off topic, sort of, well, not really, well maybe, nah not really

[Guest guest]

GOING AGAINST WHAT IS POPULAR

 

 

My beautiful smart friend Donna signed me up for these emails, called daily OM.

You get one per day, and they are not too long, just right, and they always seem

to address what I am going through at that time ... coincidence? .. hmmmm....

anyway, read on:

 

September 26, 2006

Against The Grain

Going Against What Is Popular

Just because an idea or way of doing things is popular doesn't mean it's right

for everyone. However, part of the way that something becomes popular is that

many of us don't take the time to determine what's right for us; we simply do

what most of the people we know are doing. In this way, our decisions about life

are made by default, which means they aren't what we call conscious decisions.

There may be many other options available, but we don't always take the time to

explore them. This may be the result of feeling overwhelmed or pressured by

family, peers, and humanity at large, to do things their way, the way things

have always been done. Regardless of the cause, it is important that, as often

as we can, we decide for ourselves what to do with our lives rather than just

drift along on the current of popular opinion.

 

It is not always easy to make decisions that go against the grain. Many people

feel threatened when those close to them make choices divergent from the ones

they are making. Parents and grandparents may be confused and defensive when we

choose to raise our children differently from the way they raised us. Friends

may feel abandoned if we decide to change our habits or behavior. Meanwhile, on

our side of the fence, it's easy to feel frustrated and defensive when we feel

unsupported and misunderstood simply because we are thinking for ourselves. It

can be exhausting to have to explain and re-explain our points of view and our

reasons.

 

This is where gentleness, openness, and tolerance come into play. It helps if we

are calmly persistent, consistent, and clear as we communicate to those around

us why we are making the choices we are making. At the same time, we have the

right to say that we are tired of talking about it and simply need our choices

to be respected. Our lives belong to us and so do our decisions. Those who truly

love us will stand by us and support our choices, never mind what's popular.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Funny, b/c you are so right about hearing things when you need to hear

them, I'm sure for everyone it holds different meaning - but for us

recently it's homeschooling - we face so much opposition from

family/friends that we've recently explored putting the kids in

school, even though it just isn't in our hearts - but after some much

needed prayer and a strong family meeting we decided we are exactly

where we need to be. I really enjoyed that, it really " spoke " to me

 

Thanks for passing it on!

 

--Stacee

[Guest guest]

you re so welcome, glad it meant something for you!

 

hugs,

CHanda

-

mainvillefamily

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:12 AM

Re: off topic, sort of, well, not really, well

maybe, nah not really

 

 

Funny, b/c you are so right about hearing things when you need to hear

them, I'm sure for everyone it holds different meaning - but for us

recently it's homeschooling - we face so much opposition from

family/friends that we've recently explored putting the kids in

school, even though it just isn't in our hearts - but after some much

needed prayer and a strong family meeting we decided we are exactly

where we need to be. I really enjoyed that, it really " spoke " to me

 

Thanks for passing it on!

 

--Stacee