I'm always talking to myself. And I've heard it's okay to engage oneself in conversation...as long as you don't answer.
Okay. Sounds good to me.
Over time I have crafted this ability into a fine edged sword, that cuts both ways.
Parry. Thrust. I can talk myself into...or out of...almost anything. I can easily fall into the pit of tearing myself down. I often think we...women...excell at this, more so than men. Why is that? I know I am harder on myself than anyone else can possibly be on me.
Lighten up. Those times I catch myself berating this or over analyzing that, I stop. What am I doing to myself?
It's one thing to do something well, but it's another thing to over do it. And there is such a thing as overkill.
Years ago I discovered the art of self-talk and positive affirmations. There is power in affirming what is good and using the aid of visualization to bring goals into the here and now. Some might call it day-dreaming...okay. In our day dreams lies what we want, and maybe how we can get there. In our dreams live the future. The possibilities of our lives thrive in those dreams. That is a magic.
Last week I found myself thumbing through the current issue of Ladies Home Journal, but alas I was waylaid by the new Stetson ad. Tonight I picked the mag back up and another ad caught my eye.
When was the last time?
It's been too long. This I know because I don't remember when.
I believe we must all be good to ourselves, and to each other. We are the role models young people look to for guidance. What are we teaching them? How will they remember us? Memories can last a lifetime, and some of the strongest memories we all carry are a mixed bag of happy days and crappy days. And when things aren't going well, which will get us through those long dark tunnels, compelling us forward to the light we know is there? The happy or the crappy?
I can't watch reality tv; what's real about it? It's edited before it's aired. Edited for ratings and entertainment value with one goal, pitting human against human. When I see the ads on CBS I often wonder, are we as a society moving forward, or going backward. If future generations, fifty or so years from now, were to watch these shows, what does the show say about us?
We live in stress-filled times. Little things can go wrong every day, and a series of little things can set us off. Our anger can rear that ugly head at a moments notice and quickly go out of control. Remember the wife who ran over her cheating husband in a parking lot? No, cheating isn't a little thing, but something...many somethings...must have happened to her to push her past the point of reason; it seems she lost her perspective. There are many other ways she could have dealt with his infidelity, less violent ways.
Keep your perspective. Make it positive, full of lifes possibilities, brimming with promise. With three simple words...
Keep hope alive.
I'm rambling, and I've proven that a picture is worth a thousand words. Funny how one simple ad featuring one little girl can have this much impact.
10 comments:
It's a great add. I know exactly the last time i felt really proud of myself. It was a great moment. BYW...I never talk to myself...not out loud anyway. Have lots of conversations in my head though...hmmm that sounds a little strange! :)
Keep it positive! Yep! I'm trying! ;)
Great entry! I love this ad! we can never be too positive and i agree, i think we women are harder on ourselves more than men are here's to better days and positive thinking!~kbear
Wonderful entry!!! Self chatter, can sometimes be defeaning, and not in the best of ways. Writing of course, is my way of letting the chatter/self talk stop and come out in a more concrete form.
I love the picture and your right, it kinda slips a mind back to a time when self-talk was more kind.
Rebecca
i love this ad, although looking at it and seeing that it's for Curves - does that mean if we are overweight we can't be proud of ourselves? Maybe as lovely of an ad as it is - it's still sending the wrong message >sigh<
Kelli -- I thought the same as well, what kind of message is it sending? But lets flip the coin and look at the other side. Staying fit. I'm nearly 50 and my knees remind me how old my joints are every time I climb stairs. I sit at a desk all day, and have done so for most of my working years. But I have found that regular exercise does help, tremendously. When I walk a couple of miles two or three times a week, my knee joints don't even scream at me when I climb stairs. So, the message could also be one of take care of yourself, always. If you don't do it, no one else will.
Thanks for this. It's lovely. We so often forget to love ourselves and yes, unfortunately those times are what our children often remember. The world wants to remember our failures - someone has to keep track of our successes. Blessings, Penny http://journals.aol.com/firestormkids04/FromHeretoThere
Brilliant entry Dona....but I do engage myself in conversation and I frequently answer too. That way I always get the most sophisticated coversation and satisfactory answers to my `questions`...lol! Please ramble away, I for one enjoy reading them! :-)
Sandra xxxx
Very thought provoking entry! thanks for sharing!
Theresa
This is a message that more people need to carry with them through life. Times can be rough, and it's tough to stay focused and positive. But to think of every day we live as an accomplishment, should help keep hope alive. We're never "done" until we die.
Great entry.
Jimmy
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