We Can Choose

 I found myself feeling what I call “prickly” about some things.

That moment when I have to decide if I’m going to be offended or not.

I’ve learned I can acknowledge that something can hurt my feelings without being intentionally hurtful.

The phrase from Paul’s teachings about being not easily offended came to mind.

As a bit of a case study, I looked back over my last few days and looked for reasons to be offended.

And guess what- I found them!  

And the more I looked,  the more I found.

Words said.  

Words not said.  

The way words were said.  

Actions taken.  

Actions not taken.  

The way actions were taken.  

Social media posts- the words, the pictures, the likes and comments.

Text response time or lack of. 

Interesting but not surprising.  

But I seriously disliked how it made me feel. 

So then I thought about that prickly feeling again, and how what it really is saying is that those connections need some strengthening or reassurance. 

So I looked backward for evidence of connections and relationships.  

And guess what- I found them! 

In words, in actions, in social media posts, and in texts and memories.  

Some of them I hadn’t even noticed at the time.

We can choose what to do with that prickly feeling.

And choose not to make the every day bumpiness of human interactions into insult factories.  

We can choose to see the good.

President Gordon B Hinckley wisely shared, “Once a man who had been slandered by a newspaper came to Edward Everett asking what to do about it. Said Everett, “Do nothing! Half the people who bought the paper never saw the article. Half of those who saw it, did not read it. Half of those who read it, did not understand it. Half of those who understood it, did not believe it. Half of those who believed it are of no account anyway” (“Sunny Side of the Street,” Nov. 1989; see also Zig Ziglar, Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World [2000], 174).

So many of us make a great fuss of matters of small consequence. We are so easily offended. Happy is the (person) who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on (their) way.”

What a great way to think about approaching the new year! ❤️