comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Positive!
This is from someones blog, I think its a good read for all.
2008
Positively Positive
I am on a quest. A quest for positivity. I have had my troubles with depression, but even on my worst days, I find something positive to think about.
Usually it's Max or the beach or the weather or the flowers outside, but I can always find a little piece of joy even on the worst of days. Finding
the light in a sea of dark can be difficult, especially when those around me are crying the blues or nagging or complaining or kvetching about every
little thing. I know some people absolutely revel in finding the negative, they are the black to my white, in even the best situations they can find
something to moan about. Someone a couple of weeks ago suggested that I was TOO positive, though I just don't think that is possible.
I am not naive. I understand the problems of the world and society and Mexico and Cancun. I read the papers daily, I know that the world is falling
apart around us, but it's been doing that for thousands of years and we must still move forward, what's the point of getting our knickers in a knot
about every bad piece of news we read? Yes, at times I let it overwhelm me and I take a break, but I desperately try to not let the problems of the
world/Mexico/Cancun become MY problems. I cannot understand for the life of me people who constantly complain, constantly find the negative and seem
to thrive on drama and trauma. I am finding that there is a lot of b-tching and moaning in the ex-pat community, this is wrong with Mexico, that is
wrong with Cancun, etc, etc.. I find myself pulling away from people that are like that lest they bring me down with them. I would love to bring them
all up to my little fluffy clouds of love, but those who seek the dark become heavy with it and it is difficult to convince them that smelling a
flower can make a difference in their lives. Where you live doesn't determine happiness or sadness, that can only be found on the inside. You can make
the best of any situation, location or event, you decide if you will feel positively or negatively about it and then you choose your behaviours. I
believe that the people that are so negative here in Cancun would be just as negative wherever they may be. If they look for the ugly side, they're
sure to find it, in Cancun, Paris, Toronto or Little Beaver, negative folk are just negative folk until they decide to change.
Maybe I am just easy to please. Perhaps my standards are low. Or maybe, just maybe, years of psychotherapy are coming to fruition in my castles in the
sky. Is my life perfect? Hell no! Does nothing go wrong in my life? Just the opposite, I have the worst luck, everything seems to be going wrong
lately, but I still sing my little Monty Python song and "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and whistle a happy tune and tap my toes and sing in
the shower and dance down the street. Life is too short to do otherwise.
So, today, stop and smell a flower, admire a statue that you usually just walk past, find shapes in the clouds, talk to the animals in the street,
check out the amazing swirls of your belly button, savour the flavour of your favourite coffee instead of just swilling it down, tell your best friend
how much you love them, send an ecard to yourself telling you that you love you, make a list of all your favourite things instead of the things you
hate, count the days til Christmas, purr like a kitten, hug everyone and then just stop.....look around....feel the air on your skin, the earth below
your feet and feel part of this amazing world.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13050
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Gracias comitan....excellent prospective indeed ...this post lifted me up to that fluffy cloud of love! so......I LOVE YOU GUYS....
Just a small anecdote...learning spanish has been a very long process, but after the first 10 years of learning, I realized I had never heard the word
for "complain". There are so many things wrong and unjust in this culture, so much to complain about, that I do believe most just adopt the attitude
in the above post...to hell with the crap...crack a beer and go fishing or watch a novela. Count our blessings just being alive to see the sunrise
each day...I'm going to the beach now.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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Very nice post Comitan. It's far to often that we all tend to get caught up in the whirlwind called "our lives".
Bad things happen, good things happen... we are there along for the ride... living , breathing feeling, and sensing. We, much like the little bundle
of rock floating in space that we live on, are alive and floating along. Enjoy it.
Years ago when I was in college I was a mover and happened to be moving a minister. While I am not overly religious; I am very a spiritual
mountaineer and naturalist and enjoy good conversation. One thing in our conversation that he said stuck with me and has helped guide me since.
"There is good and bad everywhere and in everything, it's just a matter of preference what you choose to find in any given circumstance."
I've been lost quite a few times wandering in the woods. It doesn't bother me now. It usually just takes a minute or two to step back, find
yourself, see the big picture, and get back on track. If you are happy, comfortable, and content with yourself (your skills) and where you are in
life (not in a life threatening situation)... you are never really lost anyways.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Thanks Comitan. I always say that life is 90% attitude. You made my day...
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bacquito
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 3-6-2007
Member Is Offline
Mood: jubilado
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Yes, today it is easy to get cought up in the negative- house prices down, jobs being lost, gas and food prices being what they are. My wife and I are
completing construction on a house in Ensenada that cost alot of money and our intent was to sell our house in Yuma to pay for the house in Ensenada.
We now cannot sell the house in Yuma because of falling values of houses but none the less we have the house in Yuma to enjoy during the winter
months. In 1991 we purchased a Toyota Tundra and put a good sized camper on it. Today it is difficult to drive it much because of the price of gas.
But I can drive it in Mexico and sleep in the camper. Also, I do more walking in Yuma which is good exercise. Food prices have increased but I need
to lose weight. Ane finally, I retired 2 years ago and therefore make less money But at least I have money coming in.
bacquito
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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Thank you Wiley! We all need reminding. Well........except for me.  
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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That IS a nice essay, Wiley!
And I think I'm going to try those suggestions in the last paragraph.
But I'm gonna feel a little silly about sending myself an e-card and purring like a kitten
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Lately we have had good reason to feel positive.
One friend died recently and one is critical after a motorcyle accident;
another friend has a child fighting brain cancer.
We are healthy with 2 healthy children and everything we could need.
We need to constantly remind ourselves how wonderful our world still is despite....
A creeking knee, a noisy neighbor, a large debt ......we have nothing to complain about.
There are tons of beautiful things in our world to be happy about.
(Actually, when I first read the title to your post, I thought someone was pregnant !  )
[Edited on 6-25-2008 by Diver]
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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A little dissent, perhaps
To stop and see the beauty of an anthill, a tiny flower, or perhaps a smiling child is IMHO, is an important part of daily life. Hugging a tree to
reaffirm my spiritallity is equally important. Just to be alive is a positive thing to appreciate. So I fully agree with a part of his message.
Perhaps it is because of the church to which I belong, but a part of his message, the part about just moving forward when faced with the problems of
the world, is a negative message, IMHO.
To not become angry and protest a wasted war, or to not seek assistance and fight for justice in Darfur, or become politically active seeking positive
change for the future, is quite selfish and a denial of our shared humanity. To just back away so one is not overwhelmed and not accept injustices as
one's own problems, IMHO, is becoming a part of the sheep mentality. To quote the title of a very good book, You Can't Remain Neutral on a Moving
Train.
Yes, I agree that if one is an ex-pat and living in Mexico and does not like Mexico, move. Yes, I agree time each day should be spent reminding a
loved one how important they are, or the many other things he suggests. But to back away from the world and its problems, is irresponsible. And yes,
involvement can mean becoming sad, angry, and passionate.
I could become angry and blame it on my church and religion that emphasizes world wide social responsibilty as an affirmation of our humanity, but it
is a very positive influence in my life. I just don't do enough, but as a part of my spiritural search, I push forward and hope to do more.
Thank you for the food for thought.
Diane
[Edited on 6-25-2008 by jdtrotter]
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Maybe all the people that are complaining about the delegate's election in Asuncion should read this post.
Save the fort!
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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I am always thinking in a positive direction. Really.
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Bajame
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 6-12-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Dreamin
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My kids are grown and now theres the freedom to live a slower pace of life. No TV but lots of reading, hiking, daily walks, and exploring the in the
nearby desert hills, making new friends and being thankful that I had the courage to make the move. Life is Beautiful!
We all want a peaceful world, filled with love and laughter, but we fill ourselves with anger and hate trying to fiqure out how to achive it.
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