Improving Ourselves
When I see somebody doing something well, I admire his skill. I’m not a good musician and when I see somebody who can play a music instrument well, I admire the skill. I’m not a good dancer but I enjoy watching a couple who can dance.
When I was young I learned to play the guitar. I was never any good at it and I soon realized that it was not for me. I have no rhythm in me. Just like I cannot dance well, I cannot make music. And I don’t have a singing voice. Maybe it was not important enough to me for I accepted that I will never be good at it.
Fortunately there were other things that I was good at and I concentrated on it; honing those skills. And through the years I have acquired more skills by watching those that I admired very closely. I even asked them to help me in the things they were good at. In that way and by practicing that skill, I became better at it; sometimes even equal or better than those who I had followed.
All of course within the framework of my capabilities and limitations. You cannot expect to become a heavyweight boxer if you weigh 70 kg.
In this way I had improved myself to a point where I’m happy with myself and, although I’m getting older, still willing to learn new things.
But it was not always like that. There was a time, after my divorce, when I was bitter. It was the first divorce in my family and I got a lot of flak about it. I was unhappy and I felt a failure. I did not like myself, yet I believed I was better than everybody else around.
I no longer admired the good in others. I envied them. I did not like to hear about their successes. It made me feel inferior and I did my best to discredit such. I wanted to pull them down to my level. Until one day when my father sat down with me and told me the truth about myself. At first I was furious and walked away.
But eventually it all sank in and I came to my senses. I was not getting any better by pulling others down. In fact, I only alienated myself from a lot of good people. Instead I surrounded myself with others like me. Birds of feather flock together.
You cannot keep a good man down. You may dislodge him but he will quickly regain his footing to kick you in the teeth and you will go tumbling down, right back to where you started while he will still be up there; where he belongs.
To improve yourself you have to look, listen, learn and work hard. Talking is not going to make you any better.
I wish you all a great week ahead.
Comments (54)
I think you blog today speaks well, not only for men but for women too. I've been there, feeling sorry for myself, surrounded myself with the same sort of people who was feeling the same as me until I one day found out this was not my ways. I started to take my walks and I become a better woman, I got happiness into my life again and I feel it every day now. I was lucky to get to start with my walks and this is how I live now. I walk a lot as you all know. I found the real me in this... I also got a change in friends that help me keep my head up. I am not the angry, sad feeling person I used to be... she is long gone!
Have a wonderful Monday and a good week to come, my friend.
Thank you. Life is so easy and uncomplicated when you are satisfied with yourself.
It is so much easier to be happy when you are happy with yourself.
Yes, when we are unhappy, it hurts to see other being happy and doing well.
No need to tell, my friend. It is reflected by your blogs and the comments you make to others.
Keep the good side up. Not bottoms up as some.
Sometimes there is no need to change.
But talking is what you are doing when you are posting blogs, is it not?
Anyway, we have a program called capacity building as part of the "ourself improvement." Somehow we understand that to some degree we need to "officially" practice to improve.
another great blog, thanks!
Yes, blogging is just talking. And does it make a better person of you? I think not. For it is just talking.
It is always worth it to take a good look at yourself first. For humans tend to be hypocrites. We often say things to get the attention away from ourselves.
Great blog, and, very needed in this word.
Have a nice day Cat.
Lj
Yes, and so sorry the the learning curve is so flat sometimes. There are times when we just don't want to learn. There are nobody as blind as those who do not wish to see and nobody as deaf as those not wanting to hear.
Thank you for the compliment.
Btw
You put words in my mouth in your previous comment.
I said 'a good man'
I hope this does not make you retract your lat comment.
green beer
Then all I can say is many happy returns.
Then what can I say?
Many happy stay-aways?
Truly lucky. Good friends are in very short supply.
Thank you, I am glad you liked the blog. We are not living in a perfect world and too many are trying to make it worse.
Right!
The brown stuff I like is a liquid that comes in a bottle. I add black stuff and ice to it to enjoy.
Good, I did cadet training when I was in school. So I should make it.
The governments, corrupt and elite corrupt top dogs etc, are building up huge armies to protect themselves them.
M young friend, we are talking about improving ourselves here. Not about reforming governments. i prefer to talk about things I can do something about.
Hope you have a great afternoon kitten, I need to go shopping now, out of booze, but not like you care, but I know you always worry about me
Hm, a jack of all trades is a master of none.
Doing fine I hope.
The off-sales here closes between 5 pm and 7 pm. That is the law.