As an average child, my mother taught me the lesson that "if
you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." When did I
suddenly unlearn that average lesson?! I've noticed over the past few years
I've become more of a gossip and being more critical of others (well vocally
anyhow, I use to just keep it to myself more). One minute I'm just sitting back
minding my own business and then next thing I know, I open my mouth and
criticisms just starts spewing out! I can't seem to stop myself! Is this a side
effect of be becoming a bitter young woman due to the lack of an exciting love
life? Or maybe it's just a matter of wanting to connect with others and so I
think they will except me more if I join in on the gossip about others? Or is
it just that I really am a bad person that is overly critical of others? I'm
really not all that fond of any of these options as I see myself as friendly,
helpful person and not as a "mean girl." Ok, wait, I think I might
have just figured it out; I am a friendly, helpful person that just needs to
get laid more! Ericka, I’ve solved my problem!
Hahaha, ok so maybe that’s not it, but what is it then?
Recently I decided I needed to make a change in my behaviors and
it just happened to be about the same time as the beginning of Lent. So this
year for Lent, I'm taking on the challenge of being less vocally critical of
others. I believe that it is human nature to be critical of others but it's up
to us in how we handle the situations that cause us to vent to others about our
coworkers, neighbors, loved ones, the guy in front of you in the checkout line
at the groceries store, the woman doing her makeup at the red light when it
turns green, or OH my favorite is the guy that calls you at work and tells you
how horrible you're doing your job when in reality its him that didn't do his
job right! ARRRGGGG! People are so dumb!!!!
A former coworker gave me (and several other people sitting near
us) a sign that says "Shhh...I'm hiding from stupid people." Google
search it, the image will make you laugh. But should I be laughing at this?
Hmmmm…
There are some people that just amaze me in how nice, positive and
unjudgmental they are. I asked one coworker the other day "how do you do
it?" She's by far one of the nicest people you will ever meet and I've
never once heard her say anything negative about anyone else. Her response was
"I have my faith." So simple, faith. Now, I have my own faith but I'm
not going to start preaching here. Instead, I challenge myself and you to think
about what makes us a better person. I know that I'm a better person when I
start doing things for others and feel that I have been helpful in some way. It
gives me a sense of good karma, that I've done something positive for someone
else that will hopefully come back to bless me later in life.
Karma, I think that is where I’ll start. I’ve tried giving up
venting cold turkey and it actually made me more angry and hostile. I need to
find a way to put more good karma out into the world and hopefully with that, I
will start thinking more positively which will in turn make me less likely to
talk smack about others. Wish me luck and let me know if you have any
suggestions or good karma stories!
