Will we decide to focus on things that separate us or bring us together ?!? Sara Bown

I don’t usually make comment on the trending controversial topics, I make this choice not to add to the hype but sitting in the quiet of the morning with Christmas music playing I did have something come to heart….

Red cup, blue cup, green cup…it’s just a cup ( a thing ) I don’t feel that a company exercising their right to make their cup whatever color they want is the real issue or even the fact that a couple people made mention of their dismay, what I find most troubling is that we as people get so upset over things. Material things along with controversy is what seems to go viral on social media above all else…I’ll mention what I have seem most over the last last 2 weeks which is talking about the red Starbucks cup along with with people on both sides of the fence of when it’s ok to decorate for Christmas..before Nov 11th or after and in the US same conversation for Veterans Day / Thanks Giving.

The main theme however always seems to come down to people wanting to be right, letting others know they’re wrong ( in their opinion ) and all that seems to be gained is that we as people become further apart. Why does it seems so easy to find one or two things that makes us SO different and so hard to see the MANY things that make us the same. For example, having a family of 5 it’s hard to afford Starbucks but I LOVE Starbucks ! I love coffee and the way they make their holiday coffee is amazing ( for me ) once or twice a year max usually when in the big city Christmas exploring I buy us one and enjoy every drop, this is my reality and with all our money going out to our family 365 days a year, I enjoy every drop…I also don’t judge those buying one every day, how is that my place OR my concern…when did we become so entitled to think that it’s ok to judge what others do. I type this as a human myself and not above ever ” thinking ” a judging thought but I do work really hard to bring myself back to the basics with a fast reminder of judge not lest ye be judged. This is not to say that we can’t share life experiences or our feelings but to make sure we are doing so with a loving heart, not a heart to prove someone wrong.
I think of this even more come this time of year…for me, when November 1st hits, I feel like I turn 5 again, Christmas joy / excitement fills me up – Spiritually it is a time like no other and for me in general, it’s like magic surrounds us, there is this feeling that sits in the air that accompanies the glow of lights, sights and sounds and even the spirit of Santa, it reminds us of kindness of man and this just takes over my soul because I feel it allows us to see kindness & joy exemplified, I work hard to live Christmas every day of the year but there is a undeniable beauty that comes with Christmas. I also realize this time of bliss for me is a time of pain for many others…it’s hard for us to understand each other – Our life experiences make us feel very differently and yet, our feelings are true for each of us equally. This is the same truth for much in life, it’s ok to feel a certain way about something but we must remember that different life experiences, make how we each feel on certain topics different, not wrong, just different.

When I think about all this, I am also reminded by simple golden life rules ( found online )

1. Manners cost nothing
2. Treat others how you wish you be treated
3. Family comes first ( I’ll add God here )
4. Two wrongs don’t make a right
5. Treasure friendship
6. Save some for a rainy day
7. Don’t judge a book by its cover
8. Actions speak louder than words
9. As one door closes, another door opens
10. Laugh as often and as much as possible
11. All that glitters is not gold
12. Stay honest and keep your integrity
13. Keep an open mind
14. Never be afraid to make mistakes
15. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone
16. Look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves
17. Only worry about things you can control
18. It’s what’s on the inside that counts
19. Never be afraid to shed a tear
20. Always have a smile on your face
21. Out of debt, out of danger
22. Don’t speak with your mouth full
23. Listen before you speak
24. Try and see the good in everybody
25. The best things in life are free
26. Practice makes perfect
27. There is a light at the end of every tunnel
28. Make time for your favorite things
29. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
30. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know ( friends / family )
31. Love unconditionally
32. Seize the day
33. Practice and attitude of gratitude ( my own )
34. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to
35. Forgive others so that you may be forgiven.
36. Always go with your gut instinct
37. Live everyday like it’s your last
38. Be somebody’s reason to smile
39. Don’t burn your bridges
40. Time is a great healer
41. You only regret what you didn’t do
42. Never let your fears get in the way
43. Don’t count the days, make the days count
44. Strive for the best
45. Put your best foot forward
46. A picture paints a thousand words
47. The early bird catches the worm
48. Keep your head up and your heart strong
49. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer
50. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back

In no research can you find golden rules to hurt others with a mission to be right, judge or bring others down – For me, the most beautiful truth is that WE the people decide how to move forward, what will we share as important, what will we hold close and choose to shed a light on. We have the power to squabble allowing hurt feelings to build a separation OR we have the power to see and celebrate all that makes us the same. All of us with feelings, all with the need to be loved, understood and valued.  If in reading this you feel it’s a post pointing a finger at someone who took a stance and showed dismay, it’s not. It’s a simple reminder that in life there will be many things others do that we ourselves wouldn’t do but that at the heart of it all, there is more that makes us the same and the things that do make us different, also make life the beauty that it is. Oh how boring it would be to live in a world of robots all feeling and thinking the same..

What will we decide to focus on things that separate us or bring us together ?

~ Sara Bown ( Bown not Brown hehe )

Golden rule list found here –> http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/512932/50-Golden-Rules

• ← Sara, what’s a hashtag and other FAQ ?!?! HELP….
• 8 BIG questions we can ask ourselves if we have BIG life goals | Facebook Live Series →