How can a person make an effective resolution? First, they need to really and sincerely want change. But the important thing, which is difficult for many people, is to take full responsibility for ways of behaving which have not worked.
As many of my friends know, for many years I have been outraged about the behaviors of employees here where I reside, (which in case you are new to this blog, I am in a nursing home). So I took matters into my own hands. I asked myself the question: what can I do to make my life here more pleasant?
It kind of began one morning when someone came in to provide me with care, and for some reason the person annoyed me. I do not remember the specifics. But anyway, someone annoyed me, and I thought, I could yell and make sarcastic comments. But if I do, it will set in motion a karma that has the potential for destroying my entire day. So my question was, do I want to act in a way that will not be beneficial, and make me seem like a baby, or should I just do my best to be pleasant, and hopefully both me and this person caring for me can adjust our attitude?
And this, my friends, was the beginning of what I call "Raya in 2015: patient, polite, considerate". What I want to bring across to you though, is that I had the courage to face the fact that some of my own ways, were destructive, and also, self-destructive. I had to face the fact that some of my own ways of thinking about things, and ways of treating other people had to go.
Though I'm disabled, and could potentially be written off by much of society as a loser, I have continued to take an interest in life. I continued to be willing to change. I continued to learn from my mistakes, and move on. And I have continued to share with others the things that have worked for me, and what it was that didn't work. And I have a burning desire to help people avoid getting into the rut I found myself in on that sad January day 30 years ago, when I caused myself to become mobility impaired.
And so, now in 2015, when things happen that I'm not happy about, what I do is try and think of how I might turn it around. I avoid criticizing people and complaining and finding fault, things that only exacerbate a bad situation. But all of this friends, all began with making a straightforward, honest assessment of what things I have been doing that have not worked for me, and how I might replace actions that bring about negative results with actions that have potential to be helpful and positive.
♬ Electric Light Orchestra: I'm Alive
