I should be asleep right now…
But the future is so bright that it’s hard to close my eyes…
Like anyone, sometimes current events, the news, personal struggles, and other issues get me down. I do try to keep up with what’s happening and ensure potential contingencies.
At a certain point though, I don’t remember exactly when (maybe it was a process I’ve always been going through), I decided that I must not worry about things I have no control over.
Yes, I can prepare myself, but why waste mental and emotional energy on anything that is out of my control?
More importantly, I can search out the good things in this world. There are SO many.
I see this as the most incredible, most amazing time to be alive, and guess what? Things are just getting better.
Some of the modern tools that get most maligned are also the greatest tools for good, for spreading joy, and empowering individuals to become better.
Some personal examples from recent memory:
About two years ago, I came across a YouTube video “The 10,000 Calorie a Day Sumo Diet”.
After watching, I was interested to know more about Sumo Wrestling. I had remembered seeing it years ago on cable.
Long story short, I’ve since become a huge fan of Sumo, I watch daily recaps, matches, and highlights throughout the 15 day tournaments that happen every two months, via different YouTube channels.
This past January, a Sumo Wrestler named Kisenosato won the tournament and became a Yokozuna (the highest rank in Sumo).
He had been toiling away for years working toward that promotion; in fact it was his 89th tournament that he finally won, after years of frustration in the shadows of Hakuho (arguably the greatest Sumo of all-time).
Kisenosato had finished second place 12 times.
After Kisenosato won he was in tears. I was in tears.
Who would have thought two years ago that I would have such a love for this sport and feel such an emotional attachment to one of the athletes, that I could be brought to tears?
Isn’t that amazing? 20 years ago that would be impossible, unless I was living in Japan or had some obscure satellite channel that I watched in the middle of the night. Even then unless it was translated to English I wouldn’t have much hope.
So thank you YouTube, and more importantly, thank you to the individuals that bring amazing things to YouTube.
I was a long-time Facebook holdout. I do worry about privacy issues of course, but having been on Facebook for a few months I can see the massive utility for good it holds.
So many wonderful posts, so many people that share joyful things, amazing accomplishments, etc. Being able to reconnect with friends and family.
I get that there is a lot of negativity too, or potential for viewing others lives through a filtered lens. But if you are looking for good in the world, there is so much to be found.
The internet, social media, electronic devices all have huge risks and potential for negative outcomes. But they are just tools.
These tools can also be used for empowerment, knowledge, joy, gratitude, guidance, friendship, and empathy; just to name a few.
This age is the age of personal empowerment.
Am I using the tools I have to positively impact the world? Am I using these same tools to be positively impacted? I’m trying.
When I eschew what’s wrong with the world and grasp for what is beautiful, I FIND it.
When I find it, I’m elevated.
Sometimes, I even cry for joy.
Even when it’s a 385 pound guy defeating his 340 pound rival, in a far away land, to finally ascend to the top rank in his profession, after years of difficulty and disappointment.
How great is that?!?
J for Jerretta 
Hablo español, y preferire hablar en mi idioma porque tengo ciertas limitaciones en ingles, …espero traduzcas el texto.!!
Muchas veces nos sentimos abatidos hasta el polvo y pensamos, Que mas pude haber hecho?, en que falle? Elegi mal?, algunos culpamos de nuestros errores, a las circuntancias o a las personas que nos rodean, incluso a los genes, o la historia familiar, y se nos olvida ver nuestro interior, cuando comenzamos a ver dentro de nosotros mismos, entonces, es cuando comienza la verdadera transformacion, y comenzamos a vencer nuestra naturaleza e instintos mas egoistas.
Comenzamos a descubrir sobre lo que tenemos control y qué hacer con ello, en vez de solo perder el tiempo con cosas que no podemos cambiar… la gratitud, la humildad, y la masedumbre (que nos hace ser enseñables), y la confianza en ese poder supremo, permite que nos elevemos, mas alla de lo que nuestras limitadas mentes pueden si quiera imaginar… Y he aprendido que la “honestidad con uno mismo” para reconocer lo que esta mal e identificar los sentimientos que bloquean nuestro progreso, son fundamentales para poder avanzar , debemos tener el valor de ver la fealdad para que pueda surgir nuestra gran belleza interior…
He pasado por situaciones similares a las que describes y me siento profundamente agradecida de ser digna de pasar por ello por que se que el no me daria una prueba que no pudiera resistir… y adivina que? Estoy asombrada, se qubeese poder viene de El!!, siento que volvi a nacer..y veo todo con nuevos ojos y puedo decir: El futuro es brillante!!!
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Me gustó muchísimo lo que escribiste aquí, y te agradezco por compartirlo.
Siento igual, creo que somos capaces de tanto, la realidad es que somos hijos de Dios, y él quiere compartir todo que él tiene con nosotros.
Tenemos la capacidad de alcanzar lo más alto, y como dices si hay gratitud, humildad, y mansedumbre, podemos ser guiados y transformados en formas divinas, para obrar bien y crear.
Superar dificultades, fealdad, caídas, y lo demás, con la fe de que Dios nos guiará para superar y aprender de tales obstáculos, nos hace firmes, fuertes, e inmutables en hacer lo bueno y descubrir quienes somos, quien Dios quiere que seamos.
¡Muchas gracias otra vez!
¿Tienes blog? Si no, crea uno con wordpress.com, de verdad te expresas muy bien, y tienes ideas que ayudarán muchos, en serio.
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