Be Positive!

We all know the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

About once a month I make the drive to Sacramento to see my mom, take her to the doctor, take her to lunch, that sort of thing. The past few times I've made the drive I've been listening to an audio book. It isn't actually ours, it's Amy and Brad's. It was given to them as a wedding present by the Chance's. It is a lecture, done in a 4 part series, called "For All Eternity". It is advice for how to improve your marriage. Really, it is advice on how to improve who you are... which aren't we all in need of?

While there are many good tips in Dr. John L. Lund's lecture there is one in particular that I have decided I need to work on... being less critical of others. I am a really, really nice person, and I do know that about myself, I can't help it, it is who I am. I am not saying that to boast. As a nice person I tend to not be very critical of others, however, I find myself being so at times and it does not set well with me. It seems the older I've become the more critical I've become as well... maybe its that I think I have so much wisdom that I could do it better? I kind of doubt that one, I do not tend to think that highly of myself... and I don't mean that in a bad way, I just am rather realistic as to who I am.

The suggestion in this lecture series is that we strive to not criticize for 24 hours, straight. You can count sleeping time also (thank heavens)! As he was telling the stories related to this particular challenge I figured it'd be a breeze for me. Little did I know. He's talking about not criticizing ANYONE!!! We aren't supposed to criticize politicians, the drivers around us, people on TV or the radio, our children or spouse... ANYONE! So, as I was driving to Sacramento thinking to myself that this challenge would not be very difficult for me, driving along my way, minding my own business, a person in another lane decided to get in front of me, and slow down considerably. No sooner had he done so than I found myself saying aloud, "Really? Who drives this slow??" (besides my sweet husband and another friend of mine!)

I hadn't even lasted half an hour!!!!! So, here I am, realizing that this is going to take more than I thought it was. I have put this goal off for a while now due to illness, a trip to Idaho, and probably busy-ness. This week I haven't got a ton of things going on so I am going to once again attempt it. The beauty is that if you find yourself being critical you just start over... so I may be doing a great deal of starting this week, and hopefully I will actually be able to say I acheived my goal!

Note to friends and family... do me a favor this week by not being critical of others, okay? Or you can just not talk to me... take your pick! I can use all the help I can get, and it may even help you too! Why not work on this together and see what a difference it makes in who we are? We might find ourselves turning into more positive people and then becoming a better influence in the lives of others! Sounds like a winning proposition to me.

Okay... I am ready!! Are you?! Let me know how you do!