THE RIGHTEOUS - 252/365

righteousness

is not a loud proclamation of the ego

but rather a softly given respect

bestowed by others.

THE NARCISSIST - 58/365

"How do you like my doo? Isn't the color FANTASTIC? I can hardly walk down the street without someone telling me how fabulous I look. And, what do you think of the little accent piece? It cost so much I won't eat for a week - but that's okay...I'll dine on "praise" any day."

My Reflection:

I'll admit that I like praise. I love it when someone likes what I'm wearing or is interested in what I'm doing. I don't think I'm a narcissist, but how do I like the praise without depending on it? How do I enjoy an other's interest without needing it to feed my own?

Perhaps the more joy I find in the exploration - the less I'll depend on others to approve of the "outcome."

Question:

How dependent are you on the praise of others?

THE PLEASANT GUY - 38/365

"Isn't it a pleasant day? I love pleasant days - of course unpleasant days are okay as well because on those days you have time to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do on pleasant days. But, there's nothing like a "pleasant" day.

On pleasant days I think of how pleasant everything is and it just gives me a warm feeling all over. I don't understand why more people don't appreciate pleasant days like I do. If they did, we'd probably have fewer unpleasant ones, don't you think?"

My Reflection:

My goal is to always be pleasant but I'm not sure that people remember "pleasant" - do they? People usually remember unpleasant or difficult or gregarious or goofy but they don't usually remember "pleasant."

Now, if I didn't care to be remembered I suppose it wouldn't really bother me would it? Then, "pleasant" would be just fine. But, I'm a little embarrassed to say that I'd like to be "remembered" in some way but the truth is...I do.

So, maybe I've got the wrong goal. Maybe the goal shouldn't be to be more "pleasant" but more "memorable" ....hmmm....so what does that mean?

Question:

"Pleasant" or "Memorable"....which is it for you?

THE APPARITION 30/365

"HEY...YOU...over here. I'm over here. Can't you see me - can't you hear me? I'm aware of you, why aren't you aware of me? It's really annoying you know - I feel like you don't really want to see me - WHY IS THAT? Too much trouble? Can't look in this direction once in a while? Are you afraid of me or something?

I don't want to be intimidating - I keep my distance, try to "blend in" and not be too overbearing. But unless I stand on my head or make a fuss - you just ignore me.

Okay, if you need lots of "drama" I guess I'm not the one for you. So, if that's the way you want it...I'll just fade into the woodwork - I guess I know when I'm not wanted."

My Reflection:

I often wonder how many shy, unassuming people I end up ignoring? I've been fortunate not to have felt ignored too often in my life but the few times I have, it's not been a very pleasant feeling.

Don't we all have something to offer? I think I'm a little socially lazy and tend to lean toward the most extroverted in the room. True, I don't have to work as hard but is it possible that the one who might be the most interesting is the one who requires a little more effort to draw out?

What if I thought that every encounter is gift waiting to be opened and the most valuable one is the one that is intricately wrapped and requires a little more finesse?

Question:

How many gifts do you let fade into the woodwork?