  Spiritual
This week: Be A Beneficial Presence, Part 1 Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Spiritual Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your guest editor this week. |
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We've all met her. You know, the woman who only sees what's "wrong" with every given situation as opposed to focusing on the beauty around her. And what about the guy who's so negative that he'll argue about anything and everything, even when he knows he's wrong? He thrives on controversy and relishes discontent. His daily goal is to tick off as many people as he can--get under their skin, push their buttons--all the while kicking back in his chair and admiring his handiwork. It's a game.
I spend some time every day networking on facebook. I receive status updates from Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Jack Canfield, Eckhart Tolle, and other like-minded motivational speakers, so every day I open my facebook page to find beautiful photos and inspirational quotes. It's a great way to start my day!
Recently one of the people I follow on facebook posted a lovely photograph with the following quote attached: "I'm learning not to sweat the small stuff. It's all about finding strenght within myself--not looking to others for it." 172 people "liked" it and ten people responded positively to it by leaving supportive comments, but one person posted simply "*strength." The original poster responded with, "I looked at that stupid word over and over and saw nothing wrong with it. I think I need to go to bed. Thanks, Iris (not her real name). I have no more strength. LOL" to which Iris said, "I like the quote and the photo. Misspellings and the term 'LOL' serve no purpose."
I was appalled. How rude! I thought. What the heck is wrong with people? My egoic instinct was to rip Iris a new one, but the spiritual side of me whispered, Don't do it. It's what people like her thrive on. Don't give her the satisfaction. I knew the voice was right, but something inside me screamed for justice. My goal wasn't to embarrass Iris, but rather to show my appreciation and support for the original poster. Two hours passed, and no one had responded to Iris. It was as if people were afraid to say anything. After battling my inner voice for a few minutes I finally typed, "I choose to focus on the happiness this photo evokes, not the misspelling in the quote. Thank you [original poster] for being a blessing to so many people. Each and every day your positive spirit makes people smile, and your beauty has touched hearts and lives around the world. Namaste." Five more people posted after me that night, each one reiterating what I'd said. Iris was nowhere to be found.
An hour later someone else wrote, "It's a great quote. Thank you. ♥ To pick up on something as small as a spelling error is quite typical of how some people CHOOSE to only see the negative in every situation. It's very possible, infact it's a certainty, that people will miss out on the beauty of life by hunting out the negative. Don't sweat the small stuff is the message here!"
I look at the contrast between the original poster and Iris; they're polar opposites. Will the life Iris lived bring her satisfaction and make her proud when she's lying on her deathbed, or will she look back with the agony of regret at all the missed opportunities?
What kind of person are you? Are you like Iris, finding fault with everything and everyone around you, or do you choose to remain positive? Do you strive to be a blessing to those who cross your path? When an opportunity to impact another human being's life presents itself, do you instigate and tear down, or do you encourage and build up? Do you infect people with your smile, or do you poison them with your negativity? Are you a beneficial presence?
What about your characters? Do you take into account whether they're optimistic or pessimistic, negative or positive when you're breathing life into them? Does he see the glass as half empty or half full? How does her outlook affect those around her and impact her day-to-day life.
Lord help me live from day to day,
In such a humble sort of way,
To give a smile, help lift a load,
For those I meet along life's road,
And when I come to my journey's end,
My life I have not lived in vain,
If one dear friend can smile and say,
"I'm glad I met him on life's way."
~ Author Unknown
Embrace an attitude of gratitude, and choose love in all that you do.
And be sure to join me for part two of "Be A Beneficial Presence," coming to an inbox near you on July 6, 2011.
Peace and blessings.
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And please take a peek at an incredible book written by a friend of mine and edited by yours truly.
"On May 27, 2010, 23-year-old Corporal Brett Sayre, USMC, unknowingly stepped over an IED in the deserts of Afghanistan--an IED that killed his best friend who was walking ten feet behind him. Sayre's story was featured in the June 12, 2010 issue of the The New York Times. Now read about Sayre's incredible story of survival, loss, support, and love as seen through the eyes of someone who knew him best: his father.
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Feedback
The following is in response to "Spiritual Newsletter (April 13, 2011)" :
Winnie Kay  says, "Beautiful NL, Shannon!! I was privileged to be present at the moment of my mother's death last year. A few hours before Mom died, she looked at me and said, 'I have to go away now.' I told her it was okay to go. Then she reached toward the ceiling in her room and called out to her mother as if she could see her. I think she already had visions of heaven before she died. I think my brothers and sister were standing on sacred ground at that moment."
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  says, "There is always something to read."
Specter  says, "According to Bibical scriptures, spirit is the breath of life. Breath is what animates life. There is no seperation between breath and life, not until death. Even the Holy Spirit appeared as a mighty, rushing wind. Death is this release of breath of life. There is much more to understand and believe on this matter than written here. God bless...Faith is much more powerful than religion."
Zeke  says, "One way of viewing death is that it's only the body that dies. Our spirit is immortal."
GRAMPA ED says, "Shannon, most people I know are a little to extremly afraid of death. I believe it is the fear of not knowing what or were we are going. God has plans for us even after death, just as he does when we are alive. Your article was great and I just wish you could dive deeper into the subject. Thanks. P.S. My wife left and went with God 21 years ago and according to the doctors I ahoild have passed on six years ago do to health problems, but, God had things for me to do, now I am writting--two published with the third coming up in about a month or two."
Ebunoluwa Johnson says, "Spooky topic but great writing. What makes death less spooky and full of hope is that we'll see Jesus, beautiful, magnificent, beyond imagining in a most special way and ready to have us."
creatress says, "Thank you for this article."
Thank you all for reading and commenting. Although I sent you all personal email responses a month ago (I wasn't sure when or if I'd guest edit the Spiritual Newsletter again), I wanted to share your comments with the rest of the site. Peace and blessings. |
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Spiritual: June 08, 2011 Issue [#4435]
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