Posts Tagged choices
Be nice.
Posted by deeryjennifer in Big Questions on July 17, 2014
This past Sunday, someone told me that I was very nice, but that I should be careful no one takes advantage of my niceness. I simply smiled and replied “Thank you for the compliment!” as we parted ways.
When did being nice turn into a disadvantage? I find it sad that someone would equate being nice with being naive. While both begin with the letter ‘n’ their meanings are completely different. Smiling and being nice to someone (even a stranger) is simply another choice. Growing up I would frequently roll my eyes and think to myself that my parents were too nice or that they smiled all the time for no reason.
*Please note that this was while I was an angst ridden teenager who was determined to be cool and aloof.
College and adulthoood have showed me that enjoying life, having fun, and being randomly silly is not a bad thing at all. Life without joy is a life endured. How much better to live your life with joy and fun!
So, the next time you have a chance to be nice to a stranger (I just helped a lady with kids carry her groceries out to her car) take the chance. Spread a little more nice around the world. Maybe start a trend.
Which One?
Posted by deeryjennifer in Big Questions on January 8, 2014
Verb or Noun?
Watching movies, TV, even in casual conversation, our lives sometimes seem dominated by love. Who we love, who loves us, how to have more so we can be happy. Love is analyzed and pursued – with the ultimate goal always just around the corner. The focus is usually on the feelings evoked. Love as a noun, is an almost tangible thing that should be coveted and treasured, just another possession. Who we love or are loved by can be bragged about or taken for granted like other belongings that sit on a shelf until needed. We protect love, yearn for love, dream about love. Love becomes an almost physical entity, an object, a noun.
What happens if we instead consider love as a verb. Love becomes an action, something that we do. Love becomes a choice. Love the noun is easily changed by outside forces. Nouns are able to be changed, sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Actions are the cause of change. Love as a verb…. Love as THE verb transmutes into possibilities and joy.
Changing Love into an action gives an entirely different meaning to ” I love you.” No longer a feeling, but a decision taken with purpose. Love a movie? Your new car? Your family or signifigant other? Love the verb is more powerful than the noun. Make a decision with a reason – and Love becomes a concious, knowing action.
I want the Love in my life to be a choice. I choose Love the verb.
This is what happens when you spend too much time considering parts of speech and reading grammar books.
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