Let Love Lead You

Too many times I see things that really cause pain upon others and hurt our society.  One such area is when we say we love others, but then the following words, actions, social media shares and thoughts show anything but love.

Love is not something you can boast about because if you truly love and have love, it will show through.  It needs no boasting.  In fact, anyone that boasts how much love they have probably is missing the true point of what love truly is.

I grew up in a family where we went to church on Sunday morning and heard love preached.  We embraced the words of love for all mankind, but by the time we got in the car on the way home, the gossip and things that were said gave no indication we understood what we had heard.

Proclaim love but actions don't match...

I see the same thing on social media where people proclaim how much love they have for others, but then they go and share some of the most hateful things out there.  I'm not saying everyone has to agree with everyone else in the world, but if you're going to profess love for others, make sure it shows in you actions, not just in words you spew.  Make sure they match.

Boasting about how great you are or all that you've done is not true love in my view.  Why does anyone need to know?  Why can't you just allow your actions of love to be love - that needs no grandstanding or parties held in honor of your own ego?

Love does not judge...

Love is just there, not demanding or judging.  Love just accepts and honors and respects others at all times, not just when it is convenient in a group of like minded brethren.

Love is there silently giving and helping and honoring, not trying to get all that it can get or trample over others.  Love does not try to hurt people by inflicting and hurling insults and derogatory comments towards one another.

Love does not bully.  Love doe not hate.  Love does not try to divide and sow discourse and hatred.  Love does not try to pit one group against the other.  Love instead tries to understand and comprehend and help or assist.

Love lifts one another up...

Love tries to lift one another up knowing that as we lift each other up, we lift up all mankind and the universe.  Love does not want to see others suffer or make fun of someone else.  Love offers hugs of acceptance to all it meets.

Love does not call names or feel hurt because it believes others are attacking it.  Love only continues to show love.  Love does not believe the fears that are fed each and every day to our society through so many sources.  Love conquers fear.  Love vibrates at a higher energy than fear.

If you say you have love, then by all means - show it!  If you say you have love, then don't share the hate filled messages on social media or participate in the activities that divide one human from another.  There is no love in that.  There is an absence of love.

Instead, allow love to take you by the hand and lead you into moments where you are a positive inspiration to others.  Walk into the moments where you help lift others up without judgment and allow them to discover their own path in their own time.  Allow love to fill every part of your life, not just ones that are convenient for Sunday morning.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Stop Telling Others What To Do

I guess I'm doing in this post exactly what I'm asking others not to do.  Is that hypocritical?  Maybe it is but it isn't intended this way.  There are far too many of people in this world that are telling others what to do and it needs to stop.

People really don't like others preaching at them and telling them everything wrong that others see in them.  Its human nature and even though some may say they like this, deep down they hold in the anger and resentment.  If you look closely, you will see it.

Its kind of like leading a horse to water and forcing them to drink.  More than likely you can try to force that horse to drink water all day long and it isn't going to get very far.  If you let the horse find the water, more than likely they will drink.

In this country especially (and the entire planet), we think that everyone cannot exist until we tell them exactly what it is that we think they should be doing.  We feel that it is our duty and obligation to make known to everyone we know, just how they should think, feel, respond or act.

We tell others that they should honor and believe like we do, or they are lost and going to hell.  We don't allow them to not believe like we do and we expect and demand that they do this.  Otherwise, how will we ever live our life if others are allowed to live their life in the way them deem appropriate?

I especially roll my eyes at the people who let you know that you should think this way or that way.  Really?  What if that doesn't line up with your own beliefs or your own insights?  Unfortunately it doesn't matter to most.  They still keep pushing their agenda and wait in the tall grass to pounce upon you with their agenda.

We need to stop telling others what to do.  We need to truly close our yaps and open our ears to listen.  We will offer so much more to other people if we are there for them with open ears, not with an agenda that we exclaim with our mouth.

If you're doing all the talking, then you're not listening.  If  you're constantly telling others you know what they should do or how they should think, you're not listening.

Stop telling others what to do and let them find the truth out for themselves if the truth you offer is so great.  Guide them to what you see, but don't interfere with what they see.  You will be much more helpful to them if you stop telling others what to do.

If you are constantly telling others what they should believe or think, you're not helping them find the truth and answers for their life.  

Now, I'm climbing down off my soapbox.  Next person, please!

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Blog Post And Images (c) 1/24/16 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Use Your Ears To Help Humanity

Here's a simple truth that you can take to the bank.  Okay, maybe it won't have much value in the bank, but it will in humanity.  If you really want to help other people, make sure you listen twice as much as you talk to them.

We all have two ears and one mouth, but for some reason, we act as if we have two mouths and one ear.  If that sounds funny, it isn't meant to sound funny.  It is true if you watch the reactions of people to one another.

We are so eager to tell another person what they should do.  We are so eager to be an authority on something because of what we've been told.  We are so eager to make sure the world or social media knows how we think, lest anyone go astray.

Yet, if you really want to know the most helpful thing you can do for another, it isn't telling them what they should do!  It is being there for them without an agenda of any type.  It is being there and listening to them with both ears and an open heart.  It is shutting your mouth off long enough so you can hear them.

We Take Things For Granted

We get so used to what we have.  We miss the big things.  We miss the little things.  People, places, and things are just there and so we take things for granted.  Everything becomes all too familiar, rather than unique and special.

Sometimes we are so inundated with everything coming our way in a day, we don't stop the time to see what is there.  We don't notice what someone special to us, does during the day.  We don't notice that special sound or sight or smell around us in the small moments.  All too often, we take things for granted.

When was the last time you said thank-you to someone close to you.  When was the last time you thanked a random stranger or gave them a smile.  When was the last time you let someone know how great of a job they did or just how much they mean to you.  All too often, we take things for granted.

Work Until You Drop

In this country, we don't seem to know how to take good care of ourselves.  We end up working in jobs that force you to work until you literally drop.  If someone has a heart attack or gets sick or has back issues, we just tell them to go to the doctor and take some pills.  Then when they come back to work, we expect them to carry on as if nothing happened.

We're programmed in this country to act like robots.  We don't truly care if someone has a good quality of life.  After all to most companies and corporations, that doesn't compute into the bottom line.  Yes, we have slogans and we say we care and we write some nice things, but in the end, it is either kill yourself in a job, or get run over.

I wish we could honor and respect the human existence.  Of course, when people are dead to what truly matters, this is probably asking too much.  An occasional two second break here and there isn't going to solve the problem.  We need to change the entire mindset of what is expected in a work place.

We need to begin honoring people and respecting people as individuals.  We need to see that they are humans.  If the bottom line of profit is all that matters, then one of these days the foundation of your enterprise will crumble.  You can't break the backs of your workers and expect them to give more.

I see this in so many out there and it really angers me.  The human body and mind were not built to work until you drop.  It is causing great issues in the world of health for most people and until we wake up, we're only dooming ourselves to horror, pain, and death.

In Honor And Tribute To Mom

On Mother's Day, we all stop to say 'thank you' to a very special lady in our lives.  For each of us, it is different in how we celebrate and honor this day.  Our moms mean so much to us and to list all they do would take many hours, days, or weeks.

My mom put up with a lot from an abusive husband, an older brother that constantly challenged her and people who just didn't get her.  She had so much to offer, but was often overlooked because of how mild and meek she could be.

I remember my mom saying "sometimes it takes a stronger person to just not say anything" when another individual is yelling and screaming and being obnoxious.  She knew that when the going got tough, the tough got going and that was one of her favorite thoughts.

She was a lady of class, but very simple and down to earth.  She knew how to whip up a beautiful dinner, and go outside and do lawn work.  She knew how to put her all into a job, but come home to a family that she so cared for deeply.