EVIL and GOOD

Nature is neither evil nor good, but our human nature can lead us toward evil and good.  When we have what we need, we have no excuse to choose evil.  If  basic needs are not met, some people might  compensate and do something they shouldn't or not do something they should.  Other people never develop emotional maturity, self-control, or empathy for others which can cause very bad behavior.  Our responsibility is to provide for ourselves and help others when possible.  If for some reason: lack of proper parenting, limited capacities, insufficient education,  prejudice  (the list goes on) we must seek help.  In addition, we should provide help to others.

We need to define good and evil.  Good benefits everyone.  Instances of evil can psychologically damage the one responsible and hurt the victims in many ways.  The absence of evil is the first step toward good.  However we must go a step further and intentionally choose good.  Making good decisions and choosing good behavior need to be practiced.   Humans aren't perfect creatures, but we have the ability to improve.

Others creatures in nature are not evil.  They behave to survive, do whatever it takes to obtain food and safety.  Sometimes, males fight each other in order to secure a mate.  Animals protect their young and get them ready for adulthood.  This is their natural behavior.  We humans are more complicated.   

 

REVEAL

  Many people take selfies to share an image of themselves.  But the eyes of others around them also see an image.  They see your appearance and actions, take a mental picture of you, and make assumptions, some positive some negative.  Often the pic includes friends and family at a special event.

You may wish to reveal your thoughts and opinions through conversation or in writing.   Those who listen and read may agree, disagree, or wish you hadn't revealed that part of yourself.   You may decide to write about your life and reveal the important memories of your past.  Don't pass up the opportunity to let your family and friends know you better.   

END OF THE LINE

Trains travel back and forth close to my home, and I often wonder where are they going, what do the many cars contain, and what is their destination.  In life, we have a destination, but we don't know when we will get to the end of the line.  We may be closer to the end than the beginning, and perhaps now more than ever, we need to evaluate where we have been, what we have done along the way, then plan our future and enjoy the ride. 

To do this, our engine needs to be cared for to be able to sustain the trip: the right fuel, proper maintenance, and timely checkups.  The contents of our days and months should be fulfilling for ourselves and those around us.  Try to have a purpose for your trip.  We may not know the schedule or the stops along the way, but keep on moving.  

 

NINETEEN

We thought having our first period was the sign of becoming a woman, but actually we had quite a few years to go to get that status.  Perhaps turning 20 or 21 is the time we can call ourselves women.  You will then be a woman the rest of your life.  Enjoy those teenage years and don't rush into womanhood.

Prepare yourself to become a woman.  Further your education and discover your true interests, then get ready to select a career that you will enjoy as you benefit society.  This career should also make you financially independent.  Meet other people your age and have fun.  Go on dates, but don't feel the necessity of being a part of a couple.  Don't limit yourself to just one and only and be in a hurry to make a lifetime commitment.  You have many years ahead of you to discover more about yourself and decide what kind of person you want as a mate.  

Falling in love feels great, but it can happen more than once, which may be a good thing.  Some people do marry their high school or college sweetheart and all works out fine.  Others realize that first love just leads to our final, lifelong love.  

Be true to yourself.  Let yourself grow and learn more about life.  Lean forward; resist the temptation of falling back into childhood.  Also resist the temptation of jumping too far ahead.  Marriage and parenthood will last a lifetime and frequently demand that you put others first before yourself.  Use your early years to be selfish in a good way.    

 

MAJORITY/MINORITY

When you are in the majority, more people are like you and more people agree with your opinions.  They may have the same racial background, the same religious beliefs, or the same political views.  You may be in the majority in your place of residence, your neighborhood, your state, or your country.  When you are in the majority, understand what placed you there.  Your parents gave you your racial background.  Their financial status enabled you to live in your neighborhood.  They also may have brought you up in their religion and influenced your political leanings.

You may find yourself in the minority in a social gathering with different religious or political opinions.  Others may not realize your views and assume you agree with them.  You may feel uncomfortable speaking up.  The majority group may not want to hear your opinions and even expect you to go along with their traditions.  You may choose to remain quiet.  After all, this is your right.

Imagine if those around you pretty much agree with you; however, one or two may not agree.  Think how they feel.  Maybe they have a different religion or no religion at all.  They may believe in the other political party.  Even without realizing it, you may be causing them discomfort.    

Try not to take advantage of the fact that you have the comfort and power of the majority at the expense of the minority.  Realize in the USA, the minority should have the same respect and rights of the majority.

Don't assume that the majority is always correct.  Might doesn't make right.    

 

MONKEY MIND

A very busy brain may have trouble calming down and focusing on the present.  The mind may dwell on hurtful memories of the past or worry about the future.  Difficulty falling or staying asleep may be a symptom.  The mind can seem like a little monkey hopping from branch to branch, chattering away and laking self-control.

A person may relive an event in the past and think "If only I had done things differently" or feel resentment about what someone else has done to you.  Fearing something in the future may make you dwell on "What if this or that happens" frequently going to the worse-case scenarios.  The brain may also become uncomfortable with present situations and experience stress and anxiety.

We all occassionally have one or more of these problems.  A few solutions may include doing some research, talking to an understanding friend, or contacting a professional for help.  Ignoring the problem will just be a postponement. 

Some say listen to the monkey to hear what the chatter is all about.  Even write down the words you hear.  See why he keeps talking to you.  Then have a conversation; yes, talk to yourself.  Try to calm your fears, disappointments, and worries.   Put things into perspective.  Easier said than done.

Recognizing this very common problem is the first step in taming the monkey.  

       

 

THE BIGGEST LIE

A person or organization may lie to us; we may lie to others; we may lie to ourselves.  Some lies are intentional: a little white lie to save another from getting hurt feelings, a lie that omits a detail of an otherwise truthful statement, a lie to protect or promote ourselves.  A flat-out lie, a complete fabrication, usually is meant to harm someone or give the liar an unfair advantage.  

Another type of lie is one that may have been perpetrated for generations or centuries.  People involved may not even realize the information is untrue. At some point in history, people accepted the information as true without using logic or investigation.

The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.  Many influences combine to make us believe untruths: family, culture, business, and politicians.  Very tough to go against what your parents believe, what our culture values, what advertising wants you to believe and purchase, what politicians say to get your support and vote. 

An exaggerated self-image can cause us to believe overly negative or positive traits..  Accepting the truth about ourselves should be our goal, not the opinions of others.  Recognize our good decisions and behavior, realize our short-comings and do something to improve, and accept our natural appearance.  See the truth that we are human, not so bad and not always so good.  Telling ourselves lies prevents us from the truth. 

At some point on our journey to maturity and truth-seeking, we need to wake up to realize that some things we believe are untrue.  We may have to give up the comfort that lies provide, but when that is done, we can spend our time and energy on understanding the truth.  We may have to go against family beliefs.   We still can respect the beliefs of others and not try to persuade them away from their beliefs, but we will be untrue to ourselves if we pretend to agree just to promote harmony.   Don't lie.