WOMEN...SALUTE!
February 3, 2002
From journal
notes of 1988
Every woman
who believes in opening up opportunities for women should pause today
and salute Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman physician in
America, born this day in 1821,
She went through a ton of abuse from doctors and the general public over
wanting to be a doctor. We just cannot imagine how hard it was for
professional women in those days. But toward the end of her life she
said, "It is not easy to be a pioneer, but oh, it is fascinating. I
would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in
the world."
What do you feel that strongly about? So strong that it would be worth
any amount of abuse to do it?
Then do it! And you will succeed at it.
QUIT BEFORE THE QUARREL
Based on journal notes of 1989
In the book of Proverbs, one verse is interpreted in the Revised
Standard Version, "The beginning of strife is like letting out
water., so quit before the quarrel breaks out."
Most of our arguments, if we can get honest for a moment, are nothing
but ego arm-wrestlings. The outcome is no big deal. The world isn't
going to end if we don't prevail. We just want to slam someone's arm
down and feel good about winning. We have so screwed up our spiritual
circuits that we find joy more in meaningless winning than in gracefully
walking away.
Once the argument starts, it's "like letting out water." It's
hard to stop. The onrush of emotions keeps the quarrel hot and heavy. We
never stop to ask, "Are any of my points as important as being
loving with this person? Do I want to whip them or love and accept them?
We can ask ourselves what difference the outcome makes and we will often
see it is quite trifling. Often, totally trivial. Like a friend getting
upset over his beloved wanting a steak biscuit rather than a sausage
biscuit! I blurted out, "God, man, if you're gonna argue, do it
over something important!" They deeply loved each other but were
falling into silly bickering that made them cold and distant with each
other for hours.
We need to discover the great joy in letting someone win an argument.
The warm feeling of knowing we are letting them win simply because we
love them and value a happy time with them.
It's a deep self-grin to know we are growing enough to see the beauty in
little things like that.
It's like a secret we keep with our own selves.