Comments on: Choosing to be loving http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/ Food, family and synchronicity, in mostly equal parts Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:55:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Sparky http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20826 Sparky Sat, 10 Feb 2007 17:43:58 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20826 its so nice when you can actually make someones day by just being a human being. its so nice when you can actually make someones day by just being a human being.

]]> By: Fran http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20822 Fran Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:51:15 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20822 See, this is the original reason I started getting to work extra early every day. I grew up being grumpy in the mornings. I would take out the grumpiness on my family. Later in life I did it to housemates. Now, I get up early, go to work early, and by the time I have to interact with people I have had time to adjust to being awake and I can be pleasant! However, it is now actually mostly habit, and about 5 other people get to work before I do, and I am much better at being pleasant even when I don't FEEL pleasant, so it is not so important anymore. Thank you for writing about this--maybe more people will pick up the idea! See, this is the original reason I started getting to work extra early every day. I grew up being grumpy in the mornings. I would take out the grumpiness on my family. Later in life I did it to housemates. Now, I get up early, go to work early, and by the time I have to interact with people I have had time to adjust to being awake and I can be pleasant!
However, it is now actually mostly habit, and about 5 other people get to work before I do, and I am much better at being pleasant even when I don’t FEEL pleasant, so it is not so important anymore.
Thank you for writing about this–maybe more people will pick up the idea!

]]> By: Emily http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20713 Emily Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:48:23 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20713 Hence, what our tattoos stand for... ;) Hence, what our tattoos stand for… ;)

]]> By: Lolie http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20703 Lolie Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:11:49 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20703 While kindness is certainly rewarding, and beyond worth the effort, anger and rudeness has a way of just sucking people in. It's not that laziness keeps us from being kind, as rudeness takes as much, likely more, energy. The people of Philadelphia provide daily reminders of both how and how not to behave lovingly, frequently within the same outing/bus ride/elevator trip. You really capture that spirit. While kindness is certainly rewarding, and beyond worth the effort, anger and rudeness has a way of just sucking people in. It’s not that laziness keeps us from being kind, as rudeness takes as much, likely more, energy. The people of Philadelphia provide daily reminders of both how and how not to behave lovingly, frequently within the same outing/bus ride/elevator trip. You really capture that spirit.

]]> By: Aasmodeus http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20685 Aasmodeus Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:44:24 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20685 I agree. According to Scott Peck (Road Less Traveled), there is the essence of laziness in humans which counteracts the will to put yourself outside of your personal space in order to do that good deed, to extend yourself, to show love (and by doing so, risk being hurt). Life (capital L) is a constant battle against this laziness. Another way to see this is an issue of trust and of control. If you wish to control your life entirely, you can't give up anything to someone else. If you don't trust others, you can't risk them harming you. Life is a constant struggle to build trust in your fellow human, and to relinquish enough control such that you get back what you invest (risk) in others, sometimes in strange ways, sometimes in multiple ways. I agree.

According to Scott Peck (Road Less Traveled), there is the essence of laziness in humans which counteracts the will to put yourself outside of your personal space in order to do that good deed, to extend yourself, to show love (and by doing so, risk being hurt). Life (capital L) is a constant battle against this laziness.

Another way to see this is an issue of trust and of control. If you wish to control your life entirely, you can’t give up anything to someone else. If you don’t trust others, you can’t risk them harming you. Life is a constant struggle to build trust in your fellow human, and to relinquish enough control such that you get back what you invest (risk) in others, sometimes in strange ways, sometimes in multiple ways.

]]> By: Tim http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20683 Tim Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:26:00 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20683 I like it! I like it!

]]> By: Ellen http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20678 Ellen Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:51:41 +0000 http://www.apartment2024.com/2007/02/07/choosing-to-be-loving/#comment-20678 I love your take on this. I tend to be a very laid back errand runner (letting people in front of me and such) and also have adopted a philosophy of not taking your suck mood out on support staff such as bus drivers and cashiers. I feel it is well worth it to paste on the smile and greet/interact as if I am having the best day ever, and seeing their pleasantness gives my mood a little pop up as well. I love your take on this. I tend to be a very laid back errand runner (letting people in front of me and such) and also have adopted a philosophy of not taking your suck mood out on support staff such as bus drivers and cashiers. I feel it is well worth it to paste on the smile and greet/interact as if I am having the best day ever, and seeing their pleasantness gives my mood a little pop up as well.

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