There is a trend in society right now that is pervasive and endemic, it permeates throughout everything and it is the trend towards negativity.
The vast majority (though thankfully not everyone) is moving through this life in a perpetual state of doom and gloom; they feel cynical and pessimistic about most things and the 'get up and go' appears to have been beaten out of them.
I see it when I watch people go through their day; how many people have anything near a smile on their faces or a spring in their step? One observes it in the news media - our hourly fix of murder, destruction and doom courtesy of the idiot box in the corner.
Have you ever observed that when the news runs a good news story it always appears as the last item, as if its effect can negate the previous thirty minutes of 'doom-mongering'? Unfortunately good news doesn't sell...
When a body of positive people appear, many are suspicious of them and finger point with a 'what are they on' or 'they're happy-clappy' or some similar remark.
I wonder if you have seen the film 'Jerry McGuire'? In one scene in that film there is a sign on the wall behind a person (it's in a football team locker room) that reads:
A POSITIVE 'ANYTHING' IS BETTER THAN A NEGATIVE 'NOTHING'
It took me a while to put my head round that statement, but it does resonate with me. I feel that I belong to the positive side of society, I wander around with a smile and say 'good morning' to people and receive a look that says 'what the f**k is he on!' I hold doors for people and give way to other drivers, then give them a wave of thanks and smile if they return the compliment to me.
Is any of this making sense to anyone? If more people felt more positive and treated others in a positive manner, maybe society today wouldn't be in complete turmoil with our youth having no respect for anyone other than Eminem or the character on the game on their X-Box or PSP.
Sure I get fed up and get a scowl on my face - it happened on Tuesday morning after I had spent the whole night with my 2 year old son clinging onto me like a koala bear because he was ill. My son was a happy little boy in the morning; unfortunately dad was totally sleep deprived and not too cheery! Strangely enough when I dropped my boys off at school, people noticed that I wasn't cheerful, bright and saying good morning to everyone.
So let's get out there and start breaking this cycle of negativity and doom; I'm sure some people are going through their lives wishing the summer would finish because it's too hot and the sun is in their eyes - you can spot them easily because when the evenings begin to darken up they say "Winter's Drawing in" - it's only August at this point!!!!
I had to get this out in the open...hope it wasn't too much of a rant!
Mike,
I can totally relate to that.
I always go around smiling, not specifically at people cos it freaks them out, but if someone catches my eye or I catch theirs and I'm smiling it will usually make them smile too. Of course there's always those ones who look at you like you've just let one drop and you're trying to hide it. 😉
It's nice when people smile back cos it shows that they've been distracted from their (likely to be) mundane miserable thoughts and you've just made them feel better.
Love and Reiki Hugs
Totally agree with you both....
One of the reasons I don't really watch the news or read papers much, Mike, is that it's all so depressingly negative..... Bring back Pollyanna!
And yes, Giles, I know what you mean about smiling at people and feeling godo when they smile back. It's nice when someone smiles at us out of the blue 🙂
I agree very much with what you say Mike. I often wonder if the cynical attitude that some people seem to have is because of the 'throw away' society in which we live, where nothing is really valued and if it is, not for long, as something, bigger, better, faster or trendier invariably becomes available. The 'I gotta have it' trend means many people are never satisifed with what they have.
With regard to smiling I too am a random smiler and I find when dealing with the public at large (I manage my local library) saying something like "That's a lovely blouse you're wearing" or "You're looking very smart today" can really help make someone's day a little bit more positive.
Well this is going be my last post for a few days (off on holiday) so I am going to be very provocative and make a personal observation.
Kipling - what you say is very thought provoking and has great value. But when I read it I felt quite down in the mouth and I am a really giggly kind of gal.
So my most humble point is - how we wish to project ourselves may not always be how we are received. Not everyone with a moody miserable look is miserable and moody. My eldest daughter often looks at you like you have just fallen off the bottom of her shoe :042: and I am forever saying 'change your face'. But she is studying you and her environment and learning from you, she always has and she doesn't necessarily think about her posture or facial features whilst doing so.
I like to say 'Good morning' or whatever is appropriate to everyone I pass unless I am in a rush or on a mission and pre-occupied. I love to see the funny side of life and share my silly observations with those I speak to.
Don't loose faith in your fellow human being. We need all types of personality to make the world go round and be interesting. There is a place for everyone.
Now, I am off to pack so there ain't nobody home but dem chickens!! BOK BOK!
Loving you all.
Rx
yep, when people smile back and say 'hi' back to you - it's definitely a cheer-up moment.
I spent a lot of the time speaking with people on the phone as part of my business activities, and I now find that I get a far more positive reaction from people because I have a mirror on my desk. If I'm smiling when I talk to people then it seems to make an enormous difference. (I'm not a tele-marketer by the way).
take care all
I do so agree with you all, however I do sometimes catch myself getting negative:( I find that you can't keep negative thoughts out of your head all of the time, listen to them and then open the window (in your mind) and let them out, don't try to ignore or fight them or they come back with their mates!!
As for random smiling, generally a very good thing, just be carful of where you are and who you do it to:rolleyes:!! but it's always good when you connect with a stranger:D
Hi everyone, I am a smiler too but didn't realise how much until recently!
I work at the local hospital and a few times a day I have to walk down a main corridor. One day I noticed loads of 'strangers' smiling at me which was lovely but I was puzzled as to why. When I got back to my dept I mentioned it to one of my colleagues and she said "well, I'm not surprised! You have a smile constantly on your face all day long!"
Like you Mike people also comment on the days when I am a bit pre-occupied because they notice the difference. I suppose it proves your point that when we are negative it affects a LOT of people without us realising it BUT it can work the other way by cheering up others when we are 'ourselves'.
Long live the smile!
Love and light
reikiangel
xxx
yes i believe that if you smile at others the smile will travel, and for every good deed you do it will be returned ten fold (mind you i am still waiting)
how many times do we someone struggle to find the right change for a car park many times i have given someone my ticket when it has a couple of hours on it when they try to pay me for it ialways tell them to pass on a good deed. a couple of times it has done for me and when someone is kind to you it restores your faith. a couple of weeks ago i was in the car park of the local hospital and i was stuggleing to find the right change i had £1.30 but the fee was £1.50 any way i asked a couple of people if they could change a note but no one said they could but then a really nice lady came up to me and said she could not change the note but said how much short was i and she gave me the change i thanked her and said i would pass in on
anyway the next week i saw some one doing the same as me looking for change and i had my chance to pass on the good deed if we all pass on a smile or good deed what a better place this world would be