I was recently reading a book named, "The Positive Power of Praising People" by Bob Nelson and it made me stop and realize where the ultimate recycling program needs to take place. It needs to take place in the hearts and minds of those around us. So often we hear people say nice things about others and we just take it in and let it give us the warm and fuzzies or we get jealous that people aren't saying those nice things about us and we try to promote our own list of accomplishments instead of listening then recycling.
I know I hear you, what how does recycling fit, well, let's just say you take that nice compliment you heard about your friend and then tell them what you heard and let it be a double blessing. A blessing to your friend as they can hear from the lips of of one friend the compliments of another and you get the blessing of passing the compliment to a friend that I can imagine who needs to hear some encouragement. Then heaven forbid, you add to the compliment, agree with it and tell them why you agree. A crazy thing just might happen, they may say nice things about you as a result of it. (But don't make that your motivation...read 1st paragraph again)
I have said many times, I don't like watching the news or 'Bad News America' or read the Newspaper. (trust me there are plenty of avenues to get the scoop) The point is they go all over the world and find all the bad news and cram it into the 30 minutes before I fall asleep or the first thing some may read. Resulting, we listen or read it and it's no wonder we have heart problem in this country. It's okay to be informed, but man I don't want to be initiated. If my wife reads this blog, she will give me grief as she loves the news and has a radar to pick-up any utterly depressing or heart-wrenching show on the television, especially if it has to do with children. She has this amazing heart of love and compassion for people and those stories fuel her to give more, they have a different effect on me. They make me angry that someone was so selfish that they imposed their own agenda above the care and compassion of others and it has a tendency to want to make me calloused, but I have a secret weapon. It's called a remote control, I find a discovery, history or just a stupid comedy to make me laugh as laughter is better medicine than getting up in arms against things you can't even have any impact on.
So back to recycling, find something you know good about someone else and tell it to a different person (I DID SAY GOOD THING). I know you were thinking I already do that, but people call it gossip, that not the point. Share the positive things you hear from others and tell them to the person, tell them good encouraging things about others to them, and although it may be hard to do, shut-up about yourself. Let someone else speak well of you and not toot your own horn, I know there are many quotes regarding this, but think of the heart problem in this country. See yourself as a 'heart doctor' and you are going to shower some good healthy stuff on someone else's heart. In turn it will do your heart good as well.
This may not make the world greener, but the Happier and Healthier World thanks you for your efforts, you do make a difference, especially in those you use this recycling program on...
Until next time...
