These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Thoughts for Tuesday

I found two quotes that say the same thing in different ways:

Everything that surrounds us,
Everything that we brush past unknowing,
Everything that we touch which is not felt,
Everything that we meet unnoticing
Has on us swift, surprising, and inexplicable effects.
~DE MAUPASSANT
and ....

When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
~John Muir

I like both. I love what they say to us. And the applications to us and our world are wide spread.

First, look at the nature or environmental aspects. I think of walking through a wilderness and how I feel when I'm there. I feel respectful of nature, more so, I think, because of the near lack of evidence of humankind. I'm careful where I step, because I don't want to spoil the beauty of the ecosystem. I've seen tiny flowers, blooms so small that they would almost fit on the head of a pin, and I've tried to avoid stepping on those minuscule plants. These sit at the bases of enormous Ponderosa pines which soar high into the sky in contrast.

In the wilderness area near my house, my favorite path follows a very small stream. As I walk this path, I'm aware of the precious quality of water. My home is surrounded by desert, so water is something always on our minds, but this particular place actually has water. The size of the stream is a reminder that there is limited water to nourish this place and all the places farther down the mountain, where this and other minute waterways come together to form creeks and rivers. But they are not rivers with profuse amounts of water, and I'm reminded, too, that the number of animals, plants and people dependent on this water are greater than it can actually provide.

Then I see a candy bar wrapper or potato chip bag or a plastic or aluminum drink container discarded in the stream or atop the tiny plant. I can't help but have a wave of anger at the person or persons who are thoughtless enough to toss these things on the ground in such a beautiful and pristine place! I usually try to remember to carry a plastic bag to gather up such items, but I wonder why it is up to me to pick up what several others have scattered without a second thought.

My point is that I feel we each have to be responsible for ourselves. What someone tosses aside becomes an eyesore and an imbalance which someone else will have to pick up. Or else wait a couple hundred years for it to break down! We all see litter alongside the highway, and while I don't like that, either, it isn't as noticeable as the occasional litter in those more secluded areas. Have you ever been driving down the road and unwrapped, say, a piece of gum, and thought, "It's just a very small piece of paper; it won't hurt to toss it out"? I have. Fortunately, that has been followed by the idea that if every person driving this road did the same thing, there would be a pile of hundreds of gum wrappers to mess up the roadside. So I didn't. The thing is .... not everyone gets it. Or there is such a sense of entitlement that they don't care who has to pick up after them. Sad, sad, sad.

Second example: Things we do have impact on our surroundings. By that, I mean our actions (thoughtless tossing of waste), our behaviors (have you ever been irritated by someone's loud radio?), our words (spoken without forethought or consideration of surroundings). Once something is done or said, it usually can't be undone. Oh, sometimes, the action can be reversed or apologies made, but it doesn't undo the impact.

Every move we make has a ripple effect. Or a sledge hammer effect, in some cases. Every thing we do bounces off the rest of the world. We cannot do something, anything, without it doing so! Whether I am thoughtful or unkind will affect the people with whom I have contact. Even my smallest actions are likely to be noticed and responded to in return. I've found that a flat-affect in a clerk or waitperson can often be changed by my smiling and simply asking "How are you today?" Not always, but usually. Conversely, when I'm distracted and unsmiling, those around me tend to offer back the same.

It changes things when I act. Even if I'm alone, what I do ripples out in one way or another. What I allow myself to do effects how I will feel, act, speak in subsequent moments. I've noticed a few times when I've been home grousing aloud or silently about something or someone, when I go among other people, my mood is carried with me. Now, I'm not saying we can't grump around or feel sorry for ourselves or have a good cry. I think it is healthy to do that alone or with a limited audience (limited to someone who understands and can help you through the process without taking on your nasty mood). But before we walk into the world outside those walls, we need to adjust that attitude, acknowledge that it is what it is, then put on a more positive face.

Have you ever worked with or been friends with someone who comes around and you say, "How are you?", and they begin the sighing and moaning about [fill in the blank]? Did you notice that you begin to not enjoy being around that person? I have, and I don't want to be that person! Even the best of friends can only carry so much of your baggage or mine. Eventually they will begin to distance themselves.

So .... when  tree falls in the forest, I may not hear it, but it will still impact on my world. And when I squash a bug in the forest, no one may notice, but I've changed the ecosystem. I'm not saying you should let the rattlesnake in the forest bite you. That's ludicrous! But watch where your stepping so you don't put your foot on his tail.

9 comments:

  1. Another great post from you. I think it's easy to forget that what we do/say has an inpact on those around us. I like your saying about the ripple effect and it was a good reminder.

    There is someone at work and when she works it seems the entire attitude of everyone is different and it's because this person does nothing but complain. It is so hard to be around someone that seems to never have anything good to say. Seriously...she needs to stop complaining. Half the time the time she spends complaining she could have finished the thing she is complaining about. So much wasted energy.

    Thanks for making me think...again. :)

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  2. We all need reminders from others about "thinking" from time to time. I believe it is what keeps us in check. That's one thing we miss in the electronic communication world, I think. I remember when I was younger we used to get together and talk. I don't mean "visit" or gossip, but talk, about real issues, philosophy, current events (not political arguing), etc. It was good because it caused us the think beyond our own heads.

    You're welcome! I like it, too!

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  3. I just say this on FB, a post from one of my friends from India: Worldcitizencommune Visvaikya says, "Sun/clouds, drought/floods, snowfall/wildfire, earthquake/volcano, melting of glaciers are very naturally natural. All these expressions of nature are not whimsical.They follow law of causation. An effect follows a cause. Nature can be benign to man if man abides by the law of nature. Nature becomes furious with man,as it is becoming world over,if man plays foul. Wish wisdom prevails on the collective will of man."

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  4. Great post! Just what I needed today. I'm glad I found your blog, and I think the time I spend reading it is well spent!

    There is much to be learned from the blogworld! If not learned for the first time, then reminded of.

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  5. Thanks, Merikay. I think that is one of the best things about the internet .... finding new friends who touch a part of us that needs to be wakened. I'm glad you're here, too!

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  6. I LOVE this post! You're a good lady Lynilu ~ and the world is a better place just having you in it! {{HUGS}}

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  7. Awww, thank you Mel. I'm no better than a lot of my friends (blog and IRL), but I'm more vocal and I have a lot of time to think! Thanks, again! :)

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  8. You are indeed a thoughtful gal Lyn. And I agree with you. We all need to be aware of our surroundings and show respect for our world. Well said!
    Love Di ♥

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  9. Thanks, Di. If every person upped their awareness just 1%, think about the possible difference it could make!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!