Two World Views



This lengthy quote -- erroneously attributed to the actress Meryl Streep -- has shown up in my Facebook feed a few times in the past couple of weeks. Turns out that Meryl never proclaimed this but rather it came from a Portuguese self-help guru, but that isn't why I'm sharing it.

The whole piece strikes me as oozing arrogance and self-importance. I'm astonished at the people who are posting it and implying that they share the sentiment. I'm imperfect; so is everyone else I know.

It is interesting that this seems to be shared as wisdom acquired by reaching a certain age. Perhaps this is so for some. My mileage has varied: As I've aged, I believe I've become [somewhat] more patient and have developed a bit more tolerance. I've tried to adopt a different mantra:



Some days, I'm  more successful than others!




Comments

Mary said…
You are so right. Just imagine what a better place this world would be if everyone followed that theory.
Barbara Anne said…
Amen!

Hugs!
Lori said…
I couldn't agree more!
Judi said…
Well said, Nancy! I read this mantra a few years ago, I think on your blog. I think the example you used had to do with someone trying to get to a hospital quickly, and people not understanding their driving....ring a bell?

At the time, the message hit home - that if someone isn't quite as kind and courteous as you think they should be, think that perhaps they have a lot on their plate right now and cut them some slack, rather than snarling back.

I do my best to remember that, and succeed...most of the time.
Anonymous said…
Thank you for sharing. Your second quote is something to try and live by.
Quiltdivajulie said…
That second "be kind" quote has been our family mantra for years . . . thanks for debunking the 'ownership' of the oft-shared first quote. I do wish more folks would verify authenticity before forwarding/sharing!
Anonymous said…
Thank you for your quote, Nancy. So gentle and filled with love........
LoieJ said…
I find impatience a two headed critter. On the one hand, I've outgrown the impatience of youth: For example, I don't stand muttering about someone ahead of me in the checkout line who is wrestling with complex purchases for severs people. OTOH, the last three times I was at JCPenney, the check out line was about 20 people long for three clerks. They are deliberately wasting my time by design. Grrr. However, when in the line, I don't waste energy steaming.

But the long quote is about more complex situations and it is about learning to set boundaries when there are unhealthy people in our circles. Sometimes it takes time, if not age, to reach the wisdom necessary to give certain people less space and control in our lives. Sometimes we have to choose between acting with Minnesota Nice, with teeth gritted, or dumping certain people.

But as you say, who among us doesn't also possess certain traits that might rub someone the wrong way? And if we are unable to own that stuff, we can't ask for forgiveness when we finally notice that we may have hurt someone.
aren't we all....guilty as charged....sometimes so focused on my own struggles, fail to see others whose struggles are worse....a human frailty I am certain but not excusable...