A bit of truth
I spent the morning working on my shoulder. After a hard workout followed by a deep-tissue session with the massage therapist followed by a great “counseling” session, I considered going home, getting on comfy clothes, curling up in front of a roaring fire and reading the rest of Les Mis.
Instead I am going to get a root canal.
Yes, I know how to have a good time!
Here is a bit of what my friend and I talked about at lunch:
“Just because someone calls you a chair doesn’t mean you are one.”
“Just because someone calls you a rug doesn’t mean you should let people walk over you.”
“Just because someone you care about won’t take responsibility for their own recovery doesn’t mean it becomes your responsibility.”
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my 12-step friends. They speak truth to me in ways I can hear it.
kathleenduncan
It’s okay to be right when no one else knows it.
Do you want to be right…or happy.
susieshy45
It takes two hands to clap.
kathleenduncan
That is great!
susieshy45
I didn’t get the meaning of the “chair” phrase – did you mean that if someone calls you a bad name, it doesn’t mean that you are actually that ? ( Am I a tubelight?)
kathleenduncan
Exactly!
Someone recently accused me of some ugly things. Her accusations don’t make the things she accused me of doing true.
It is easy to take on what others say about us, as if their saying it makes it TRUTH.
But she is looking through mentally ill eyes. Her perceptions do not need to become my reality.
When someone criticizes me, I try to think through what they say, “am I behaving like chair? am I wooden? did I do something to give her that impression? am I in fact a chair?”
If so, I accept the truth and take appropriate actions: perhaps repentance and making amends. Perhaps simply changing my behavior.
If not, I can dismiss what they say as their opinion and go on with life.
granonine
I LOVE that–just because someone calls you a chair. . . . .wonderful, wise, and witty 🙂
kathleenduncan
Yes, I liked it as well. I have someone in my life right now who has called me some ugly names and accused me of some things. I carefully consider if there is truth to what she says then repent if appropriate and throw out the rest.
I am not a chair and her calling me one doesn’t change truth.
Another one I like is:
Not my monkey. Not my circus.
granonine
You don’t have to attend every fight you’re invited to 🙂
kathleenduncan
Oh! I forgot that one. It’s great!
kathleenduncan
Please share any more!
granonine
When the audience leaves, the show generally stops 🙂
kathleenduncan
God is still good and still on the throne. Sometimes those who are the closest know which buttons to push. Thank you.