Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do. ~ Helen Keller
I’m prepared to take on board any advice from such a woman as Helen Keller.
Like A Sunflower?
I don’t know about you, but I know I can certainly learn something from the sunflower. But sometimes, I’m dense and I don’t learn my lessons well enough. So I allow myself to be affected by things I hear in passing or over-analyzing people’s behavior motives. Sometimes unpleasant conversation between two people I know – even if the matter has nothing to do with me – can affect me. However, I’m trying to move away from that.
Would you be shocked if I told you that I hardly read the newspapers any more? No, I’m not running away from the reality of the world around me. I am aware of the what’s happening around the world, but I don’t really want to get into hearing in great detail of all the gruesome stories. I’d rather read about people who are reaching out to others. Or someone who has not allowed circumstances or handicaps to keep them down. If I see someone in pain, I’d rather reach out to them, than mourn the ‘darkness’ that has befallen us all.
I’m no where near being a completely positive person. It’s a long journey. But I’ve set out on it.
Here’s a children’s song – The Sunflower Song – packed with wisdom.
Do you want to be like a sunflower?
HI Corinee
Yes there have been incidents which were really shocking and those will remain in memory for long time to come. Nothing better than lending helping hands to the needy.
Great reminder for everyone.
Sapna
Sapna recently posted..How Blogger Killed a Software Programmer – A True Story(Infographic)
That’s a very cute song ~ I enjoyed listening to it 🙂
From what I know, sunflowers do follow the sun’s direction. I’ve seen them for the first time in Tagaytay 🙂
I love what you said about ‘not’ running away from the reality ~ but choosing not to be affected by it too much would be something to work on for me too 🙂
God bless BS 🙂
melissa recently posted..Peace
I think we should all be more like the sunflower, seeking out the source and goodness in life rather than dwelling in the shadows. Like you, Corinne, I no longer bury myself in the bad news; I will browse news sources enough to understand what is happening, but don’t linger there for long. Life is too short to be lived in darkness.
Beautiful post as always, my friend!
Martha Orlando recently posted..Name It to Claim It
What beautiful thoughts for a Sunday morning. And the song is so cute, and so inspiring. May we all turn more towards the sun, may we spread sunshine. You already do Corinne.
Myrna recently posted..THE QUESTION OF SNOW
Hi Corinne,
I am not positive all the time either but I am getting much closer. I stopped watching the mainstream media and newspapers magazines over a decade ago. It’s not the reality I created nor the one I want to give my attention to.
Justin recently posted..You are a Conscious Deliberate Creator of Life
I think in a lot of ways it’s about keeping things in balance – staying informed and aware, but not dwelling on the bad and instead focusing on the positive. Hard to do some days!
Dawn Storey recently posted..Sunday Summary – New Tradition Edition
Hi Corinne – we can definitely strive towards more positivity by staying far away from negative news and tragedy and violence. but something that I’ve found beneficial,as you mentioned, is staying away from the negativity of gossip, hurtful friends or colleagues. If we can’t avoid them we can remain in minimal contact which makes life a lot brighter! It’s like avoiding the daily news but something we can’t as easily shut off because it’s going on all around us.
Like you Corinne, I have stopped reading the newspaper and listening to the news. I believe in collective consciousness and hence feel that by reading all the negative stuff we actually fuel it. I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of life and the world. Why can’t the newspaper and other news media focus on the good stories? Enjoyed your post.
Suzy recently posted..UBC Day 6 – Six Word Saturday
Hi Corinne,
Yeah, let’s plant some sunflowers 🙂 I like the sunflower song, especially with kiddies’ voices.
Well, I like sunflowers and I’d love to be the Sun if I can. Not bad, eh? 😉 Anyway the choice is in your hands. I know, if you can’t go with terrible stuff interefing your mind it’s better not to listen ’em. A god start and gradually you will be shielded with positivity and they can’t touch you anymore with their negative vibrations 🙂
Wish you all the best with your changes and let’s make it even better 🙂
Have a wonderful week with sunflowers around Corinne 🙂
Cheers…
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I love sunflowers! They remind me to look up always and be grateful for what’s on my plate.
Anne recently posted..One Word 2013: Complete
A much needed boaster I would say – off late the only thing I did after reading newspaper / seeing news / being on social networking sites was shiver and cry. I was upset for days together and spent many sleepless nights. But I realised that I already had a lot on my plate and by getting affected by things around me – sply the ones which are beyond my control I was only adding to my woes.. I consciously choose to stay unaffected. That’s my new year resolution.
You know sometimes in life you know many things but you need to hear it once again from someone else just to be reassured that you are right – Thanks for this reassurance.
privytrifles recently posted..Chapter 2013
Thanks so much for the beautiful post, Corinne…. just the kind of sentiments I need this year. My wife and I have just taken off on a round-the-world trip. We have landed at our first stop, Bangkok, and everything is new and the unknown can either be seen with fear or a determination to see everything as a positive journey.
BTW… we will be in Mumbai for a couple months late 2013. What are the best (reasonably priced) restaurants in town?
Dear Bjorn,
Welcome to the land where guests are treated as God’s.
I trust, both you and your wife are enjoying the fun and fantasy of Bangkok. I have heard from my friends that its a lovely place. Are looking for hotels or restaurants in Mumbai. I am a hospitality graduate and have a few of my batch mates working with reasonably priced restaurants and hotels in Mumbai. I can introduce you to them if you let me know your date of arrival. Also please take your valuable time to go through my blog http://www.inspiringcitizen.com/50-simple-things-you-can-do-to-make-people-happy/
Looking forward to hear from you at your convenience and thank you Corrine for giving such a meaningful article and moreover the amazing opportunity to connect with lovely people like Bjorn.
Love,
Mohammed Rafi
Thanks Mohammed! I appreciate the offer for help in Mumbai. We will be arriving in October so there is still some time to go but let’s stay in touch. I enjoyed your blog and tried to leave a comment on your latest post. I hope it worked!
Bjorn Karlman recently posted..Pride cometh before the fall – ignore my last post
Hi Corinne
A catchy little tune!
Youth can definitely give one optimism. They are so full of high expectations, maybe that could be a little contagious.
Isolating myself from the negative people helps a great deal in the quest for optimism. But we are always been thrown so much negative stuff. I don’t read the newspaper either, but I do watch the news a bit. I try to take learn from the negative stuff, even if all I do is compare my life to others that are not so fortunate and then I realize I have a ton of stuff to be grateful for. Like a place to keep warm, socks on my feet, food in my belly and even a computer here to communicate with the rest of the world. Pretty amazing when you start to add it all up.
Mary
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Hi Corinne,
I really enjoyed your post as it got me thinking about my approach to newspapers. I too rarely read the papers. I pick up the main headlines on the Internet.
The stories about the bad things happening in the world in newspapers are valid. However, I do find it hard to believe that for each sad story the papers report, there isn’t a positive and empowering story, which could be used to balance the picture. However, reporting of such inspirational stories is still minimal.
Hiten recently posted..How to create compelling goals for 2013
Hi, Corinne! ~
I prefer to focus on the positive. Sometimes negative stuff happens or I have a dark shadow within myself which requires my attention. I deal with it as directly as possible with the intent to move forward. And I think sunflowers actually do follow the sun…;-)
Dangerous Linda recently posted..new year moon magic
I definitely want to be like the sunflower. And you know what, I hardly read the newspapers any more either. We buy it for the TV guide and I just glance at the front page – if that.
I’m tired of seeing the bad things of this world. Like you, I want to fill my life with positives. I know and am aware of the bad and negative. I just choose not to fill my life with them. Thanks for the insight.
Anne recently posted..School Of Life
I hate all the violence in the world. I want to say positive but I also enjoy knowing what is going on in the world. I check the obituaries daily to make sure I am not listed or someone I know hasn’t passed away. It is habit. I like to be in the know.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
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Ah Corinne, you know me and sunflowers, ignoring the darkness around us is different than choosing not to live in it. I am more aware than the average person to the dark side of parts of life. I simply choose not to live there. My children have made sure that I know what is going on in their street lives. Guess what, I don’t live on the street because I make different choices. For years I chose to exist in a impenetrable darkness, now I live with knowledge of the darkness, it can no longer seep into my life and surround me. And I wear Sunflower Cologne, just to keep a piece of their light with me everyday!
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Ah! I needed this today!! Thank you! 🙂
I’m glad I came here to read this… yes, its very much necessary to be like a sunflower… its gives hope, strength and the sunshine we need in our lives and in this complicated world! 🙂
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