What a beautiful month we have to look forward to. I love this time of year and yes, I even love football. When I look around and see the beauty of fall, feel the crispness in the air, and hear the geese beginning their journey south, I’m reminded of how blessed we are to live in this great country. I love the seasons, the beauty of the earth and the goodness of people. Well, I know it sounds like I’m being all happy and joyful right now and actually, there’s a reason for this behavior. Did you know that it is polite to be positive, which means it is impolite to be negative. Well....it is!Sometimes, I want to shout at the top of my lungs to certain people to, “Stop Complaining!!!!!” Yes, I know things are hard and difficult and uncertain right now and I’m feeling those things too, but how in the world does it help any of us to go around complaining, whining and fussing about all the gloom and doom in the world? It helps nothing. I know that there are people who suffer at a level that I cannot even relate to and never will. My heart hurts knowing others have to suffer so. However, I know that in order to help uplift each other and support each other, we have got to become more positive.
We Americans, forget too easily the blessings we enjoy. We are becoming so hard and cynical towards our elected officials, our way of life, our future. Yes, of course we’ve got problems, some very big ones, but let’s stop complaining and let’s become a part of the solution.
Ladies and gentleman are:
- people who look for the positive in all things
- people who see adversity and know that this is a time to triumph
- people who refuse to give up, complain or fail
- people who are more concerned with their neighbors’ troubles, than their own
- people who smile regardless of their day, so that they can help others to feel safe and comforted
- people who look at troubled times as an opportunity to show compassion
- people who ask themselves, “What can I do to change this situation?” and then do it
- people who ask themselves, “What can’t I change in this situation?” and then forget it
- people who know that greatness comes from trying
- people who know that a positive attitude can not only change your day, but the day of everyone around you
May we all strive to be more positive and more cheerful. Remember, true etiquette comes when our focus is on lifting those around us.
Happy thoughts,
Monica Irvine
a.k.a. Mary Manners
