|

Growing
Good Weeds From Bad Weeds by Kim Thomas
When you think about a rumor, do you always think of something bad? Did you know
that rumors can also be helpful, and make someone feel better about themselves?
Now, the reverse of a rumor is FACT (or the absolute truth)….and since almost
all truths are colored by PERSPECTIVE… very few opinions include ONLY the facts
of a situation. SO….YOU can choose to grow a beautiful
PURPLE weed, instead of a little grizzly gray one! Just like a weed, rumors spread
very quickly….and they usually grow in size! I am sure you have had a rumor spread
about you, just as you have certainly spread a few (Oh, just little ones!) and
so you know what good and what damage they can do. R umors
are sort of like the game of "Telephone" that you used to play with your friends….
The message changes, as it is passed along, and the end result can be totally
different from the original words that were spoken! Do
you know someone who is known by a rumor, like "Oh, she's the one that…." That
person might be "branded" by a rumor that simply grew through gossip or a misunderstanding.
Rumors are not always bad, however, and you can really make someone's day, by
starting a rumor about their thoughtful nature, their great storytelling ability
or their great singing voice! People love to be known for their good qualities,
and something like "they enjoy fooling people" can become a special gift rather
than a weakness…. "What a great person she is to have around on April Fools Day!"
You
can even take a full-fledged rumor and turn it in to a wonderful compliment! Use
your imagination! How can you make a person WANT to be a better person? By making
their challenges a compliment! If someone is too loud for your tastes, call them
"enthusiastic" (and then tell them they ought to be a cheerleader, with all that
energy)! It might make BOTH of you smile!
| Using words like sweet instead
of shy can make a huge difference in how a girl sees herself through her friend's
eyes. | Using words like funny, instead
of loud, or sweet instead of shy can make a huge difference in how a girl sees
herself through her friend's eyes. We all know how important a friend's opinion
of you can be! Making our friends feel good about themselves is a wonderful feeling!
So, the next time you feel like talking about someone, pick their BEST feature,
(or if you MUST talk about their most unlikeable trait, then challenge yourself
to find a positive way to say it)! Instead of "She wears TOO MUCH makeup"... you
can say "She is such a COLORFUL person!!" Or how about "She is so INTERESTED in
everyone!" instead of "She is such a gossip!"... Enjoy your weed-growing power…use
it for good, and all the good things you have said about other people will most
likely be said about you! "She is such a great friend, she makes me feel so good
about myself!" Imagine the smiles you will grow in your garden! |