I am simply amazed at how many things in life are wrong, but don’t have to be that way.  There are no requirements when it comes to everything I see that is done because it is easy or the because people have become immune to what they should be doing instead.  People are rude to each other, with the tone they use to express frustration or the use of negative words that automatically put people on the defensive.  For many years, I had been called an idealist, especially when I was studying political science in college.  Maybe because I saw the vision of what it could be instead of the way it was.  It simply astonishes me that people choose to be a certain way — angry about their past…lazy when it comes to doing what’s right…love to puff up their feathers so they feel powerful.  You all know what I am talking about but too many of us choose that instead of changing our attitude and effort.  “It’s too much work to care more about someone else than I care about the few dollars I just spent.”  “I don’t HAVE to do that.”  “Why should I do it…no one else is.”  I can go on, but won’t.  You all get the picture.  I understand that we all get wrapped in our lives and have responsibilities and schedules to follow…who doesn’t?  But, what if we took a little bit of our time (it doesn’t have to be a significant amount of time) to choose our words wisely before saying something that might come out wrong.  Apologizing to someone that you hurt or accepting responsibility for something doesn’t mean your character has been damaged in some way.  If anything, it solidifies it more.  It makes people respect you more.  The other day, I was walking out of work and noticed a napkin on the floor so I picked it up and threw it in the trash.  I got a few “EWWWW” comments and quickly grabbed some hand sanitizer.  No big deal.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  I am surprised when people tarnish their own reputation without even realizing it and would cringe if they knew the impression they are showing others.  What if we really did take those few extra moments and decided, once and for all, that we agree that it doesn’t have to be this way, but that we choose that it shouldn’t be this way?  Can you imagine the impact we could have in other people’s lives and how sending messages through love, touch, compassion, gratitude, and service all come back to us in ways we never though possible?  I can and so I choose not to ever believe that it cannot be different.  It can always be better.  Use your strength and MOXIE to show everyone around you that you won’t settle for anything less.  Because you don’t have to…

Michelle Homme 2012 ©