Sight: to see something with our eyes. Our eyes are the gateway to our mind and since the mind is a part of our soul, what we see, watch, or read can affect us in very deep and lasting places, stored in the recess of our memory. In this visual society that we live in, our eye gate has many opportunities to be taking in information and sights through the many means that we are exposed to in any given day: TV, movies, computers, laptops, cell phones, hand held electronic games, Xbox, Wii, Playstation, etc. We seem to always be staring at some sort of a screen, either for learning, communicating, or entertainment purposes.
I was talking with some of my son's friends the other day about a movie that they wanted to see. I immediately asked the rating of the film. It was rated PG 13, which I have learned does not mean "good to go". I love visiting this one particular website to get the full scoop on the content of movies. I think Hollywood thinks that we are a society with no standards and an anything goes mentality, but that is not so in my circle of influence. We still do have standards and try our best to stick to them. Well, this movie didn't sound like it would meet any of them, nor even come close, and while the guys were standing around talking, I reminisced about when my children were young and something would come across the TV that I didn't want their precious pure eyes to see, I would lift up this blanket and hold it in front of the TV until the episode passed. Now some of you may ask, what about the hearing of the action? They were still exposed to that. In my experience, the ear gate is not quite the same as the eye gate, especially when the children are young. They don't have a lot of understanding of the ability to converse and the meaning of words to take in that which they are hearing in maybe a 2-5 second time slot. But, if you repeat that same verbal communication every day for a longer period of time, it will begin to shape and mold them accordingly to what they are hearing as their understanding of those repeated words are developed. That is the amazing power of words.
Now I realize to some of you it may seem silly what I did as a mother, but I like to think it was an action on my part demonstrating to my children just how important morals, standards, and values are. Kind of like what the movie, "THE PATRIOT" did for us as a nation, but on a much smaller scale. If you don't stick up for those standards, they will slowly become eroded and lukewarm. Have you heard the saying, "if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything"? Well, that is pretty much what I have seen happen in many lives.
Probably, by now you have figured out that we don't see a lot of movies, but the ones we have seen are now locked away in the recess' of our mind strengthening the character of who we are and who we want to be known for. If you are a young mother, or even a mother of preteens, you might want to take a little more thought to the agreement of your children when they say, "it was just a movie", or "it was just a commercial". You can discuss a lot of things as a family, but that doesn't take an eraser to the images they have just taken in. Maybe having a good ole fashion story night might be a healthy alternative to watching TV once in awhile. You can choose a book and read a little of it every week on the same night together. We have done this as a family during the Christmas holiday for sometime now. We are actually reading a series by a certain author. I can't wait to find the next book in the serious to read this December. My kids are older now and schedules don't always allow for us to all be together during reading time, but we do it anyway for those that can partake. I encourage you, if you aren't standing for something, start. Identify what standards, morals, and values you would like started or strengthened in your family. And if you have been standing, KEEP standing.
Remember, a plant springs forth from a seed that is planted. The action of growth for the plant is the natural response for the seed that was sown. And so it will be for your children. They will grow by what you have sown into them. Your reward will be seen in the character and fabric of your children, and hopefully their children, for a long time to come, a true legacy.
Purple Butterfly
Friday, January 4, 2008
Crowded at the Gym
So, I thought I would give blogging a try this new year of 2008. I finished another first this past Christmas, an actual snail mail Christmas letter 2007. It was fun to produce and send out.
Since this is the year of new beginnings, let's get on to "beginning".
Well, as you may know the word begin is a verb, an ACTION word. And when you begin something, if carried out, change will result. But the word beginning is a noun. A reference point for the action. You had a beginning, but the action must continue. Hence lies the problem in many lives. In reflection of the year 2007, among the many changes that I would like, one stands out the most...my weight, health, and body shape. I say one, because these three are really one to me, kind of like the trinity.
Now I have watched enough "Biggest Losers" to know that it is going to take effort and consistency on my part. I think about the definition of insanity: Keep doing the same thing, but expect different results. It doesn't work. If what I did last year didn't produce it, what makes me think this year will if I don't do something different.
My daughter came home from the 24 hour gym that has been desolate for the past 3 months and told me how crowded it was. Of course her trip to the gym was after that special day of January 1st when people seem to be energized to begin their resolutions in full swing. I thought to myself, here we go again, human nature at its best and empty traditions that don't seem to die. Let's see if those good intentions are still in effect by March 1st. I know we mean well, but until consistency morphs into habit, our human nature will not give in.
So, I will leave you with this thought, don't deceive yourself and think that you will be looking like Barbie or Ken doll next year if you don't do something different this year to produce that result, and do it the whole year. It takes about 20-30 days to form a habit. If you need motivation to continue on, find it and apply it to your newly forming habit. Meaningful traditions don't just happen overnight. They must be repeated to become solidified into a continual action.
Ask your human nature this, "Are we there yet?", if not keep driving!
Until the next blog....Purple Butterfly
Begin: verb - to start an action
Beginning: noun - the act of entering into that action
Intention: noun - to determine mentally, by act or instance, upon some action or result
Habit: noun -an acquired behavior pattern consistently followed until you seem to do it without thinking about it
Repeat: verb - ie: the act of reading this blog again
Since this is the year of new beginnings, let's get on to "beginning".
Well, as you may know the word begin is a verb, an ACTION word. And when you begin something, if carried out, change will result. But the word beginning is a noun. A reference point for the action. You had a beginning, but the action must continue. Hence lies the problem in many lives. In reflection of the year 2007, among the many changes that I would like, one stands out the most...my weight, health, and body shape. I say one, because these three are really one to me, kind of like the trinity.
Now I have watched enough "Biggest Losers" to know that it is going to take effort and consistency on my part. I think about the definition of insanity: Keep doing the same thing, but expect different results. It doesn't work. If what I did last year didn't produce it, what makes me think this year will if I don't do something different.
My daughter came home from the 24 hour gym that has been desolate for the past 3 months and told me how crowded it was. Of course her trip to the gym was after that special day of January 1st when people seem to be energized to begin their resolutions in full swing. I thought to myself, here we go again, human nature at its best and empty traditions that don't seem to die. Let's see if those good intentions are still in effect by March 1st. I know we mean well, but until consistency morphs into habit, our human nature will not give in.
So, I will leave you with this thought, don't deceive yourself and think that you will be looking like Barbie or Ken doll next year if you don't do something different this year to produce that result, and do it the whole year. It takes about 20-30 days to form a habit. If you need motivation to continue on, find it and apply it to your newly forming habit. Meaningful traditions don't just happen overnight. They must be repeated to become solidified into a continual action.
Ask your human nature this, "Are we there yet?", if not keep driving!
Until the next blog....Purple Butterfly
Paraphrased Definitions:
Begin: verb - to start an action
Beginning: noun - the act of entering into that action
Intention: noun - to determine mentally, by act or instance, upon some action or result
Habit: noun -an acquired behavior pattern consistently followed until you seem to do it without thinking about it
Repeat: verb - ie: the act of reading this blog again
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