I need a new garden shed. We bought our current shed second-hand thirty-five years ago…
I bought a new sack of peanuts for our birdfeeders through the winter. I put the new sack in the old shed. Yesterday morning I discovered a new hole in the new sack; the local mouse population had discovered a new food source… through an old hole in the old shed!
At Men’s Shed yesterday we had one of our frequent robust discussions – religion, politics, education, health-care. Old men expressing the same old opinions in the same old way… what’s wrong with Lowestoft, this country, the world…
At ‘The Seagull Theatre we were talking about ‘Risk Assessments’. The likelihood of disasters coming, and what we can do to prevent them from happening… We mentioned Health and Safety Policies and the rising cost of insurance… all based on things going wrong!
We’re used to identifying what’s wrong. The ten commandments, the criminal justice system, tell you what you mustn’t do, and what will happen if you break the rules.
I’m reading ‘Pollyanna’. Pollyanna’s a poor, eleven-year-old orphan who has to live with her wealthy but stern and cold spinster Aunt, who really doesn’t want to have Pollyanna.
Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with her life Pollyanna plays “The Glad Game” where she finds something to be glad about in every situation… It’s a wonderful new way of approaching a difficult life with an optimistic and positive attitude.
Some see school discipline as catching the children doing something bad so that they can be punished. I changed my approach; I decided to try to catch children doing something good so that I could praise and reward them. It was a new way that worked.
Jesus described his ‘New Commandment’ – ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ It’s not about what you mustn’t do; it’s about what we must do. It’s not about starting with what’s wrong, but a new way of starting with what’s right…
malcolmsmusings.org 
Good morning Malcolm.
Just for me to day.
New shed came yesterday not for me but for Sue.
Many years ago I heard this.
If we spend our time doing the right things we have no time to do the wrong things. Or if you do all the does we have no time to do the dounts.
We need to make time to get your way to catch up.
God bless mark.
.
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Good to hear from you, Mark. I hope Sue enjoys her shed! I love the quote. Yes, it would be good to catch up sometime.
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I like this “New” way, Malcolm. I awoke this morning from a dream where an imaginary neighbor who looked like a spinster on a television show from my youth said to me, “Oh, Mark, I’m not ready to go,” and I dreaded death as I arose. I’m now going to play “The Glad Game” this morning and into my day and evening instead, starting with this, “I’m glad I woke up this morning!” As The Good Book says, “THIS is the day that the LORD has made. I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!”
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I was so struck by the negativity of so many yesterday – from the news that’s always bad news, to the ordinary ‘good’ people I see each day. I know that for some folks life is tough, but there has to be a better way to live life than – particularly for those who believe that our God has planned each day for us.
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“Starting with what is right”…I needed this today! Thank you Malcolm!
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There is so much that is good and right, and so many people who are caring, doing commendable stuff that I need to focus on them more!
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Agreed!
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When I helped facilitate an anger management group for kids and their parents, we would have them face one another and give thanks for something positive the other did before departing. It was pleasing to see how their demeaner changed. 🙂
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Thanks Nancy, That’s an excellent exercise. I’ve done a similar on where everyone has a blank sheet of paper attached to their back, and you spend time writing good things – signed or anonymous – on the sheets of paper.
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I didn’t know (or maybe I just didn’t remember) that you taught school. What grade level? Subject? I too was a teacher for 26 years, 20 of them in fourth grade. I found the same dynamic of praise and appreciation worked with my students. We all worked and got along better in a positive, encouraging atmosphere!
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Yes, Nancy. I spent 36 years teaching… 7-year-olds to 16-year-olds. Most of my teaching was middle school teaching – years 5 to 8 in the English system (9-13 year-olds). The challenge always was to give each child many opportunities to succeed, both in and beyond the curriculum.
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