"The Petite, Prim, Proper, and Pooped Party Planner presses on. What's next? Plan speech; prepare perky, powerful proposal; and praypraypray from her perch with her pen. Sans power pumps."
That was the status that went up on Facebook on Tuesday last. Fifteen phriends 'liked' it. One alert Iowa girl, herself a mother of boys, pointed out that there were 25 P's in that status alone and wondered aloud if that was a record.
"Pretty phenomenal, princess," a local phriend wrote. And someone, a faithful reader from the North added this: "Pumps or no pumps, pave your path with praise."
They were all, I told them, "particularly pleasing and purportedly phantastic," even the fellow whose suggestion it was that I could "perhaps pick peas? Pshaw. Preposterous." Clearly, my peeps were having fun with the whole kablooie.
Anyway. It's Monday again, and the speech I mentioned last week is just around the corner. Which is why I need your help.
Weeks ago, a phaithful column reader messaged, wondering if I'd come and speak to a couple of local extension clubs. "Sure," I said, pleased, and then proceeded to shelve the proposed appearance as party plans and Pomp & Circumstance pushed everything else right off of my plate.
Now, the party's over. Literally. And the next two Big Deals have clicked to the front of the line; i.e., the speech and the proposal in preparation for landing the agent and, hopefully, a publisher and a big phat contract.
I'm nothing if not hopeful.
But back to the speech. When I asked her what the topic was, this is what she said: "Staying Positive in a Negative World," then added, "And yes, we'd like some humor."
Even as pieces begin to phloat around and arrange themselves in my brain, I've got an offer for you - help me write this one. I've got some ideas, but I'd love to hear just how you do it. How do you stay positive in a negative world? I won't make you come along, take the podium, and deliver the speech, but you can go by proxy.
I'm so excited to pick your brains, to plumb the depths of your own profound insights. I am! So talk to me; I'm listening.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Staying positive in a negative world (wherein I pick your brain and write a speech)
Posted by
Rhonda Schrock
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19 comments:
Couple of thoughts: first, remember that this only our "temporary home" and much better life awaits us if we trust in Jesus as our Saviour. Second, look for things for which to be thankful. They can be little or big. You have mentioned the book "One Thousand Gifts"in your blog. I read that book and it has just made me so much more aware that good gifts can be found in EVERY situation and I just need to look for them.
Good stuff, Linda! I like this. Thank you, girl.
I had to think about this a bit. As you know I struggle with fibromyalgia and have just bought a wheelchair. Now things are not looking that positive right now. My mother is so forgetful that she needs help in about everything she does. My husband is also aging and has the beginnings of cataracts which would make him lose his bus driving job. Doesn't look to positive around this house. Let me tell you something...I have chosen in my heart that I would not let those things make me lose sight of who I really am and Who really has me in His hands. I can still get up in the morning. My husband can still change oil in the vehicles and he is still working on a degree in auto mechanics. My children are still helpful and they don't fight so much anymore. The only way that it is even possible for me to be positive is to focus on what the Lord has done for me and us as a family. When I start counting blessing, I can't help to just be thankful and know that I can positively be happy and joyful. Your writings and blogs have been a blessing in many ways in just reminding me that we are so blessed and that there is good and very good in our lives. The Lord makes us positively shine. Now that is one positive thought! :)
My goodness. Wish I could hug your neck, LS. But your positivity really doesn't surprise me. I've seen it in you, and I see it in your dad, a wonderful example of staying positive in a negative world.
God BLESS you and give you grace sufficient for all that you are facing. Perhaps you'd just like to come and share your story?? Do it for me?? :):)
Positive and Negative always makes me think of electricity! Energy! And contrast rather than opposites. Now who would want a world without contrast, light/dark, up/down, summer/winter,hot/cold, big/little, and my favorite...male/female? How could I possibly know joy without having tasted sorrow.
Positive and negative makes me think of magnets, south pole and north pole and the pair of black and white magnetic dogs that have the capability of entertaining littles in church!
Negatives and positives in balance hold everything in place. Life on earth cannot be a testing ground without the contrast. It's how we use them in the time space experience that determines our forever...
Have fun with it! :)
Fun stuff, Rhonda!
I think to keep positive, we must remember who we are in Christ. We must help where we can, tend the garden that God has given us to tend, big or small. If I stay on that course, I feel as if I'm doing something to better this world that God has given us to live in now. I can't do everything, and must realize that fact.
You have written about having an attitude of gratitude. For me, that is key. When you start counting your blessings, the negative things fade somewhat.
Blessings as you prepare for and give your speech. Wish I could hear it!
Barb
Girls, this is such good stuff! And you didn't know it, but you're hitting on some of the very things that have been - well, 'phloating' around in my brain.
So lovely when the Lord confirms His message,then throws in some extra goodies besides.
Happy Monday, you.
I have to start each day with time with God. I have to find His blessing in each day and each thing I do.
I have to praise Him for Who He Is.
I have to remember that I am blessed with a home, a dear husband, a wonderful son, some close friends, in life and online.
In His Word, He tells us "I will not leave you or forsake you."
God reminds me of the benchmarks of my life- giving birth to a child who had a birth defect but who is perfect in His eyes.-going through years of my husband's self-destructive habits- going through my stepmother's Cancer treatment, then my dad's in the same year. Going through Dad's heart surgery etc, the year before. Realizing that He is with me no matter what.
Knowing I am a child of God and I belong to Him helps me keep my head and keeps my feet on the ground.
(Forgive me for the soap box speech)
Rhonda, I hope your talk goes spectacularly! Three things come to mind immediately for me re staying positive (an issue I've been consciously working on these past few years):
1. EXERCISE - (and eating healthy won't hurt, either) Those endorphins really do help with the emotional wiring of the brain.
2. Nourish and indulge in your favorite form of CREATIVITY - whether in art, dance, music; it's all therapy for the soul.
3. LIVE IN THE MOMENT. The great Christian mystics knew this great secret well, and practiced it (read some of their stuff over at ccel.org--especially Fenelon and Jean-Pierre de Caussade). And of course, Jesus said it often (you know the verses). Don't let yourself get sucked in to the endless loop of angsting over past failures or future worries. If you're wired that way, that urge will always present itself during bad times. So 'just say NO' and redirect into exercise or creativity. (That admittedly gets easier with practice. ;-))
I'll sneak in one extra...even when you're too down to read your Bible or devotional material, keep the lines of communication open with the One who anchors your soul. Pray, even if only saying, "Help!"
Since all people can't be married to a comic (which has been quite helpful for ME)...
Here is a more dependable method:
When looking at the Now and into the Future to come, I tend turn my eyes to the past. Lessons learned, the faithfulness of God, pain that has turned into testimony. THAT is what keeps me pressing on.
As missionary Joy Ridderhoff taught me in her autobiography: I sit anxiously on the edge of my seat waiting to see what God will do next.
He will use EVERY circumstance for His glory and my good. He's proven He can do it...Why should I doubt now?
Something that's been rolling around in my head lately, somewhat prompted by a conversation with Jeff, aka my wonderful hubby, is how Jesus is always working on our behalf, you know, as our advocate. Thankful for that, but remembering too, that we need to give Him something to work with, like thankful hearts and using careful words - the very scriptures He's given us.
These are all great. You-all should get together and write a devotional or something! Warning: You'll have to prepare a proper proposal, but maybe we can work together on that. :):)
These are all great and I'd heartily agree to the above. The thing that pops into my head is LAUGHTER! My college room mate called them "giggle bubbles" --they float up somewhere within my soul and spirit and if I squelch them it would be something akin to holding back the satisfaction of a great sneeze--my head my blow off!
Laughter is contagious and such a release. Everyone's is so unique. I make it a habit to always laugh as freely as I feel the giggle bubbles flowing. My kids used to be embarrassed to go to the movies with me, probably still are. But at their drama productions this year, I saw the tell-tell signs of joy when they proclaimed, "I could hear you laughing mom."
I hope it puts a smile on their faces, and releases some giggle bubbles of their own!! :o)
And with that, Anne, you nailed one of my top, top favorites! I love to laugh (surprise!), and I love being with others who do. Actually, I can hear you laughing right now, sitting in a darkened auditorium as our kiddos are doing their thing.
What a gift to Missy E from you! :)
What an exciting topic! My husband and I stayed positive during the recession by listing everything we could every day that we were thankful for--it really got us over some rough bumps.
I hope you do great and that you also next get that agent!
Thanks heaps, Terri. And I know you've been through the fire. So I listen when you talk about staying positive in the flames. Thank you, friend!
Don't take it personally! Some folks just don't have the ability to be happy! I've been blessed reading this blog. I hope your speech goes well!
I understand, Lovina. We all get to choose, don't we? Those who want to, will. Those who don't? Won't.
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