perfume prolongs your enjoyment of moments too....
- Mornings I have a great deal of company in my house; especially in the morning, when nobody calls. Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862 This quote appeals to me on many levels, not the least because it is...
- Reinvention worry #1 One of my chief concerns when I pulled the rip cord was whether I'd miss the excitement, whether my new life would be a paler version of the one I'd led before. This is reinvention...
- The power of music Music defines the emotion of the heart. Healings take place. Chris Finlayson I've gone for long periods of time with very little music and long periods of time with a whole lot of music. Going...
Related Websites - Fun Don't Cost a Thing Just because you're trying to watch your spending and keep an eye on your cash flow doesn't mean you have to cut out all sources...
- Googling Social - Friend Connect Secretly Goes Live on Blogger Friend Connect is live you just didn't know it. Google in its infinite wisdom has kept this way on the down low for some reason....
- Completely Free Adult Personals Service – Do They Exist? You've taken interest in their service. You've seen the advertisements. Somehow you are tempted to actually give it a try. But the common question for...
- Buying a First Guitar pt 1 Learning how to play the guitar is a hobby that is fun and can last a lifetime. It can be used as an entry into...
- Tennis Ball Machine Advantages If you are looking for ways for you to significantly improve your techniques in tennis, then one of the best things that you can possibly...
Categories:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment