My New Years Resolution

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me”  The truth is offensive names and statements can be hurtful but only if you let them.  Being offended is a choice.  You will make thousands of choices everyday and you can choose not to be offended.  That’s my choice for the coming year, not to be offended.  It is a difficult choice but if I can show that I’m not offended by ignoring negative comments/actions then I believe this will be a step in the right direction to sap the power from others that are being negative.  I will not give up my power to others by engaging in their game.

It seems common today, someone is saying something offense accidently or purposefully.   Well the truth is that’s nothing new, it’s being going on for ages however in current times  we have more ways to publish  (Facebook, Twitter, News Media, etc.) those offense statements as well as respond to the offense.   Don’t confuse offensive remarks/actions with threats.  All threats should be dealt with by authorities, report them immediately. 

Too often we seem to be ready to fight (physically or verbally) when someone disses us with slang or unflattering words, really that just inflates the situation.  The news media are experts on how to blow something out of proportion plus with Facebook, Twitter and all the other social media sites it’s easy to stir people up.   They are just words (admittedly inappropriate words) but we need to grow a thicker skin and ignore these comments.  Don’t get me wrong sometimes you need to stand your ground for your beliefs but those times are few.  Turning away from a negative remark won’t always work but for me it’s going to be my first reaction for 2014. 
 

Over time some words, which were acceptable 30 or 40 years ago have become inappropriate now.  Maybe some were never really appropriate words but they were used in daily conversations.  It can be difficult for some people to understand why this is no longer acceptable in today’s culture.  Some people may not mean to be harmful or disrespectful of others by using these words.  Where and how we were brought up plays a big part in how we live, so I will take this into consideration.

I will not hold grudges.  Grudges only hurt me.  I will forgive the past indiscretions of others I also have a past littered with indiscretions.  What’s important is how I act and treat people today. 

So my New Years resolution this year is to make a conscious choice not to be offended by others, what’s yours?

These thoughts are just my opinion after my 65 years of living, hopefully no one has been offended my opinion, if you have then you have missed the whole point of the article.