Tiny Ripples on the Pond of Life
Mon, December 16, 2019 A line in my song “Prodigal Child” goes:
“I used to lie in the long grass and watch the clouds go by, as a child my world was happy, only people made me cry.”
Sadly, today it is still people who make me cry. I will go so far as to say there is not a single thing wrong with this world today if it were not for people.... Or to be more precise, people misbehaving.
Hardly a week goes by that there is not some mass shooting or act of terrorism somewhere. I can handle the occasional natural disaster, but I can’t understand why people can’t behave properly and not kill other people. It makes me sad… It makes me cry.
It seems to me the biggest drive in life is to affect the lives of others. We can do this in a positive way, or we can do it in a negative way. Unfortunately, many people do not figure this out.
Young people especially. Bullying, vandalism, destroying things, which if taken to extremes includes killing people. All effect the lives of others in a negative way. Events sometimes so horrendous they affect a whole nation, and even the World beyond.
If any good is to come from these insane acts, it can only be that we need to realize and teach our children that this urge to affect the lives of others is natural.
It takes almost no thinking or effort to do this in a negative way, when with a small conscious effort, it can be quite easy to do so in a positive way.
Who knows what affect a simple smile, a kind word or action can have on the rest of the world?
For every action there is a reaction. Actions both good and bad have a ripple effect, cause a chain reaction so to speak.
Like a ripple, the affect has most of its power felt by those close to its source, further out the ripple has less affect.
However, ripples can start small, cause others to join in, and they can gain energy and travel far. A harsh word or unkind act can ruin someone’s day and may push someone who is unstable enough over the edge that they might just kill someone.
Giving the finger to a fellow traveler on the highway may cause that person to drive angrily and aggressively, resulting a crash that kills someone. On the other hand, a small ripple started by a simple smile, if joined by enough other small ripples can form a large wave that travels far, and affects a lot of people.
Today I will try not to let the rudeness and negative acts of others affect me. If it stops with me, at least I am not passing it on where it might gain momentum. I will try to start my own tiny ripples, with positive thoughts and actions. Who knows, it may just gather momentum, travel round the world and come right back to me.
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Reader Comments (5)
I have two children just starting secondary school and the level of intimidation and bullying is unbelievable, and this is a christian faith school with excellent ofsted ratings. I never remember scool being this bad in my day.
These kids talk about showing respect but have an extremely warped idea of what respect actually is.
My father died this year, aged 77, and he told me he worried for the safety of his grandchildren before he died. He didn't recognise the country any more and lamented that values had changed, not all for the good.
They certainly didn't teach me to spell LOL!!
You might like "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead, or eve Jane's Addiction.
Atb
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR DAVE AND ALL THE POSTERS ON HIS BLOG (See NO rudeness or negative acts HUH!)
Surprised my comments has NOT cause any ripples????