Every passing year I find myself a little wiser and a little older. And I don't mean older in the literal sense of the word (smartasses), I am talking about emotional and psychological maturing. But, such evolution usually comes after occurences of stress and the upcoming year is already lining up to allow some of us grow a great deal because of stress. But, why is stress so difficult on people? Some people argue that stress is nothing more than the perspective we put on things. They say stress can be eliminated by simply looking at things differently. I partly agree with this statement. I believe that stress exists and not only that, is present in every instant of our lives. It cannot be avoided. What varies is the amplitude of the stress. Our bodies react both emotionally and physically to every situation. These reactions cause stress that can be subdivided into emotional and physical stress, then both into positive and negative stress. I cannot develop on this idea right now. It would take a great deal of research as I no longer remember the specifics of my psychology class that was ages ago where we studied such a concept. But moving along with this idea, stress does exists, but the manner in which we deal with stress makes the difference. And like everyone else, I have my own ways to deal with stress that are no better or no worse, I think, than anyone elses.
We must really look at how we perceive stress and ourselves. When stressful situations are more personal, I sometimes gain comfort in the idea that my problems are miniscule on a global level. I see myself as insignificant, thus realizing that my issues will not end time or life as we know it. My issues will not lead to the loss of life elsewhere in the world or cause even the smallest of economic blunders. They are my own, unique issues that will be dealt with of course. To me personaly, these stresses are of great importance and they can cause me much turmoil but farther than my personal circle, nobody should be affected.
But the realisation of my role in the global community allows me to smile at these issues and be able to continue with everyday life. Even when things are going completely haywire, I know the sun will rise tomorrow; people will need to be fed tomorrowp; work will need to be done tomorrow; life must continue to exist tomorrow. So I continue going knowing that life must and will go on, no matter what my issues might be.
I am not eliminating the importance of our issues; I am simply putting them into perspective. Every person has had to deal with issues that are of the gravest of importance and thus, must be dealt with great sensitivity and tact. But there are thousands upon thousands of others in the world that occur such disturbances in their lives and yet, life around them continues. During these times of stress, people around them come together in ways to support these individuals in their time of need. Whether done by councelling, medical intervention or just picking up the slack at work. Life will balances itself. And in our turn, when we are back to full strength, we are able to assist those around us who may be in need. The idea of community living, global community living is a reality. Living as a community is the first thing that allowed us to co-exist and evolve as a society.
Before the community living, each individual had to hunt his own food; build his own lodging; care for their own offspring; all alone. But once we began to live in communities, we began to realise the advantages of cooperations and living as a society. The development of agriculture, of metalurgy, of science, education etc. has a root in the simple fact that we began to co-exist. Living as a group allowed us to delegate tasks such as hunting, building homes, planting and storing seeds wuch as wheat up to blacksmithing etc...we could examine forever the slow progression of humanity to the point we have attained today. And we all know that strength can be found in people. Thus I have outlined the importance living as a community. Anyway, I am straying from my original point.
The thing that allows me to continue going on is how I perceive things. When I realise that there is an intricate web of people and life all around the planet and that what I do as an individual person has minimal effect on its dynamic, I find it easier to deal with my issues. They become more feasible all of a sudden. Maybe it's because they seem less important thus I put less pressure on myself to make sure I have the best solution. I do not simply put a band-aid on a problem. That is not the way to do things. Maybe its the idea that what happens to me as an individual has very little repurcussion on society as a whole but working together in the complex web society has cast, along with others that I feel self-gratification believing that I am doing my part to help this world we are in.I must nurture myself, but with the aim to return to full functioning capability to be able to pick of the slack of those who must now nurture themselves and who in my time of need, picked up my slack.
It is a big idea to grasp and took me many years, education and experience to understand what and how I do. We are actually insignificant on a global level. Our own little issues allow us to be unique in our own way. But, we must not think our problems more important than others. They are important and all problems need to be dealt with. Priorities are then given depending on many factors. Society has existed and evolved over a great period of time and there is a good chance that there is a known solution for the issues that we deal with. There have always been problems. Prostitution has always existed; pain and suffering have always existed; there is savagery and oppression spread throughout history and present day. There has always been cheating, pain, suffering and death. It is a reality. We must accept this. The only thing that really makes us unique is how we deal with things. To rise up, stand strong before your problems. They can be dealt with. There are solutions to every problem. The hardest thing to do is figure out what the problem is.
Society must continue or it will fall. One person cannot sustain our existence. We have a multitude of unique people with unique problems and unique abilities and each brings something to the whole of humanity. This is where perspective is important. It is easy to be pessimistic and think of ourselves as more important or even victims of society. We are likely neither. We need people to pump gas as much as we need CEO's to run fortune 500 companies. What is difficult is to accept our reality. Many things may change. Our own lives may change. We must remember that life will go on. We must make the best of the time we are allowed to live. Make the best to figure out what our problem really is and to find the best solution possible. It may take a long time. But we must continue to live as we do this. Maybe with time and help, we will experience an epiphany and life will seem better from that point on.
It is true, if you are reading this, you are alive. This crazy little fact allows you to be one of two things; optimistic about being alive, or pessimistic and worried about being alive. The realization that there are millions and millions of people who live around you and have their own problems and issues should help you realizes that you are not alone. That someone has dealt with whatever you are dealing with right now. There is a solution.
Me, I make my way. I have a life and a good home. I work and do my part to try and make the world a better place. And that is my role. I have accepted that. I alone will not make the difference. I alone cannot make a difference. But, with the help of others, I can stimulate goodness and the difference that may be needed. Everyone, doing their part on a global level makes the difference. Society can be elevated to a better quality of life as long as more than one person in involved. We must acknowledge there is a bigger picture.
Anyhow, I'm leaving it at that today. A littel bit all over the place for an idea. Maybe I'll develop a little more later, or maybe reorganize and republish the post. Anyhow, take it easy, if you can.
-SkEEtEr-
I found this crest on another website and I found it simple yet elegant. Maybe what I'm looking for...but I'm at the point that I don't know which crest is the one I should be considering and how would I even certify that it is the most acurate for my lineage? This crest depicts the Johnson motto as "Nunquam Non Paratus" which translates to "never unprepared." Double negatives...I don't know if I like that...I prefer "Aut Pax Aut Bellum" to "Nunquam Non Paratus." I have also found other motto's that have been associated with the Johnson name. "Nil admirari" which translates to "Not to Admire" - not sure what that's all about...and "Qui vit content lient assez" which translates to "He that lives content has got enough." Maybe it's supposed to be "Qui vit content vient assez" which would be "He that lives happy, lives enough" Maybe somebody screwed up in the typing...and content is better translated as Happy than content, no? But, the guy (or girl) who's content and got enough may be what the original crest creator wanted to say. Who knows...I am not familiar with the use "lient assez" in the French language; "lient" may be old French but I am leaning towards an error by the typist. Hmmm, French in the Johnson motto. This may be the angle I was looking for. I may be on to something here; peut-être; il faut continuer la recherche...
