To me, true power is knowing that you have the ability to exert your influence over others, and making sure that you never do. Now, I'm not saying not to exert any power. I like to exert the power of laughter, and light-heartedness, and to carry on a smile. I think that is the right kind of power to exert over others. If you are feeling blue, and I can make you smile, I feel powerful. If I can make you belly laugh, I feel like a god. And I'm okay with feeling powerful in this way.
I am glad that instead of hating those I see who think they have to belittle others, that I feel empathy for them. It is a miserable place to be. No amount of putting others down builds you up. And no amount of denial makes you truly believe that is happening. Hard work and learning to love yourself unconditionally is the only path to true happiness. Most people will never know such happiness.
I am thankful to all of the folks who help me along my journey. I am thankful to myself for getting out of the rut it would've been so easy to get stuck in. I am grateful for daily mindful meditation, and constant reminders that I am painfully flawed, and that's ok. As long as I acknowledge my wrongdoings I can learn from them.
My next post will be a silly one, I promise!
Happy picture of the day: you have no idea how happy it makes me that I have a gay friend named Jesus.
Anyone?
ReplyDeleteAnyone going to say it?
No? Anyone? No?
Fine. With great power comes great responsibility, young Spork.
If no one would've commented that, I would've shut down the blog immediately. So thanks for that.
Deletehmmmm. interesting post.
ReplyDeletei don't really think of myself as powerful. i guess sometimes people do what i want them to do, but often times they don't. i think i just concentrate on what i can do (or NOT do), since i can't control the actions of others.
not sure if this relates, but i am ok with me. sure i'd love to be thinner and have more money, but life is still pretty good for the most part.
i have always been a watcher. an observer. sometimes a voyeur. i love just OBSERVING things and thinking about them. there is much to see and learn, and do. many of my observations are useless to others, but they are interesting to me. lol. if that makes sense.
side note -- a friend of a friend has a great saying -- always opt for awkward silence. i am trying to do this a little bit more, instead of always opening my big yap and making comments that get me in to trouble. then again, sometimes i can't help myself and i blurt out things i really shouldn't. oh well. ;)
I'm a watcher, but I also never bite my tongue for fear of saying something that will get me in trouble. I say whatever I want whenever I want, unless I'm at work. I don't want to lose my job. :)
DeleteSorry, I'm too stuck in a swirling abyss of self-loathing to truly take in any of this. And come on, sometimes belittling others is fun. Look at that guy with the bedazzled t-shirt, slicked back hair and tribal tattoo. Look at him, how can we not belittle him? Oh, come on, he just got into a giant pickup truck with those truck nuts on the hitch. We have to belittle him or how else will he learn?
ReplyDeleteOh, I make fun of people on a daily basis, and it's funny as hell. But I don't belittle the people I love, friends or otherwise, to try and make myself feel mighty. I feel mighty taking a good poop. Oh crap, did I just type that?
DeleteLOL The meow made me crack up at the end. Making someone smile when they are sad is the real power and I'm sure you're great at it!! As we already know, I've reached out to you before when I was having a rough time.
ReplyDeleteSorry I fell off the face of the earth. I was so involved with my little jelly bean that I didn't even get to do anything other than stare at her and feed her :)
You've been missed doll. I am the bad one. I had a bunch of baby stuff around and ended up one by one giving it out to local friends and not sending them to you. Good lord I'm an ass!
DeleteI'm glad you're happy and the baby is well.
Hey, Jax is back! I just took a U-turn to visit her blog, but now I'm back to comment :)
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of gals in my office that are always belittling people and trying to make them feel small, and I agree with you, I feel sorry for them. Because it seems like you would have to be unhappy inside to do that. But I don't feel so bad for them that I actually want to spend any time with them ;)
You definitely exert your power over me for good...you always make me smile :)
I am so happy Jax is back.
DeleteYeah, people like that are truly sad.
Thanks lady. The feeling is mutual.
I think you're awesome for being able to recognize this and use your power for good.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of change happening at my work lately (most of which is fun and exciting to me, but very scary and evil to others), and I feel like I'm being pulled into a pool of negativity. I would feel very powerful if I could avoid all the grouchy assholes and keep people laughing like I used to be able to. Or maybe I should just give up and quit my job...
I sometimes use my powers for bad. I'm human. But I try and keep it in check.
DeleteMy job has actually gotten ten times better in the past few months, but I'm still applying for other jobs.