And It's All Small Stuff

I started reading a new book.  It was in a box of books I god on Freecycle.  It's basically 100 thoughts for the day.  I have been reading one each morning and some are really sticking out to me.

The Book: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff
Author: Richard Carlson

The first entry is based on the title.  He basically got it from Wayne Dyer.  He tells a story of how a recommendation by Wayne Dyer ended up on one of his books without permission and in response to his apology, Wayne Dyer said, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff."

Thought number 4 is Be Aware of the Snowball Effect of Your Thinking.  I have often thought that my problem is that I think to much.  I most often think about the worse case scenario of any event and I have tried to get into the practice of telling myself, that it is not real and it is not happening.  I do tend to calm down a little.  Another thing that I do is just put everything that pops into my head on my phone (read write down in old English) so I can not worry about it and keep going.  We just have too much on our minds in modern society.

Number 7: Don't Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences.  This has helped me remain a little more calm at work.  It takes patience, but I have learned to let people ramble on endlessly until they get to the point, which can usually be state din one sentence.  "I need a password reset," is often a 4 minute monologue. 

Number 11: Imagine that Everyone Is Enlightened Except You. This has actually been quite a good one for me.  It helps deal with the "expletive person."  I tell myself, "The girl who just cut me off, is trying to catch the bus because her child missed it."  "The line is long at the restaurant because everyone is hungry and the clerk is doing the best they can given staffing."  The last one might be a stretch at some joints, but it is often true.  I just have to imagine that people are doing their best and know more than I do sometimes.

Number 17: Surrender to the Fact that Life Isn't Fair.  This has been the hardest for me to deal with.  Life should be fair.  If people acted toward others as they would like to be treated, it certainly would be more fair.  I keep trying to remind myself of this one, but I find it more upsetting than helpful.

It's a Circle of Life thing

Every Being must be holy to us. - Albert Schweitzer
An Animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. - Martin Buber

Can you imagine life without your pets?  I can't.  They are a source of joy and remind us that we are loved and needed.

Thank your furry friends today.  When they wag their tail, wag back.  If they purr, purr back.

Unity

I have been trying to decide on a new congregation to attend for some time and I thought I might end up at the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, as I was enjoying their podcasts.  However, I finally found a congregation online that is nearer to me and more in line with my own philosophy.

I have only been once so far, but I intend to go back.

http://www.uuman.org/ is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation in North Fulton.

Unitarian Universalism affirms that inspiration and meaning may be found in many sources, including experience, history, and religious tradition.

The Unitarian Universalist faith draws from six sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Many Unitarian Universalists also find guidance and comfort in these seven principles that our UUA congregations affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.