I received the nicest feedback on my most recent post from a gentleman thanking me for answering questions he had about Me Too, but had been afraid to ask. In that post, I explained that it’s natural for such questions to arise and suggested answers, referring to analogous events in history. Encouraged by this feedback, I had planned to answer more questions this week.
But then I learned about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. So I shifted gears, deciding to give my readers and myself a break from such serious topics. Instead, I’m listing below a few inspirational quotes and good news stories.
- “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” May Angelou
- An experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s suggests that removing a single enzyme from the brain can not only arrest, but even reverse, the disease. http://www.newsweek.com/alzheimers-disease-completely-reversed-removing-just-one-enzyme-new-study-807156
- “I’ve always felt that a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view [s]he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.” Abigail Adams
- Germany is experimenting with free public transportation in an effort to reduce the number of cars on the road. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/germany-making-free-ride-buses-trains-5-cities/
- “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
- If I could find anything remotely good in the news about Parkland, it was a glimmer of pride about a training video developed right here by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Used all over the world, the video shows how to deal with shooters in schools, office buildings, etc.: “Run, Hide, Fight.” It not only tells, but shows, how to run safely if you can; how to hide if you can’t run—lights off, mobile phones silent, behind a locked door, if possible. I found the video footage of how to get prepared to fight if you can’t run or hide especially enlightening. For example, look around for things, such as a fire extinguisher or a small, hard chair, that you can use as a weapon.
- “Hope…is not a feeling: it is something you do.” Katherine Paterson
May each of you feel heartened by at least one of the above. I invite you to comment below on your favorite!
Hello Margaret, Yes, although we can sometimes feel a sense of guilt that horrific events happen in our nation, there does come a time to let oneself turn away momentarily. My favorite quote from your comments this time is from Abigail Adams. I have often wondered why I let my mind go from one to another aspect of a topic…searching for the one or a combination of them looking for the “right one”. Now, according to her, there is a certain advantage; it’s the “weighing all aspects” syndrome, perhaps. However, it can also show a thinking pattern that lets one refuse to make a decision. I’ll choose the positive aspect.
I agree with your choice to consider this a positive trait. With your mind open to considering various options, you probably make a better decision in due time. And when you postpone deciding, that might be a signal that you don’t have enough info yet, and therefore, should not decide yet. I have a hunch that, on a Myers-Briggs test, you would be _NT_. Part of the NT temperament is the very thought process you describe, and therefore, you have a lot of strategic intelligence. So you are good at long range planning. Dr. Kiersey calls the NTs “the leaders of leaders” even though they represent only about 6% of the general population.