I have a little book that I have been writing things in. 'Hearings' I call them. Things I've heard others say, read or even on occasions heard myself think out loud. Some of these have been so fundamentally strong, and their flight so true, that they have driven themselves deep into my brain and have become beacons used regularly in navigating through life's little conundrums. Words of wisdom I can give myself when I need them - and give others when I feel permitted to. Although not all are original, it always gives me a little thrill when I hear them being used or shared by others. Sharing nuggets of good-thoughts isn't like sharing nuggets of chicken, you still have your good-thought nuggets after you've shared them (I've also just realised two other things; 1. good-thought nuggets are vegetarian/vegan-friendly too 2. If sharing nuggets with a vegitarian/vegan though, you'd probably also still have your chicken nuggets. Never mind, it seemed to work when I started the sentence). Anyway, they're an inexpensive gift that keeps on giving.
I'll start off with a Chinese proverb I heard on the radio while driving in the car 20 years ago. I drove to the moon and back distance-wise in the job I had then (although it took 6 years). That gave a lot of time for listening and a lot of time for thinking.
The proverb says Don't Curse the Dark, Light a Candle. Slap! So few words, yet so much impact. While keeping my hands on the steering wheel, I went instantly into a spin of thoughts about negative situations and negative people and my own reactions. Am I actually complaining about something that ultimately I could do something about myself? Are those people actually trying to get me to sort out problems that they themselves are holding both the candle and the match for? I have another (self-said) 'hearing' that says Stop Waving your Arms and Start Moving your Legs. It means the same but it's way less aggressive to quote a Chinese proverb and let the target of your catapulted nugget of wisdom come to the same word-picture.
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