Your Daily Principles  

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Mojoey at Deep Thoughts has tagged me with a meme about principles.

It’s meme time for me again, this one coming straight out of my own brain! I got to thinking recently about the idea that all of us, as humans, have principles we live by daily. These aren’t your over-arching beliefs neccessarily, but rather the things that you do daily as a part of those beliefs. So, for example, it’s not that I’m an anarchist, but things I do daily in line with that. I’ve kept it to 5 on my own, but there’s no hard rules on this meme; name as few or as many as you’d like! Likewise, no limits on how few or how many (if any) people you tag… do whatever is comfortable!

Hmm... so here's the principles that I try to live by daily.

Help those in need
A big part of my charity "epiphany" was to look for those who need help and help them, whether it's as simple as giving someone I work with a stamp or change or noticing the homeless people around me and giving them something whether it's food, money, or just listening to their story and sympathizing.

Be considerate
In stead of jumping to conclusions when someone is rude or unkind I try to be be understanding and polite in return. I don't always succeed and sometimes I get angry and then act rude and unkind. But it's not just trying to treat people well, it's also considering what that person may be going through. As a friend of mine once said, "Everyone has a bad day sometimes." I don't think people are assholes because they find me repulsive (though some may), but because they're just having a bad day. Maybe if I can make it a little better they'll stop being assholes.

Own up
I had this huge problem as a kid of never wanting to own up to my mistakes. You know, like I didn't make mistakes. It was someone else or there were extenuating circumstances, or, or ... Now I try to just admit I make a mistake without an excuse and when I say that I'm sorry I mean it. And I know sorry doesn't fix the damage that's been done or force anyone to forgive me.

Slow down and enjoy
I'm the type of person who gets so caught up in what's happening next that I forget to enjoy what's happening now. So I try to enjoy the moment. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I still find myself hating every car in front of me as I rush home to do absolutely nothing.

Appreciate people
Of course I appreciate my husband and I try to show him how happy I am to have him in my life and tell him. But how often do I tell my co-workers, friends, or even strangers. When someone makes my day I try to let them know how much I appreciate it, even if that person is standing behind a counter at a store and I'll never see him or her again.

I'm tagging:

Life is a PB Sandwich
Cafe Philos
Just Married Chilean Style
Janet, Keith, Matthew, and Josie
Sylvene

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6 comments: to “ Your Daily Principles

  • Mamacita Chilena
    Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 4:55:00 PM CDT  

    Good meme! I'm definitely going to do this one.

    I like your principles, and I think mine are pretty similar with a few additions here and there.

  • John Evo
    Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:08:00 PM CDT  

    Since you didn't tag me, I'll just leave one here.

    Release Bitterness -

    We all go through situations that are heartbreaking, enraging, etc. It's part of life. But once it's done and handled to the best of your ability and it's no longer an on-going issue - let it go. Bitterness towards others (even those who rightly deserve your wrath) accomplishes exactly zero and only continues to torture you, not the person your anger is directed towards. Release is freedom.

  • glomgold
    Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 10:21:00 PM CDT  

    "Be Considerate". I think I qualified for that yesterday morning b/c I saw on the highway this one fucker who months ago caused my car to get hit and then he took off.
    But I did not chase him down to put a tire iron through his window.

  • Unknown
    Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 8:40:00 AM CDT  

    John, good one there. I completely agree and it's one that I struggle with a bit. Bitterness can be a way of not pining, but after a while it needs to become nothing.

    And consider yourself tagged because I'd love to hear more.

    Glomgold, you always make me laugh. That's great! I chased down a car once after a hit and run and made the driver stop. Once I thought about it, it probably wasn't a good idea. They weren't insured anyway though, so in the end I guess it didn't matter. But it felt good to be fearless once upon a time.

  • John Evo
    Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 12:21:00 PM CDT  

    Glomgold -

    I think that one also qualifies for my "release bitterness"!

    OG -

    OK, I'll give it some thought. But if I do, I get to include my first one!

  • Paul Sunstone
    Friday, November 2, 2007 at 1:19:00 AM CDT  

    Yikes! How come I'm only finding out about this now! I've got to quit taking breaks from blogging -- it takes too long to catch up! :)

    Thanks for tagging me with this one -- it looks very interesting.

 

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